Trout Fishing in Rabbit Country

Early to mid-December is a great time to be fishing for both trout and perch. This quiet window of time offers river and lake angling solitude before waterways are inundated with post-Christmas holidaymakers. The weather is usually quite settled, water levels are still stable, and the condition of the fish and quality of the fishing can also be very good.

I’ve been lucky over the years that my holiday break has always started a week ahead of most workers, so I get a head start when it comes to early December adventures. Coincidentally, my best trips have taken place in the rabbit-prone regions of Central Otago and the Mackenzie Basin.