Freshwater fishing around Christchurch

wjw · Post by **wjw** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:18 am

Anyone know where to go? do you need a licence etc? my future father in law would like to know...

tallsam66 · Post by **tallsam66** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 7:43 am

You only need a license if your catching trout or salmon.

Trout in Avon River.
Trout in Styx River...runs across Marshlands Rd
Trout in South Branch of Waimak...behind Belfast Pub
Salmon in Waimak

lots of places

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:32 am

Any rivers around Christchurh are a waste of time. If you take the time to travel north about 100km then you will really enjoy your time. A couple of places you can go are the Hurunui River by the mouth. If you travel north along SH1 towards Cheviot, turn off at Domett and head down Hurunui Mouth Road until you get to the Hurunui Mouth village. Go through the gate at the village (and make sure you shut it behind you) and drive through the village down to the river. Make sure you check the tides, and go when the tide is coming it. There you have a very good chance of catching a sea run brown trout this time of year. A good tecneque this time of year is a spinning rod (only if you can't fly fish) with a black and gold toby with a little bit of red flash. Another good place is the Waiau River just north of Culverden (sh7) travel through Culverden and head towards Hanmer Springs. About half way you will see an Angler Access Sign on the right hand side. Any of those runs are good this time of year but more productive with a fly rod or a very small spinner (again with black and gold with a little red flash). Both of these rivers produce a small number of large fish which are well worth the time and travel. Happy fishing. P.S I used to be a fly fishing guide and have lived here all my life apart from the two years I lived on the West Coast (fly fishing).

kiwipete · Post by **kiwipete** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 9:56 am

Hello Jon, what fly's/nymph's would you reccomend for the two rivers you mentioned? I want to get out and hone my skills propper this xmas. :wink:

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 1:20 pm

When the whitebait are running I would use a grey ghost streamer fly but the best all round streamer is an Olive Wooly Bugger these are best in the faster flowing water and in the deeper stuff, use a bead head wooly bugger. In the slow moving shallows I use a Dry fly with short section of tippet to a nymph (as do most people). I found the best combination in our North Canterbury rivers are a Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear or a Parachute Adams on top and a small black, flash back nymph maybe even a bead head to get some depth.

wjw · Post by **wjw** » Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:11 pm

Thanks guys...