| Opihi River
Although today the Opihi often dries up in its middle reaches it was once a premier trout and salmon fishing river. Thirty years ago the Opihi could on occasion yield more salmon to the anglers' rod than the nearby Rangitata River. It is hard to believe that when you see the Opihi today. Although the mouth can be open for a time in early spring it soon closes off. During a dry summer the middle and lower reaches almost disappear dropping to little more than a creek! Such has been the effect of taking water for irrigation!
The Opihi River and its tributaries, Opua, Te Moana, Tengawai and Waihi were once among the most famous trout fisheries in the world. There is still good dry fly fishing to be had in these areas but the flies must be small and the presentation excellent.
The salmon fishing on occasion is still good in the surf. Most angling activity is around the lagoon. Whitebaiting is also popular here in season.
Salmon runs in the Opihi River, as shown in this abridged report, published by Fish and Game, make interesting reading. It shows the salmon run in the Opihi River can in some years almost rival that of the nearby Rangitata River.
"Aerial counts of salmon redds throughout the Opihi catchment were completed for nine years between 1992 and 2007. The Opihi mainstem from the Temuka River junction upstream to Fairlie on average sustains about 40% of catchment salmon spawning. The Waihi-Temuka River accounts for about 25%, the Tengawai River about 20% and the Opuha River about 10%. A small proportion of salmon, about 5%, spawn outside of these reaches.
A salmon run that produces a spawning count of between 300 and 500 redds appears to be about the average sustained by the Opihi. The 2007/08 redd count at 670 was a very positive result and the third highest count in the last 20 years.
Over the last 15 seasons between 300 and 700 anglers have fished the Opihi each season and landed a similar number of salmon, meaning an average of about one fish per angler per season Figure 5). The standout season was 2004/05 where over 1,300 fish were caught at an average of 1.6 per angler. Spawning was also spectacular that season with more than 1,200 redds counted and a total run estimated at 4,000 fish. The 2007/08 run was modest by comparison at an estimated 2,000 fish of which 400 were caught by anglers but was considerably better than six of the last seven years and hopefully heralds a return to health for the fishery."
As always happens with salmon fishing a relatively small percentage of anglers catch most of the fish. Looking at the 2004/2005 season in the Opihi mentioned above, where the average catch was 1.6 fish per angler, some anglers would have done very well indeed getting well into double figures for the season! Not bad going for a river that most Canterbury salmon anglers from further north wouldn't even consider fishing. You have to keep in mind that up to date local knowledge regarding the condition of the Opihi River mouth, and sea conditions, would be essential if traveling from any distance.
On the 24th January 1877 salmon were first released the Opihi River, seven miles above Pleasant Point. |
