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| Looking west from the north bank towards the "new" motorway bridge. Over the years I have taken many searun trout from this very stretch! |
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| Looking east from the same camera position towards the old highway bridge and the railway bridge just behind it. Amazingly, once during a big flood the water lapped over the road surface. |
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By using a small D lead above the hook it is possible to fish a feathered lure on spinning gear. Pictures taken 5 November 2007. See the double rig for searun trout. |
The Waimakariri River flows across the Canterbury Plains from the Southern Alps to the sea. As it nears the end of its journey it passes close by the city of Christchurch.
The Waimakariri River “between the bridges” is a popular spot for anglers chasing searun brown trout after work. The two bridges are: the new northern motorway bridge, and just a couple of hundred metres downstream, the old main north road bridge. As such the area between them is easily accessible. Why so many anglers should gather along this short stretch is perhaps a bit strange. I guess they appreciate the company of like-minded fellows.
The searuns caught here are nowhere near as big as those caught at the mouth of the Rakaia River to the south. I'd say the average is around two pounds with the odd bigger fish getting up to 4 or 5 pounds. The brown trout caught are bright silver in colour having only recently entered the river from the sea. Their bellies are often full to the brim with small baitfish called silveries. These little fish have a distinctive cucumber smell. I know several anglers who on occasion would lip-hook a silvery and let it drift back down the current to be picked up by a waiting brown trout. This method works very well but doesn't seem to be practiced much any more. Most anglers now spin with small metal or plastic lures, or fish the fly rod with large streamer flies designed to imitate the silveries.
With daylight saving time now in force it doesn't get dark until after 8.00pm . The fishing generally improves with the onset of darkness as the searuns become less shy about herding and chasing the silveries into the shallows.
It is interesting to note that some anglers are much better at this style of fishing than others. You will often find that with ten anglers in a row one or two of them are catching
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Allan Burgess with a typical "between the bridges" searun brownie. Often the best fishing doesn't start until after sunset. |
most of the fish! This can be frustrating for the “lesser” angler. My advice is to watch very carefully what the successful bloke next to you is doing. The speed and depth of his retrieve will play a big part in his hook-up rate. With the water slightly discoloured this is largely blind fishing and the fish will often take right at the rod tip.
If you are living in Christchurch and aren't sure where to start out with trout fishing there is always a gap in the line for another rod!
Trout Fishing in New Zealand. See fishing with Devon Minnows and Trout Fishing near Christchurch.
Lower Waimakariri River Fishing MAP
Waimakariri River Salmon Fishing
