Reel Life – January 2026
Summer Angling Sensational
“Four days walk in. Three mates. Exploring the back country. It’s not always about the size or number of fish – it’s about the people, the laughs and the experience. Trout live in beautiful places and it’s a privilege to share their habitat with them.” Credit: Jason Rendle.
The fishing has been awesome. It’s been great to see anglers out and about all over the country over the summer break, many ignoring the weather and just going out and enjoying the fishing.
You could almost say it’s been more like spring than summer.
The weather might force you to alter your plans, but we are so lucky in NZ that we have a lot of great fishing options you can try out.
Check out the regional links above for the latest intel, plus you can see some great fish that anglers from all over the country have landed.
Remember, February is an awesome month for fishing.
Licence Photo Competition
Send in your best fishing picture to go in the monthly draw for our annual Fishing Licence photo competition.
Enter here, and you could win one of the monthly $250 Kilwell vouchers and then be eligible for the $1000 prize for the overall winner, plus get your image on next year’s fishing licence.
Licence Photo Competition Winner December
Incredible colours and condition on that beauty! Credit: Simon Zenzen.
Simon is the second monthly winner of a $250 Kilwell voucher. January entries are open and get your entry in now here.
Juvenile trout captured during the January electric fish of Adamstown Creek.
Our Fish & Game teams have been out and about over the summer, undertaking work such as creel surveys, electric fishing and drift diving.
All of this information is crucial as we monitor our fisheries to ensure there is a sustainable harvest.
These studies also provide information when the councils are proposing any regulation changes, so they are a vital component in our work programmes.
From Lake to Plate
After a day on the water, it’s hard to beat a simple fish fry-up. Recipe: Selwyn Clarke.
Don’t Forget to ‘Check, Clean & Dry’
As the warmer months approach and you move around more to fish and explore, we need to remember to check, clean, and dry any clothing, equipment, and fishing gear before moving between waterways to help prevent the spread of aquatic pest species.
Check out the MPI website here for advice and help prevent the spread of any nasties!