Canterbury's weather is showing the effects of longer daylight. The ice has thawed on most of the High Country lakes with some good fishing now available both from shore and boat (where allowed). Coleridge and Lyndon are both fishing well and further south the winter fishing at Benmore has been very good. Fiesty rainbows are still being caught in the mid reaches of the Waimakariri. Some fly anglers have reported success in coastal reaches of rivers open to Winter fishing. With whitebait due into the river systems over the next month, the annual movement into the rivers of searun browns should soon begin. At sea some good catches of cod and groper have been recorded for those fortunate to strike reasonable sea conditions. (The last four charter trips by Canterbury Anglers' Club were cancelled because of heavy seas.) Over August the local surf casting competitions start - spoties are likely to make up most of the catch. Fish & Game released 14,000 yearling salmon smolt into the Rakaia system during an open day at the Blackford hatchery last Sunday. A tremendous amount of work is being done by Fish & Game and local salmon enthusiasts to try and restore the salmon fishery. Low water flows in Canterbury rivers is not a good sign for the coming season. One heavy fall of snow a fortnight ago is not likely to be enough to raise lake and major river levels in the Spring.

 

From steve Smith

Report type: Saltwater and Freshwater

Report date: 09 August 01

Competition

Win this book

Enter Here

Photo Competition

24kg Bluenose caug...

Enter here