In my angler's selective memory, autumn is a time of calm, mild, sunny days with trout rising from midday till dusk.
In reality, we do get some days like that but there are also the others, less ideal, that are quickly filtered from the memory banks.
Hopefully, this weekend will be the sort that is remembered, although a couple of days out things look far from perfect.
However, rivers have continued to drop and are approaching ideal fishing levels.
The Mataura is a little above perfect level but it is clear, which is far more important, because trout are visual feeders and dirty water makes them harder to catch.
So the Mataura would be high up on my list of places to fish this weekend.
The Pomahaka, although not so clear as the Mataura is lower and well worth fishing.
The Taieri, too, is getting better and is ideal for threadlining for sea trout which will be moving into the river at the moment.
I crossed the Waiwera, Kaihiku and Waipahi yesterday and they looked good and well worth a fish.
Anniversary day was one of the classic autumn days, misty and cool in the morning, becoming warm and sunny by mid morning.
I was on the Pomahaka with Murray Smart.
The water had a tinge of peat and was in perfect order.
I started on a reefy section above Tapanui Bridge.
There is a low waterfall and I logically assumed that there could some sea trout below it, as they would have been running in the hours of darkness.
They should have been in the deep hole below the fall, resting before trying to jump it.
If they were, they did not want my fly, and surely no trout could resist that.
Not only was I fishless from the pool but I was also cold and wet from slipping on the rocks and falling into a few centimetres of water.
A short distance above the fall, I was into the first trout of the day, a nice fish of 1.5kg on a bead head nymph.
This was a resident fish, not the sea trout I was hoping to catch.
A few metres upstream this was rectified with a 2kg sea trout.
These two fish were in relatively shallow water with quite strong current.
The same sort of water produced another resident of 1.5kg and another sea trout, this time a very satisfying 3kg.
By 11.30am I had caught several fish, all blind fishing.
After lunch, a few kilometres downstream, the fishing was totally different.
All fish caught were either rising or spotted on station, feeding on nymphs.
A sparse hatch of mayflies produced the rise and there were just enough fish spotted to keep the fishing interesting, a good lead in to better days to come.
- Mike Weddel
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: After a week of fairly good weather, things have settled down again and fish are back into their feeding routines. Most high country lakes are clear and in good order for fishing. Conditions in the south are looking just about perfect with most rivers normal and clear, and autumn mayfly hatches going well. There is some rain in the forecast for the weekend but it would have to be heavy rain to stop me from going fishing.
North Otago: The Kakanui, Shag and Waikouaiti rivers all had a bit of a flush-out and are now clear again. This will help bring in a few searun trout which will make fishing interesting for the last month of the season. Please remember the salmon season on the Waitaki River and tributaries finishes at the end of this month.
Southern Lakes: Lakes Wanaka, Hawea and Wakatipu are all high and even though the river deltas into these lakes are slightly discoloured, the best fishing around at present is at the river mouths. Landlocked salmon are hanging around the Makarora, Hunter, Dart and Rees River deltas. Landlocked whitebait are running now, too, which is attracting trout into the river mouths to feed. Trolling off delta areas with bright lures may produce some good results.
Central Otago: All rivers and streams are medium and clear. The reservoirs such as Onslow, Poolburn and Manorburn are all good options. Lake Dunstan has been producing a few large fish in the 2-3kg range. Use a red and gold veltic in the reservoirs. Silver is a good colour for Lake Dunstan.
Taieri catchment: The Taieri River has been up and this will have brought more searun trout and salmon in from the sea. It is still running above normal but only slightly discoloured. There have been several good-sized salmon taken already and it is well worth targeting some of the deeper pools at dawn and dusk, especially with spinning gear. Spin anglers should try a red and gold veltic anywhere in the Taieri at this time of year. There have also been mayfly hatches on the odd calm evening down on the lower Taieri, between Outram and Allanton. If we get some more settled weather we could see some good afternoon and evening rises.
Southwest Otago: Rivers and streams are still recovering from high water. The Waipahi and Pomahaka are dropping and clearing. Most waters in Southland are normal to low and clear. The lower Mataura River is the place for keen fly anglers this month, with mayfly hatches becoming more consistent.
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 - High, discoloured
• Waipahi River - Dropping, slightly discoloured
• Clutha River at Balclutha - High, fluctuating, slightly discoloured
• Clutha River at Cardrona - High, clear
• Hawea River - High, fluctuating, clear
• Lake Onslow - High, clear
• Lake Dunstan - Medium, discoloured in Kawarau Arm
• Lake Hawea - High, discoloured near river deltas
• Lake Mahinerangi - High, clear
• Lake Wanaka - High, discoloured near river deltas
• Lake Wakatipu - High, discoloured near river deltas
