Heavy rain last weekend changed the fishing scene dramatically. Rivers and streams in the south and west rose rapidly, making fishing impossible on many waters and marginal, at best, on others.
To the east, rivers were still on irrigation restrictions and, in between, the Clutha was normal. Luckily, things look better for the coming weekend as flooded streams have dropped rapidly and the forecast is for fine weather.
Normal autumn fishing conditions should apply for those venturing out this weekend, with most waters in good order.
My pick would again be rain-fed waters, with the Mataura and the Pomahaka being the best but the smaller waters, too, would be worth a try. The lower Clutha should remain at a good level and the upper Clutha, although a little higher than the ideal, usually fishes well at this time of year.
I fished the Pomahaka last Monday, hoping to find it in fishable order, and although it was a little discoloured and well above summer level, it was worth a go.
The morning was very cold, with frost sticking to my boots as I walked through the grass on the banks. Early mist had cleared and there was promise of a fine, sunny day.
I was hoping to find sea trout, as they would have run up the river on the flush of fresh water. I started below a small waterfall where the river tumbled over a low reef.
Such an obstacle slows migratory fish and the slack water below can hold them for a while. If there were any sea trout there, they did not want my gold beadhead nymph, nor did any that were immediately above the fall.
Not long after starting, I spotted a fish in a deep eddy beneath some trees, the sort of spot specifically designed to make life as difficult as possible for a fly fisher.
I took the easiest approach and cast downstream and let the current carry the fly to the fish. On about the third cast the fish moved to one side and on lifting the rod, I found it firmly attached a 1kg resident fish.
A short distance further up, I fished blind along the edge of a reef and the line stopped and I tightened on to something more substantial.
After a while, a nice sea trout of just under 2kg slid into the net. It is always satisfying to catch a sea trout. The odds are usually against doing so, as so many things need to be aligned to make it possible.
Much further upstream and much closer to lunch time, I cast into a deep hole at the tail of a long gravel run. Almost immediately, the line tightened and the fish took off for fallen trees on the far side.
Luckily, it veered downstream at the last second and it eventually made it to the net. This was a resident fish of over 2kg, which turned out to be the best of the day.
Although there was a reasonable hatch of duns in the afternoon, very few fish rose. Ah well, there are a few more fishing days left for the season.
~ RIVER AND LAKE CONDITIONS ~
River and lake conditions are compiled by Fish and Game Otago with information from the Otago Regional Council.
General situation: Many rivers throughout Otago received a fresh a few days ago, but they have mostly dropped back to normal levels and are clear and fishable. The forecast for this weekend is largely fine for most places, but some showers and northwest winds are predicted for South Otago.
North Otago Coast: Very dry conditions in Coastal North Otago over the last month have depleted the Shag and Kakanui rivers. They desperately require heavy rain.
The Waikouaiti River is in slightly better condition and anglers can expect find some large trout in the deeper pools downstream of Cherry Farm. Trout should be schooling off the major spawning rivers in the Waitaki Lakes such as the Ahuriri and the Otematata.
Southern Lakes Area: Many back-country rivers received a significant fresh April 4. They have now dropped back to normal levels. The fresh may have enticed some early spawning trout to run upstream.
Diamond Creek and certain tributaries of the Matukituki and Hunter rivers should be holding good numbers of spawning, land-locked salmon. Beadhead nymphs and Veltic spinning lures work well on the salmon.
Anglers should target the deep water off the Dart, Hunter and Matukituki River mouths for schooling trout about to run upstream and spawn.
Central Otago: Anglers looking to catch large well conditioned trout should head to the top of Lake Dunstan, near the Clutha River outlet. At this time of the year, the rainbow trout are in peak physical condition before they begin spawning.
Red beadhead woolly bugger lure flies and rapala type lures retrieved quickly can produce some aggressive takes, as these display territorial behaviour.
Taieri Catchment: The Taieri River at Canadian Flat received a fresh and is now back at a normal level. The rest of the Taieri remains very low. Fishing the deep pools of the lower river early in the morning may produce large sea-run fish that have entering the river to spawn.
Southwest Otago: The Mataura, Waipahi and Pomahaka Rivers received a large fresh but are now nearly back down to normal levels. Often these rivers produce some fantastic mayfly hatches on calm afternoons at this time of the year. The fresh may have enticed large sea-run trout to run up the Pomahaka system.
WATERWAY - WATER LEVEL/CONDITION
Kakanui River - Very low, clear
Shag River - Very low, clear
Taieri River at Canadian Flat - Medium, clear
Taieri River at Outram - Very low, clear
Pomahaka River - Medium, clearing
Waipahi River - Medium, clearing
Clutha River at Balclutha - Medium, clear
Clutha River at Cardrona - Medium, clear
Hawea River - Medium, clear
Lake Onslow - Medium, clear
Lake Dunstan - Medium, clear
Lake Hawea - Low, clear
Lake Mahinerangi - High, clear
Lake Wanaka - Medium, clear
Lake Wakatipu - Medium, clear
