19/02/2025
19/02/25
Hi there, here’s your Weekly Catch Up for Waimate District, brought to you by Jean and Lyndsey at TackleShop General Store, normally broadcast on Waimate WCR 87.7fm.
Remember from last week our usual radio report on WCR 87.7fm is on hold for a couple of weeks so back to normal after that.
Also, parking on the main street is a bit of a pain while road resurfacing is underway, but all will be completed by the end of next week so hopefully worth the inconvenience.
Let’s start as usual with the area tide times and best fishing times from Ocean Fun for the weekend ahead.
Saturday 22nd:
High Tide 1206pm - Low tide at 545am and 626pm
Sunday 23rd:
High Tide 1259pm - Low tide at 636am and 716pm
Best Fishing:
Saturday 824am
Sunday 919am
From my Met Office information on Tuesday, all looks great despite a possible shower or two during the week then a sunny weekend ahead.
The Waitaki flow is looking big again on Tuesday at around 508+ cumecs after a weekly High of around 583 cumecs and as low as 324 cumecs on Feb 14th. The flow is fluctuating a lot due to spillage at the dams so just keep an eye on that and don’t camp at water’s edge sites for now, keep on higher ground where possible
Elephantfish reports have been a bit on the quiet side lately, but I am sure there are still some being caught as the season is still at its peak and probably stay that way until end of next month.
Salmon reports are at nil for now as usual but again, expect some sign of returns from now on as the Waitaki is a late producer. The Salmon are smaller now so if you get a double figure fish it will more likely be a Trout than Salmon.
Salmon are black in their mouth and have a vee tail while trout are white mouth and squared off spotty tail.
If you target Salmon, be sure to have your $5 endorsement on your licence or prepare to return any and all river Salmon you catch, unharmed.
Kahawai are still about at the river mouths and are an easy catch with a silver hex lure. Call in for some at TackleShop, plenty there in all sizes and colour combos.
Trout are everywhere in the Waitaki, in the main flows and in the side streams. Find a bit of deep run and fish into the bottom where the fish are lying using small silvery or flashy spinners or even black and gold combo lures.
Always have a downstream area where fish can take you on foot while you chase them, they are fit and feisty.
Also, exercise the dry rock principle when in the Waitaki, watching for rising flows as the hydro discharges are fluctuating without notice lately.
Watch a small dry rock in the water near you and gauge the water rise against the dryness, when the rock is underwater, get out fast!
Lakes, especially Benmore are going off for Salmon anglers with a ripper `15 pounder taken last week near Haldon Arm. These big fish are everywhere, just change the technique to downriggers or lead lines to get down to them in these brighter hotter days.
Silver spinners like zed spinners behind a dodger work well.
We have a selection of dodgers in stock here at TackleShop too.
The Sockeye Salmon will be closer to the river mouths in the lakes now as they are starting their spawn run in the likes of the Ahuriri, Tekapo etc.
Quite a spectacle as they are colouring up now.
Send us your pictures of your fishing trips or post them on our page for Waitaki Angling and Outdoors for all to see.
OK there you are and there you have it, that’s this week’s informative for you so in the interim, make best of your surroundings whether hunting, fishing, camping or boating and feel free to post pictures of your adventures on our Waitaki Angling and Outdoors page on Facebook, we’d love to see them!
Now, what has been happening this week at TackleShop General Store? We have been flat out restocking into the gaps and those new products include.....
Don’t forget those Retts Slides and Jandals now that summer has arrived
Heatpumps and LogFires are still ripping along - Free Quotes, fast installs.
More funny earrings in stock, Road Cones, Crocs, and funnies plus more due any day!
Outdoor themed tee shirts for Deer hunting and Trout fishing at the door.
Sport watches back in stock, different ones this time.
All Tent stock less 10% while stocks last
Big Smoke BBQ meat rubs, Sauces and spices in our hunting area by the counter
Golf Balls - restocked Snell and Accufli
Topped up socks, yes they are Camouflage! (you’ll never find them in your drawers!)
New Gaiters ready for hunting season and in Fishing there’s a flash new range of lures for the canals, rivers, lakes etc
Weather vanes in many themes, check them out in our front window
AND SO MUCH MORE!
Righto, that’s it, it all completes this week’s report, so on to our weekly request spot.
There will be no request spot this couple of weeks but it will be back to Jean’s choice when Stu is back soon.
That's us so if relaxing at the river or lake or driving about visiting friends, keep safe from Jean and Lyndsey down here at TackleShop General Store, 70 Queen St, downtown Waimate, phone us on 027 2214346 and remember to look us up on Facebook under TackleShop General Store for up to date releases etc.
Have a great week out there!