Many waters open for trout, salmon and perch fishing on Tuesday, October 1, and all anglers must hold new season’s licences to fish in the new season as all previous licences expire on September 30.
Popular fishing spots for opening day and early in the season include Rangitata/Rakitata River, Ōpihi River, Lake Opuha/Ōpūaha, Waitaki River and Lake Benmore.
Hundreds of anglers, including three recently hired Temuka-based Central South Island Fish & Game (CSIFG) staff members responsible for managing the sports fishery, are eager to head out fishing this season.
Graeme Clarke joins the CSIFG team in the role of environmental officer.
He has 15 years’ experience in ecological science and resource management in Canterbury and looks forward to advocating for improved river flow and allocation limits that better support freshwater ecosystems.
"I’m particularly passionate the lakes of the Mackenzie Basin and plan to take my family out fishing there this season," Mr Clarke said.
Jase Van Beers joins the CSIFG team as a fish and game officer with a focus on maintaining access to waterways, monitoring the compliance of anglers with theregulations and supporting anglers to be more successful.
Mr Van Beers has led a braided-river native bird protection programme in the Rangitata/Rakitata river catchment for the Department of Conservation over the past four years.
"Having found some success fishing the hydro canals for big rainbow trout and fishing for sea-run salmon in the Rangitata River, I am keen to take on the challenge of learning the art of fly fishing this season and to share my journey in our weekly fishing report newsletter," he said.
Blake Harper also joins the CSIFG team fulltime in the role of ecologist, with previous experience in the CSI region in a temporary "summer" position.
Mr Harper is in the final stages of his master of science degree in which he has researched the prevalence of juvenile sockeye salmon in the diets of Lake Benmore’s trout.
"Being relatively new to Canterbury, I look forward to exploring the fishing on offer at local waterways like the Ōpihi River in spring, and then heading to the high country in summer to fish Lake Alexandrina and rivers in the Mackenzie Basin," Mr Harper said.
Anglers are reminded to review and adhere to the sports fishing licensing and regulations and to contact Fish & Game if clarification is needed.
Many high-country waterways remain closed untilNovember 2 in the Central South Island Fish &Game region, including the Hakataramea River and Lake Alexandrina/Takamana.
