Angling

The rain earlier this week was a bit of a glitch as far as good fishing is concerned.

It has been very dry over the past week and this is reflected in the rapidly dropping levels of the region’s rivers and streams.

The past week has been mainly fine but rather cool and there has been enough rain to raise the level of some rivers and streams but most waters are looking good for the weekend.

Otago Fish & Game is asking the public for help after anglers’ signs, worth $2500, were destroyed in the Nevis River backcountry fishery.

The rain last weekend pushed up river levels and showers during the week have kept them topped up in many cases.

The considerable rainfall over the first few days of this week has raised the levels of all rivers and streams.

The season is getting off to a good start, most waters have been fishable over the past week and prospects are good for the weekend.

I drove to Invercargill and back on Sunday and on the way down I was keen to see the state of the various streams that I would cross.

Another season has come to a close, a season of extremes with big flood and drought.

I am tapping out this column in Wanaka as I am running a fishing and fly-tying course here and for recreation I go fishing in the evening. I have just come in from the river.

The fine weather continues but it looks like our luck will run out on Sunday, so if you intend to fish this weekend, Saturday is the day to go.

Despite the Taieri at Outram more than doubling in flow, it has only gone from very, very low to low.

The record temperatures recorded recently have kept rivers and streams warmer than normal for the time of year, but it will just take a frost or two to cool them down.

The long-range weather forecast predicts little rain in the near future which bodes well for us anglers as rivers will remain low and clear.

There is more than a hint of autumn in the air over the last few mornings with fog in the valleys and a heavy dew everywhere else.

At the time of writing rivers are low and clear but with some rain forecast rivers could rise by the weekend.

River levels have dropped very low over the past week but luckily it has not been too hot and water temperatures have remained within the comfort zone.

We are in the middle of a purple patch as far as fishing is concerned and cicadas are dropping on the tussock lakes, willow grub are falling on lowland streams and trout are taking advantage of...

Summer has arrived (again) this week, and with the weather forecast looking as settled as it has been for a while, this will be the weekend to get out fishing. River levels are also just right.