Season opener sublime

Rolleston family Ronelle Van Dongen with her two sons Thomas (left) and Archie were savouring their success at the Rangitata mouth on opening day, the boys using worm for bait to great effect. PHOTO: BLAKE HARPER/CSIFGC

Weather and waterway conditions were ideal for the 2024/25 fishing season’s opening day on October 1.

With opening falling on a weekday during the school holidays, retirees and school children were out in force.

Water levels were ideal at Lake Opuha, with most anglers catching 1kg-1.3kg brown trout.

Central South Island Fish & Game rangers said about 30 anglers fished the lake from boat and shore, a relatively low number compared with recent openings.

Christchurch children Jael Tafea (left), 10, and Addison Ioane, 9, had a school holiday adventure bait fishing with their grandfather Robert Cannard at Lake Opuha on opening day. PHOTO: RHYS ADAMS/CSIFGC

There were a scattering of anglers throughout the Ōpihi River and its tributaries such as the Tengawai and Temuka rivers, where a few healthy brown trout about 1kg-2.3kg were landed, mainly by anglers fly-fishing.

At the Rangitata River, anglers fishing with worm bait were the most successful.

A small number of anglers were checked on at the Ōrāri and Pareora rivers.

Anticipation for Pareora was high as some fish seen appeared to be quite large but were proving difficult to catch.

Archie Shearer, 7, of Timaru, fished Lake Opuha on opening day using a black and silver cobra lure to land this brown trout all on his own. PHOTO: SIMON GRANT

Rangers checked on anglers fishing the Waitaki River and at adjoining Bells and Bortons ponds, and anglers were observed along the length of the river, fishing from the shore and jetboats.

The relatively low river allowed shoreline anglers easy access and most had hooked a fish by lunchtime.

The fishing season for local fisheries, like Ōpihi River and Lake Opuha remains open until April 30.

Many high country rivers and lakes remain closed until their opening day on the first Saturday in November (2).

This includes Lake Alexandrina and the Hakataramea River.

Timaru Courier