Enjoy wide open winter fishing across Central South Island rivers and lakes.

Waters listed below are open all year unless a specific winter season is noted alongside the entry.

 

Key
  • F = Fly fishing
  • S = Spin fishing
  • B = Bait fishing
  • FSB = Fly, Spin, and Bait fishing permitted
  • FS = Fly and Spin fishing permitted only
  • Bag limit = maximum number of fish that may be taken or killed in one day

 

Bag Limits

Note: No minimum length for trout. Minimum 300mm for salmon (250mm in lakes, except Lake Heron/Oturoto 300mm–450mm). No salmon fishing between 11pm–4am (Dec/Jan) or 10pm–5am (other months). Some waters have specific winter seasons noted.

Waters

Key

Bag Limit

Ashburton River / Hakatere – downstream of State Highway 1

FS

2 trout (winter season 1 Jun–31 Aug)

Centennial Park Lake, Timaru

FSB

2

Kellands Pond

FSB

2 sports fish

Lake Aviemore / Mahi Tikumu

FSB

4 sports fish

Lake Benmore / Te Ao Marama

FSB

4 sports fish

Lake Hood

FSB

4 trout, 2 salmon

Lake Middleton

FSB

4 trout, 2 salmon

Lake Ohau

FSB

4 sports fish

Lake Opuha / Opuaha

FSB

4 (winter season 1 Jun–30 Aug)

Lake Pukaki

FSB

4 sports fish

Lake Ruataniwha

FSB

2 sports fish

Lake Tekapo / Takapo

FSB

6 total (no more than 4 trout or 4 salmon)

Lake Waitaki

FSB

4 sports fish

Ohau Canal – Lake Ohau outlet to Pukaki-Ohau A Canal junction

FSB

2 sports fish

Ohau B and C Canals – Lake Ruataniwha to Ohau C power station

FSB

2 sports fish

Opihi River – downstream of State Highway 1

FSB

4 (winter season 1 Jun–31 Aug)

Pukaki-Ohau A Canal – Lake Pukaki outlet to Ohau A power station

FSB

2 sports fish

Rangitata Diversion Race / RDR Canal

FSB

4 trout (refer to note 10 for salmon)

Rangitata River / Rakitata – downstream of State Highway 1

FSB

2 (winter season 1 Jun–31 Aug)

Saltwater Creek / Otipua

FSB

2

Tekapo Canal – downstream of State Highway 8 Bridge

FSB

2 sports fish

Tekapo Canal – upstream of State Highway 8 Bridge

FSB

2 sports fish (open 1 May–31 May and 1 Sep–30 Sep)

Tekapo River / Takapo – downstream of lower powerlines

FSB

4 trout, 2 salmon

Waitaki River – downstream of Stonewall powerlines

FSB

4 (winter season 1 Jun–31 Aug)

Wairepo Arm

FSB

2 sports fish