O Tu Wharekai (Ashburton Lakes) and many other Central South Island waterways will open for the 2025-2026 high-country sports fishing season tomorrow.
The season provides an opportunity for adventurous anglers to get away from the crowds into more remote places such as Lake Emily and Mystery Lake at O Tu Wharekai.
The opening is traditionally a social fishing occasion often centred around hut settlements and camps like the Lake Clearwater Huts and Arrowsmith Station Camp at Lake Heron Camp.
The main fishing season opened on October 1, for rivers like the Ashburton and Rangitata.
Central South Island Fish and Game senior officer Rhys Adams said frequent rain events in alpine areas had unfortunately kept these rivers high and often in unfishable condition.
‘‘With many lakes opening on November 1, there will soon be lots of lake fishing options available that do not get impacted by rain events,’’ Adams said.
A new regulation would provide increased opportunity for anglers who like to fish with modern lure designs.
Scented soft baits, when actively fished to imitate bait fish, may now be used in waterways where spin fishing is permitted. This includes popular fishing lakes of Camp, Clearwater and Emma.
A further regulation, mandating the use of only single hooks at Lake Heron, has been agreed for implementation in the follow fishing season starting in November 2027.
It aims to minimise the risk of injury to undersize salmon that must be caught and released.
The delay in introducing it allows anglers to familiarise themselves with the regulations and switch to single hooks before it is required by law.
‘‘To support the transition to the new regulation in 2027, Fish & Game are encouraging Lake Heron anglers to take steps towards minimising the risk of injury to undersize salmon that must be released this season.
“Careful handling of small salmon will ensure they thrive and go on to be harvested in the lake next season or contribute to the sea-run salmon fishery of the Rakaia River.
“Fish & Game’s primary advice is to use single barbless hooks to enable a quick dehooking, to always keep the fish in the water, and to limit the number of undersize salmon caught and released,’’ he said.
Many high-country fisheries were in, or adjacent to, farmland, so he reminded anglers to always gain permission before accessing private land, to leave farm gates as they were found, and to avoid disturbing stock.
There will be a Kids Salmon Fishing Day at Loch Cameron near Twizel, for ages between 4 and 11.
Registration is from 8.30am, fishing starts 9am. Mount Cook Alpine Salmon has donated hundreds of salmon to stock the loch for the event.
A sports fishing licence is required to fish for trout, salmon and perch in freshwater and all anglers must abide by the sports fishing regulations.
Licences and the 2025-2026 regulations guide are at local sports stores and fishandgame.org. nz
