As the weekend approaches, most rivers and streams are rising and their temperatures falling due to the erratic spring weather we have been experiencing. The rivers of East and North Otago seemed to have escaped the worst of the rain and should be fishable. It looks like still waters will be the best bet for this weekend.
With this being a holiday weekend, many anglers will head off to Central Otago or the upper Waitaki, which is lucky for them as chances for fishing abound with so many lakes to fish.
In Central Otago, the small waters such as Conroys dam and Butchers dam are always worth fishing and both contain browns and rainbows. Lake Dunstan, too, is worth a visit, especially at the head of the Clutha arm. Then there are the endless shores of Lakes Wakitipu and Wanaka.
If you are taking the kids fishing, then worm fishing can be the most productive and the easiest to cope with. It makes life simpler if you fish where the lake bed is composed of silt rather than rocks and weed.
Trout find the bait more easily and less tackle is lost by hooking snags. One method that works well where there are a many snags is float fishing with the worm. The bait is kept off the bottom and the float lets you know when a fish is biting.
The lakes of the upper Waitaki are well worth fishing at this time of year, especially early on a calm morning to a midge hatch.
There is often a hatch of midge in the evening too but the rise is not as dependable, in my experience. Even if the inflowing rivers are high, there is always somewhere to find clean water, especially in the smaller waters like Kellans Pond or Loch Cameron.
Close to Dunedin, the local reservoirs are much better fisheries than many anglers give them credit for. So is Lake Mahinerangi, although the latter can be a bit bleak in the sort of weather we have been experiencing lately.
I returned from the North Island before lunch last Sunday just in time to meet the southerly change sweeping through. The air temperature dropped 4deg in the first 15 minutes of my arrival home, soon followed by another 4deg drop.
However, I was free for the afternoon and just had to go fishing. I sped south to the Tokomairiro. As I tackled up, I could see duns hatching and spinners dipping but, ominously, no fish rising. I walked downstream and spooked a couple of fish and missed one that took my nymph.
The big flood of last May seems to have had a drastic effect on the fish population as I saw very few despite visibility being good.
I fished a couple of kilometres of water without success. But stopping off at a pool I had never fished before, I landed one fish to save the day.
RIVER & LAKE CONDITIONS
River and Lake Conditions are supplied by Fish and Game Otago with information from the Otago Regional Council received at 9am yesterday.-
General Situation: Some South Otago streams were hit by the recent polar blast and many are discoloured from snow melt and rain. Most other waterways throughout the region are clear enough to fish. The weather for most of Otago is looking great for fishing this Labour Weekend.
North Otago Area: The Shag River is quite low and very clear. Most other rivers are at medium levels and clear. Many of the coastal estuaries are holding good numbers of mullet. Sometimes large sea-run trout will be found close to mullet schools and a rapala type lure can produce a strike.
Southern Lakes Area: All the big lakes are clear and in great condition. Quite a few rainbows still have not spawned yet. These fish and others often congregate in the deep water off the major river mouths.
Orange lures and egg patterns such as glo-bugs fished near drop-offs can be very productive at this time of the year. Early morning trolling is advised. If you are struggling to catch fish during the middle of the day, fish deeper.
Central Otago: The Manuherikia River is boisterous but clearing. Falls Dam at the head of the Manuherikia has been producing good numbers of small to medium-sized browns and rainbows. This is a great place to start young anglers. The mouth of the Upper Manuherikia is particularly productive when spin fishing with small lures.
The Lindis is dropping and clearing. No doubt, Lake Dunstan will be popular with boat anglers this weekend. Try harling with green woolly bugger lures and spin fishing with small rapala type lures over the weed beds. The Nevis River is a bit high and boisterous.
Taieri Catchment: The Upper Taieri is dropping and clearing and the lower river is steady and slightly discoloured. Small silver lures and worm fishing has been productive in the lower reaches. Lake Mahingerangi is clear and in good order. It generally fishes well over Labour Weekend, especially near the Lammerlaw Stream.
Southwest Otago Area: When it has been clear enough to fish, the upper Pomahaka has been producing some great trout. It is dropping and clearing now. The lower Clutha system has been experiencing large runs of smelt. These are a prime baitfish for trout and some very well conditioned fish have been caught.
Flows in the lower Clutha River have been fluctuating from around 700cumecs in the early morning to around 450 in the mid afternoon.
WaterwayWater Level/Condition
• Kakanui River - Medium, steady
• Shag River - Low, steady
• Taieri River at Canadian Flat - Medium, dropping
• Taieri River at Outram - Medium, steady
• Pomahaka River - High, dropping
• Waipahi River - Medium, rising
• Clutha River at Balclutha - High, fluctuating
• Clutha River at Cardrona - Medium, dropping
• Hawea River - Medium, steady
• Lake Onslow - Medium, clear
• Lake Dunstan - High, clear
• Lake Hawea - Medium, clear
• Lake Mahinerangi - High, clear
• Lake Wanaka - Medium, clear
• Lake Wakatipu - Medium, clear
- Mike Weddell
