Nearly all Nelson Marlborough trout anglers will be aware of our current hatchery operation in the Wairau Valley. Many of them enjoy the benefits the hatchery provides in terms of a regular supply of ‘ready to catch and consume’ trout, which are frequently released into put and take fisheries in the region during the year.
Fish & Game have been running a hatchery programme for around 6 years now as agreed mitigation with Manawa Energy (formerly Trust Power) for the inability of the Branch hydro intake fish ladder to provide consistent upstream fish passage for trout. In recent years, around 5000 rainbow trout per annum have been grown at the hatchery to a 1kg+ size, and liberated into Lake Argyle, Waimea Park Educational fishery, and the Branch/Leatham river system above the hydro intake.
Since our release programme commenced, regional growth in anglers, particularly families, has increased considerably. We have also retained and reactivated many other anglers, who either find our wild fisheries difficult to succeed on, or don’t have the mobility to fish there anymore. They enjoy the fact they can go to these places and see good numbers of fish, with a more than reasonable chance to succeed.
The amount of positive feedback we get from anglers is humbling to say the least, they don’t mind paying for their licence when they see tangible value for money. Lake Argyle, for example, is now our most popular trout fishery, to the extent that it is now on the destination list for many visiting anglers, often the first stop off the ferry.
Our latest hatchery manager, Rob Foster, comes from a dairy farming background and has taken to his new role like the proverbial fish to water. He has been working for Fish & Game for one year and has brought excellent initiatives and practicality to the operation, no doubt gained through his life working in the rural sector.
You’ve got a good chance to bump into Rob, or other Fish & Game staff this summer at places where we do our releases – they always attract plenty of attention, especially when some of the thumper 10+ pound fish are released – that sure gets anglers running to grab their rods!
