It appears everyone is talking apart from the man or women who may have caught a potential world record brown trout in the Pukaki-Ohau A Canal near Twizel.

Eyewitness’s have reported the extraordinary catch which is believed to be 55 pounds (24.9kg).

The current record is 42lb 1oz (19.1kg) and was also caught in the canals back in 2013.

South Canterbury Fishing Report

Fish and Game’s Hamish Stevens ventured to the Rangitata mouth earlier this week and encountered 17 anglers, 4 on the north side who were all looking to bag themselves a salmon.

The report from one regular north side angler was that there have been three salmon caught at the mouth and three just upriver this season.

Over on the south side, the salmon run lately could be described as a trickle.

Hamish caught up with Ian Jenkins who had decided that he better dust of the old line for his first fish for the season. Then caught a solid 15-pound salmon.

Story go’s one salmon was caught there the day before too, by another angler having their first go for the season.

The rain events this season have been relentless and accordingly we had another dose from the sky last Sunday.

Most of our rivers received a bump in flow, most notably the Pareora and Kakanui.

By Friday all river levels should be fine for fishing, even if we get a shower or two of rain through Thursday and Saturday.

Another westerly front is set to hit the divide this weekend, so keep an eye on river flows in the Rangitata and Ahuriri.

They might come up Saturday afternoon and probably will be up on Sunday.

North Canterbury Fishing Report  

On Sunday the weather changes to a cooler south westerly flow. At this stage it is unclear how much rain this will bring to the Canterbury headwaters. The main bulk of rain is Saturday evening.

Even if this rain is heavy it will take a while for the main alpine rivers to start rising in the lower reaches. This will give anglers an opportunity to target these rivers for salmon and sea run trout.

Currently the rivers are ideal for salmon fishing and will continue to clear heading into Saturday.

There are salmon being caught at the Hurunui and Rakaia and also good reports of sea run brown trout being caught.

Foot hill streams such as the Ashley and Selwyn are flowing well. The Selwyn has only just disappeared sub surface at State Highway One.

There are still good flows further down at Coes and Chamberlains Ford.

High country fishing will be challenging with the wind this weekend. High country lakes are continuing to fish well and the windy conditions will only encourage trout feeding. They are often seen feeding in the waves as insects get stirred up by the wave action.

The challenge can be casting into the wind if you are fly fishing. Often wading out and casting side ways is the best option.

Spin anglers should target the rougher end of the lakes and cast into the wind. The trout can be in quite close in these conditions.

Boat anglers will be able to tuck in in calmer areas. Fish are still rising well in calmer areas of the lakes.

Back country rivers will be low and clear heading into the weekend but they may receive some rainfall Saturday night and the conditions are going to be very windy. Not ideal conditions for fly anglers.

Recently we had a report of anglers jetboating the Hydra Waters which is the most significant spawning and rearing stream in our region. In the past there have been signs at the Hydra waters informing jet boaters that it is an offence to disturb spawning grounds.

These signs had washed away in flood, so staff will be installing new ones next week. We do not have sings at all the spawning streams, they are just at the Hydra waters as jetboating there is a reasonably common occurrence.

 

Images and Words supplied.