Although our region seems to have escaped the worst of the atmospheric river impact it will be a good idea to check river flow information before heading out with the rod.
The streams of East and North Otago are probably the best, as any rise in level will only bring them up to normal, as the flows of late have been almost non-existent.
I suspect that most waters will drop back fairly quickly due to the dry state of the area.
However, there are showers forecast for the early part of next week.
Failing to find running water that is fishable should not put you off as there are plenty of stillwaters to fish — Central Otago lakes, Dunedin’s reservoirs and irrigation dams in Central Otago and the Maniototo.
The roads into the tussock lakes may be difficult after the rain but everywhere else should be fine.
We have had some fine, calm days recently which usually produces falls of mayfly spinners but, on some of the days that I have been out, there have been very few in evidence.
I have seen the odd spinner on most days but not in sufficient numbers to bring fish to the surface.
On the days when fish have risen it has been for a very short time but half an hour or so is long enough to catch a fish or two.
If you are sure trout are rising to spinners or duns change to a suitable imitation quickly as delaying may miss the rise altogether.
I was on the lower Taieri on Monday morning taking a casting lesson and was surprised not to see a single fish rise.
The water was low and clear and there was no wind and any rise would have been obvious.
It should not have been a surprise as there were no insects to bring trout to the surface.
Last weekend, I was on the Mataura with a group from the Upper Clutha Angling Club, it was a cool but relatively calm morning and we did see the odd fly and the very odd rise, but the trout were not enthused and although there were a few fish caught it was disappointing.
After lunch we took off to different parts of the river and there were some fish seen rising and a few of them were caught, but the sport was below the norm for this time of year.
The following day some of the group fished the Mataura and some of us fished the Pomahaka.
I was with the latter group and the river looked perfect with low clear water and it was nice to see the bed of the river was very clean, free of algae.
We saw fish rise straight off, but could not see what they were taking.
Fishing a nymph through some flat water produced several takes, none of which came to the net.
The next flat produced several fish and the expected spinner fall was very brief, then all activity stopped just in time for afternoon tea and the drive home.
- By Mike Weddell
