Thread: Has anyone caught a salmon this season yet?

Had a phone call from a mate two days ago who reckons he's seen a few lately in the Wairau.

He's a trout fishing guide so should know what he's looking at

Got me thinking I might have to dust off the salmon rod a go have a crack.

No better buzz than hooking a salmon in a strong flowing river.

I can still remember my first one...

10 years old, clutha river....."hay dad ive got a snag" ... "it might not be a snag son"

Next min all hell broke loose, 22pd

Love it !!

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Originally Posted by kukuwai

Had a phone call from a mate two days ago who reckons he's seen a few lately in the Wairau.

He's a trout fishing guide so should know what he's looking at

Got me thinking I might have to dust off the salmon rod a go have a crack.

No better buzz than hooking a salmon in a strong flowing river.

I can still remember my first one...

10 years old, clutha river....."hay dad ive got a snag" ... "it might not be a snag son"

Next min all hell broke loose, 22pd

Love it !!

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You know when I hooked my first salmon I thought it was a snag too. There were a couple of snags across the other side of a hole and I cast close to one of them, the guy beside me looked like he was on the same snag as every time he pulled on his rod my rod went forward and when I pulled on my rod his rod went forward but after a while I noticed he was free of the snag and my rod kept bending and pulling and it was then I realised I had a salmon on it was a 17 pounder and I was rapt. My biggest salmon was 28 pound.

I went out for my first salmon fish of the season today but no salmon seen or caught. My mate hooked 2 trout and landed one. It was a nice day to be on the river and will try again in a week or so. Has any of you guys had any success lately?

My secret fav spot is buggered at the moment. Hole is still perfect but there is a slip up river somewhere keeping it too dirty to fish.
My old man brought one around for me to smoke for him yesterday. Wasn't a big one but at least they're there.

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@R93 Bloody good stuff, everything looked good on the river today just no salmon. I will give it a crack in another week as I have a bit on, I will give it a good solid day next time. Keep the posts coming if anyone catches anything, it's always great to hear.

Haven't heard of much action on the Waitaki yet. Had the old man over from Australia last week and hooking into Kahawai at the mouth and managed a nice trout up river too. Tried for Salmon for a day with no luck..

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I went out with a mate yesterday, we found a lovely piece of water up the river so fished it for 2-3 hours. I caught a nice sized rainbow trout on a big Z spinner but no salmon. When we came back in to the ramp there were 3 other people with boats at the ramp so I asked them if they had caught anything and one of the guys held up a nice sized salmon.

Just goes to show they are out there, we are going again in the morning.

I had a cast yesterday in my honey hole but nothing doing.
If I caught one I would have got the 3?
Caught a good elephant fish surf casting yesterday morning and got some venison within the 24hrs.

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Elephant fish are bloody nice, I love them

Originally Posted by 7mm Rem Mag

Elephant fish are bloody nice, I love them

I didn't much care for it. Always thought it was bland compared to rig etc.

Made up a batter with a double hopped Monteiths IPA and deepfryed for tea last nite.
Was bloody good and not at all bland, kept the family happy.

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I usually make up a batter and deep fry (yummy) one of my favourite fish.

Originally Posted by 7mm Rem Mag

Elephant fish are bloody nice, I love them

Was told they are in good numbers not far from the mouth. Quite a few Rig down there too.. Just head straight over the shingle bank opposite the Northern boat 'ramp' by the fishing village.

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Originally Posted by deepsouthaussie

Was told they are in good numbers not far from the mouth. Quite a few Rig down there too.. Just head straight over the shingle bank opposite the Northern boat 'ramp' by the fishing village.

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Yeah I think you need a decent surf caster to get way out to catch them. I went back up river on the Waitaki again this morning and thrashed a really nice piece of water for a few hours but came up empty again

It was a beautiful morning to be out on the river though

Heading out in the morning for my last crack at the salmon for the season, Here's hoping. Has anyone else got one yet?

Going to have a go tomorrow.
Mate has had 2. Both around 6lbs.

I seen a fish of around 8 pound caught a week ago.
Smaller again this year on the coast for some reason.

Went to my good spot on the Hoki before the weather hit and the hole was all current. Nowhere for them to sit. Perfect colour but I am assuming rock work further up river diverted more water down thru the hole.



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