Winter brings great fishing conditions to North Canterbury’s waterways.

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
  • FSB* = Fly, Spin, and Bait fishing permitted - child/junior anglers only
  • FS = Fly and Spin fishing permitted only
  • Bag limit = maximum number of fish that may be taken or killed in one day

 

Bag limit

Note: Minimum length 300mm for all sports fish. No bait fishing for trout except by child/junior anglers. No salmon fishing 1 May–30 September. Daily bag limit is 4 sports fish unless otherwise specified.

Waters

Key

Bag Limit

Ashley River – downstream of Ashley Gorge Road

FSB

2 trout

Avon River – downstream of Barbadoes Street Bridge

FSB

2 trout

Christchurch Groynes Fishing Lakes

FSB*

1 sports fish (*child/junior anglers only)

Halswell River and Canal – downstream of Neills Road Bridge

FSB

2 trout

Heathcote River – downstream of Colombo Street Bridge

FSB

2 trout

Hurunui River – between Lake Sumner and South Branch confluence

FS

2

Hurunui River – below South Branch confluence

FSB

2 trout

Lake Courtenay

FSB

2 sports fish

Lake Ellesmere

FSB

2 trout

Lake Forsyth

FSB

2 trout

Lake Guyon

FS

2

Lake Pearson

FS

2

Lake Rotokohatu

FSB

2 sports fish (open 1 Apr–30 Sep)

Lake Selfe

FS

2

Lake Sumner

FS

2

Lake Taylor

FS

2

Monopolies Pond

FSB

2

Rakaia River – downstream of white posts near Coleridge tailrace

FSB

2 trout

Selwyn River – downstream of State Highway 77 Bridge

FSB

2

Waiau Uwha River – downstream of Hope River confluence

FSB

2 trout

Waimakariri River – downstream of Staircase Gully confluence

FSB

2 trout