Riuwaka river trout streaming in from Wairau
Nelson-Marlborough Fish and Game staff released 150 brown trout flying bright green streamers into the Riuwaka River, near Motueka during a day-long operation last week.
The trout were part of 1000 that had been electrically fished and taken to Pieter Wilhelmus’ Wairau Valley hatchery, where they were raised in ideal conditions to improve their chances of survival.
The trout averaged about 1.1 kilograms in weight and were then selected, tagged then trucked 160km back to the Riuwaka, before being released into three sites along the river.
Nelson Marlborough Fish and Game manager Rhys Barrier says having a local source of trout and salmon grown on contract will hopefully be of real benefit to licensed anglers.
‘‘We carried out the release of adult brown trout into the Riuwaka River in order to try and boost the flagging population in this river, which was once a superb fishery,’’ he said.
Fish and Game staff will use this research project to investigate recruitment issues in the fishery.
With the trout only able to spawn in the main steams of the Riuwaka River, and the river being subjected to flooding events recently, and other human activities such as earthworks and sedimentation issues, the trout population has suffered.
Fish and Game ask that anglers who catch the tagged trout release them if possible in the first year, but still let them know the tag number, date, time and location the fish was caught.
This will enable Fish and Game staff to track the movement of the fish, the project will run for the coming three years.
With the Riuwaka River closed to fishing from April 30th, Barrier reminded licence holders to make the most of the current fishing.
Field Officer Jacob Lucas says that after a wet summer, fishing conditions in Nelson and Marlborough’s rivers were now excellent.
‘‘Many rivers are hitting form, including local mainstays such as the Motueka and Wairau Rivers which are currently fishing very well, with the rivers in great shape, and good numbers of fish present,’’ he said.
‘‘While trout can be fussy at times, you’ll find success at this time of year if you target willow- lined edges and riffle habitat, using small nymphs and dry flies or cicada imitations.’’