Weather: 17.2°C. Fine overall, with some morning cloud and light southeasterlies.
River Flow: 30.2 cumecs (m³/s)
It’s been a calm week across the Central Plateau, with settled but noticeably cooler conditions. Early mornings have brought a few frosts, and a light dusting of snow on the tops of the Kaimanawa Ranges and on the big mountains is a sure sign that winter is starting to creep in.
Over the weekend, conditions were outstanding, with clear skies and barely a breath of wind. River traffic was also on the lighter side, giving those out for a fish plenty of room to move and cover water without much disruption.
We saw flows increase on Saturday for the Anzac Day recreational release, with the river rising to around 55 cumecs. Plenty of anglers were out early, getting a few casts in after dawn parades before the water came up.
Rosie and I managed to sneak out for a fish before opening the shop at midday. Fishing her two-hander, she hooked three fish. One on the slightly slabby side, with the other two in nice, fresh condition. One ended up coming home for the table.
We ran into a few other anglers along the way who had much the same idea as us, making the most of the window before and during the higher flow.
Flows dropped back to normal levels by the evening, although the river remained very fishable throughout the day. While it was up and carrying a bit of colour, focusing on the edges proved to be the most effective approach.
Saturday was a busy one in the shop, which was great to see after a slightly quieter spell. The good weather and long weekend definitely played a part in that.
Reports from Sunday and Monday were very encouraging, with more fresh fish being landed. It’s a positive sign and bodes well for the winter season ahead.
On Monday, I headed out to one of the local lakes to show a mate a few tricks for lake-style fishing.
The morning started off calm and very foggy, with the mist hanging around until about 10am before finally lifting. It gave way to glassy conditions and turned into an absolutely stunning day on the water.
We spent the full day out there, mixing in plenty of practice and trying a few different methods. I managed to land a couple of smaller “football” rainbows along the way, which was a nice bonus.
All in all, an absolute blast of a day.
Duck Shooting Season
Looking ahead, a quick reminder for anglers planning to fish the smaller lakes, or any areas where duck shooting is permitted. Duck shooting season opens this weekend on Saturday, 2nd May.
We encourage both anglers and hunters to be mindful of those around them. If you’re heading into an area open to duck hunting, make sure you’re visible, aware of others, and taking the necessary precautions.
DOC is also reminding hunters to correctly identify duck species to avoid accidentally shooting protected or native birds. “not all ducks are fair game.”
Looking ahead, the weather is shaping up nicely over the coming days, with light winds and a bit of cloud cover. Nights are cooling off again, so expect a few frosty mornings, but once the sun’s up it should turn into some beautiful days. Ideal conditions for getting out on the water, more so for the anglers than the duck hunters.
Time to dust off the glo bugs and stock up on fresh indicators. We’re nearly there.
Tight lines everyone!
~ Niamh (Bluey)