It is all very well making predictions about fishing, but nature does not necessarily go along with man's attempts to foresee the future.
Last weekend was a good illustration of that. Things were looking good for most waters until the rain came and washed away any hope of fishing in flowing waters.
Luckily, there were still waters to fall back on, figuratively speaking, of course.
Risking the same this weekend, my assessment of the fishing scene this weekend is that most waters are fishable, with the Waitaki looking good at a lowish level and having been relatively stable over the past few weeks.
The lower Clutha too has dropped to its lowest level for some time. The Mataura is a little on the high side but is slowly dropping and should be good by Sunday.
Most of the smaller streams are at a good level with the Waipahi and the upper Pomahaka looking the best of them.
If you are in Central Otago, the upper Clutha and the lakes are coming into good order, although over the recent period of high water this water has been disappointing - but I don't think the fish will have just disappeared.
Many small still waters have been brim full over the past few weeks and this usually means good fishing as fish patrol the edges, where worms and insects have emerged from the inundated land.
A small stillwater was the saviour for Murray Smart and me last Sunday, when we had to give up on the idea of fishing the Mataura.
We went to Matthias Dam, which was full and clear. It was rather cold in the misty conditions that prevailed for the first half of the morning before the sun broke through to produce a perfect autumn day.
Murray was into a nice brown trout to start the day; it took me a while longer to get my first fish, again a brown trout.
There were odd fish rising but not consistently and there was little visible for them to feed on.
We both fished and caught our fish on damsel fly nymphs. When it warmed up, there was the odd adult damsel on the water and a lot of bees.
At times I could see a dozen or more bees floating around me, but the trout did not appear to be taking them.
We persisted with the damsel and caught a couple more, rainbows this time.
Then some better fish began to feed in the weedy margins but, although they disturbed the surface, they did not appear to be rising.
Murray got on to them first with another brown of 2.5kg.
We took turns at these fish and hooked several, although we lost some in the weed.
A corixa was the fly that did the trick. The action lasted about an hour then suddenly stopped.
It was time to pack up after a very pleasant autumn day on the water. Hopefully, the next perfect autumn day will be on the Mataura.
- Mike Weddell
Rivers and lakes
River and Lake conditions are supplied by Fish and Game Otago with information from the Otago Regional Council received at 9am yesterday.
General Situation: Many of our lowland rivers are still a bit discoloured from rain received last week. Most high country lakes and rivers are clear, or nearly clear and in good condition. Sea-run trout and salmon should be migrating to their spawning grounds over the next few weeks.
North Otago: The Kakanui and Shag Rivers have cleared and are in good condition. The Waikouaiti River remains slightly discoloured but is in good order for spin fishing. Fishing with black and gold tobies, or rapala lures may produce some sea-run trout.
Southern Lakes: The major lakes are all clear. Most of the back country rivers have also stabilised after last week's big rain. Landlocked salmon are beginning to run up to their spawning grounds, such as the Makarora and Dart Rivers, and also Diamond Creek. Spin fishing with small rapala-type lures and veltic spinners has been out-fishing traditional fly fishing methods, especially in waters that are still a bit discoloured. Brown trout are also beginning to prepare for spawning and fishing near tributary streams with lures that have a splash of red maybe effective.
Central Otago: Lake Dunstan is clear and in good order. Brown trout will be starting to run up the Clutha River and tributaries to spawn. Often these fish congregate in the deep water off the Clutha River mouth. The Manuherikia is slightly discoloured. The Fraser River is clear and in good order. This is an important brown trout spawning stream and can fish well in the last weeks of the season. The Nevis is at a medium level and clear.
Taieri Catchment: The Taieri River is high and slightly discoloured in the upper catchment and more discoloured further downstream. Some of the tributaries such as Three Oclock Stream can produce some big sea-run trout in April. Lake Mahinerangi remains high, clear and in good condition.
Southwest Otago: Some salmon and a few sea-run trout have moved into the Pomahaka system. This water remains slightly discoloured. As it clears, spin fishing with rapala lures maybe very effective. April can produce some great mayfly rises on calm afternoons in South Otago and Southland streams. Unfortunately some streams such as the Tokomairiro and Waitahuna are a bit discoloured. The Mataura River is a bit higher than ideal but it can still produce good mayfly rises when slightly discoloured so it should not be written off completely. Further to the south, the Mararoa, Waiau, Oreti, Aparima and Hamilton Burn are all clear and in good condition for fly fishing.
Waterway − Water Level/Condition
•Kakanui River - Medium, clear
•Shag River - Medium, clear
•Taieri River at Canadian Flat - Medium, slightly discoloured
•Taieri River at Outram - High, discoloured
•Pomahaka River - Medium, slightly discoloured
•Waipahi River - Medium, slightly discoloured
•Clutha River at Balclutha - Medium, clear
•Clutha River at Cardrona - Medium, clear
•Hawea River - High, fluctuating, clear
•Lake Onslow - High, clear
•Lake Dunstan - Medium, clear
•Lake Hawea - High, clear
•Lake Mahinerangi - High, clear
•Lake Wanaka - Medium, clear
•Lake Wakatipu - High, clear
