Christine takes the 'bait'

Christine Melvin, of Balclutha, had a promising start to the whitebaiting season yesterday with this early Clutha River catch at the Inch Clutha stand she and husband Colin have fished at for the past 22 years.

Rain and swollen rivers meant a slow start to the season in Otago, with only the Clutha River safe enough to fish.

Department of Conservation coastal Otago freshwater ranger Pete Ravenscroft said Doc staff did not see anyone out whitebaiting yesterday.

"The Clutha ... is the only river in Otago which would have been clean enough and safe enough to fish," he said. Even with no more rain, it would be a "good week" before most rivers in the region were suitable for fishing.