April 2018 Otago Lakes Fishing Report

I have been enjoying the fishing recently, much more than the previous month!

Sure, the weather is tough, but the fish are feeding more, and some good ones are moving around into the rivers from the lakes, and also moving into the side streams to think about spawning. The rainbows are by far better in condition than any I have seen previously this season.

All the rivers should be fishing well if the flows permit, and the wind allows you to get a line out! 

There are also good numbers of cruising browns around river mouths and lake flats at present.

Productive flies for April are:

• Whitebait (smelt) patterns
• Black and Peacock
• Monsoms bully
• Mayfly nymphs and dries - especially in the Southland rivers

The Tekapo / Twizel canals should also be worth looking at as the temperatures decline, which makes the fish a bit more active during daylight hours.

Pictured right a nice brown landed recently by an 80 something year old (she is a very patient angler with a great attitude!), and one of several good chunky rainbows landed moving into the rivers.

Enjoy the magic of April fishing, along with the Autumn colours.