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Fishing spots and tips for Rakaia River

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Freshwater Fishing
Forum Name: Freshwater Fission
Forum Description: The place to discuss all matters related to freshwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=46862
Printed Date: 31 May 2026 at 6:04am


Topic: Fishing spots and tips for Rakaia River
Posted By: rtl18
Subject: Fishing spots and tips for Rakaia River
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2009 at 4:30pm
Hi guys,

I'm new to spin fishing and am wanting to expand my knowledge further.

Last Friday, me and a few buddies (all first timers) went out to the Rakaia River to fish. We were using 6 pound lines and some silver zed spinners. We had no idea where to fish so we just fished near the big bridge over there.

Well all in all, we caught absolutely nothing. We don't know if its the lures, the line or even the location.

Could anyone please give us a few tips on what and where should we fish? I'm really keen on catching a nice trout but have just some basic ideas on how to trout fish, and where to. Also, are waders worth the price to have?

Cheers.


Replies:
Posted By: TheBadger
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2009 at 6:39pm
You'd have a decent shot at a sea runner down at the mouth with a green zed spinner. I hooked into a mean trout down here on fly gear, but sadly all my gear took such a battering in the surf that the line snapped very soon after. Stand on the seaward side and cast your gear out into the eddy created by the outflowing gear. Then retrieve.

Posted By: rtl18
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2009 at 11:33pm
Thanks for the reply.

A green zed spinner? I think I saw a few of those at the shops. Do they come in various sizes or should I just go for an averaged sized one?

Also, could you please explain what "seaward side" and "eddy" mean? I assume that the former is towards the sea and the latter means the flow. I'm really new to all this and don't quite get what you mean. I think I have to cast towards upstream and let the spinner just flow down river?

And what sort of line were you using? I was told that the 6 pound line was strong enough to hook a trout but if your line snapped in the surf I don't know if that will be enough.

Edit - Also, since we're at the mouth could we actually use a surf caster with decent sized hooks with say ... earthworms as bait and a sinker? I mean we could just have the surf caster set up and just kept on spin fishing with the other. My friend said that there was a regulation in place where its one rod per fisherman but we don't know if its true. Could anyone verify that?

Posted By: TheBadger
Date Posted: 08 Nov 2009 at 11:40pm
I'd be looking to probably use 15lb line in the surf. I was using 10 pound flouro, and it got battered to bits. That said, it'd probably come into less contact with the rocks whilst spinning.

Ok, I literally mean stand on the beach where the river flows out to sea. Look out to sea. Cast your fly into the slack swirling water created by the outflowing river. Unless the river is flowing straight out this should be apparent. If it's flowing out just cast into the outflowing water and pull it across and through.

I'd say just go for an average-large size one. I really don't know as I'm pretty much exclusively fly fishing.

Hopefully KJ replies and sees this thread. He's far more knowledgeable about this than I.

Posted By: mole
Date Posted: 15 Nov 2009 at 4:04pm
try a 10g black& gold toby or zed , fish them up and across, ie 1st cast along the edge of the bank nxt a bit out etc also change the speed the you wind the reel. you can also try a streamer fly with a ball sinker, go ask at one of the fishing shops in chch, they should give you a idea on what to do.
with the surf caster yep 1 rod each, tho thats only if you are going after trout or salmon. bait works Very well  also, but sprats or silverys would be better than worms. have a look in the regs, you do know that you have to have a trout fishing licence dont you. lots of problems if you are picked up fishing with out one.

Posted By: rtl18
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2009 at 7:06pm
What are sprats and silverys?

And yes I plan to go for either trout or salmon and we do have our own licenses.

Posted By: lalandi
Date Posted: 17 Nov 2009 at 8:45pm
Hey Reuben33882.
Is it the Rakaia you want to fish? Or a trout you want to catch? I ask because you can put in a lot less effort for better results. If it is a trout you want to catch from the Rakaia then head to the the south side of the mouth. Buy some streamline 1/4oz sinkers and tie them on 400mm above your lure. You need to fish the bottom.
 6lb is fine for trout almost anywhere but is light for the Rakaia. If you hook up you will need to chase it downstream. Most fish (trout and salmon) are large and the flow swift. It can be challenging to fish but the potential rewards are grand.

I think lake Coleridge would suit you better. Head to Ryton bay on the north side and go for a wander. Put on something shiny about 7-10g. or a Tasmanian Devil. Brown, Rainbow and Salmon are eager in November. Lake Lyndon is also well worth a look too.

Ask at your tackle store for access pamphlets for those areas. Also, read the regulations booklet you received with your license. 
Good luck.




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So you're a feminist... How cute

Posted By: kj
Date Posted: 18 Nov 2009 at 10:47pm
The Rakaia can be a cruel mistress- some days it's on others it ain't. as Lalandi said there are way easier to fish waters around the place but there aren't too many places where huge fiesty browns can destroy you on a nine weight. Anyhow the Rakaia is a huge river and few can claim to be experts as it is also so damn changeable but heres a technigue borrowed off the lure fisherman that will give you as good a chance as any of catching a big searunner or maybe a salmon:

Step 1: ensure you have a licence
Step 2: head to your chosen fishing shop and buy some flies I suggest yellow rabbits in size 2 or 4, grey ghost or hopes silvery in size 2 to 6 and some yellow ladies. Get quite a few. Also by some banana leads and some 15lb Maxima trace line.
Step 3 : monitor the river flows on www.ecan.govt.nz. You want a bit of colour but not a full on fresh- usually perfect conditions are from 150-170 cumecs but this pretty variable so sometimes you've just gotta go. Also dusk and night fishing can be way more productive especially for the big boys.
Step 4: rig up as follows, rig the banana lead with split rings and swivels at both ends, then off the trace end swivel attach two length of mono- one approx 1.2metres and the other around 75cm in length- attach one of the yellow ladies as a salmon/attractor fly to the longest line and one of the other patterns to the other line.
Step 5: Find some good water- it varies in the rakaia but generally fish anything that resembles a drop off, slowing, constricting of flow or that generally looks fishy- you'll work it all out. Cast out, then let the sinker swing in- you'll feel it tap,tap, tapping on the bottom as it swings. At the end of the swing hang the flies then slowly retrieve up the edge.

Hope that helps.

Posted By: rtl18
Date Posted: 21 Nov 2009 at 5:26pm
Thanks for the replies all,

To be quite honest, we would really just like to try and catch a trout or salmon where ever is easiest. We don't mind driving out too far, and Rakaia just seemed to most convenient place to go.

How for are both lakes from Christchurch? We were thinking of taking a drive to Lake Tekapo too.

Thanks for the general tips kj. I should add that we are only able to do spin fishing at the moment, we want to try that out first before progressing into fly fishing. Also, we were told spin fishing is easier. 

Posted By: rtl18
Date Posted: 22 Nov 2009 at 5:16pm
We are now about to plan a trip to either Tekapo or Coleridge, however we are unable to find accommodations for Lake Coleridge (thats as cheap as possible anyways).

Anyone got any suggestions? And we are also debating between both lakes, what do you guys recommend?

Posted By: top-mark
Date Posted: 24 Nov 2009 at 8:03pm
Hi. We were down the Rakaia mouth on sat  eve. caught to Sea run Trout both good size. River was very low..

Posted By: AvidAngler
Date Posted: 28 Nov 2009 at 12:03pm
i am excited to come give this river a shot...I missed the king salmon season in Alaska this year.

What does a license cost, trout and salt?

Posted By: grimace
Date Posted: 28 Nov 2009 at 5:18pm
No license needed for saltwater (unless you're fishing for trout or salmon), freshwater license will set you back $105 for a full season.

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Cobra Fish and Dive - Sjørøver II
ZMU7181

Posted By: rtl18
Date Posted: 28 Nov 2009 at 8:48pm
Just a quick update:

Me and my friends headed down to Lake Tekapo on Friday morning. Fished at the canals (which was bloody cold). I caught 2 salmon, one being undersized so we chucked it back in and one of my mates caught a nice 3kg brown trout.

Today was horrible though, we went back to the same spots from 6am till about 3pm and caught nothing. I had a couple of brown trout chasing my lures but couldn't get them to bite.

Funny thing was, yesterday the weather was absolutely horrible with strong cold winds and it was really cloudy. Today though, the wind was weak and the sun was out. Is there a correlation there somewhere?

Edit - Also, what do I exactly do to get rid of didymo? I know I have to use a 5% bleach solution but do I soak my gear in it? Or do I just get a spray bottle and just spray liberally on everything that had contact with the water?

Posted By: TheBadger
Date Posted: 29 Nov 2009 at 4:47pm
Soak for 5 minutes, then wash clean. Glad to hear you caught some fish!

Posted By: rtl18
Date Posted: 01 Dec 2009 at 6:35pm
I've heard that leaving it to dry is another option. If we left the rods aside in the sun for a week or two (before we go for our next trip) will that be alright?

Also keen to hear from anyone who has had experience fishing at Lake Coleridge. Might head there next weekend.


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