 Upper Clutha Angling Club: About the Club The practice, promotion and protection of angling as a sport for more than 70 years Office Holders President: Peter Brett Email address: uppercluthaanglingclub@gmail.com About the Club We are a group of keen anglers who provide a friendly and supportive club environment for both experienced anglers and those new to the sport. We usually meet on the first Tuesday every 2 month at 7.00pm at the Faulks Room, Wanaka Centre with an informal social hour at the Lake Bar on alternate months. Prospective members or those interested in finding out more about the Club are welcome to attend. Club benefits and resources include: Regular meetings, which include interesting guest speakers related to angling Current members receive a 10% discount off retail pricing at the following outlets: Southern Wild Wanaka: https://southernwild.nz/ If you would like more information about the Club and/or are interested in joining our club please click "Apply for Membership" in the menu at the top of this page. Club History Inaugural meeting (as the Upper Clutha Rod and Gun Club) was held 8 October 1949. The Club's name was subsequently changed to the Upper Clutha Angling and Game Club in 1964 and finally adopted its present name of Upper Clutha Angling Club in 1984. The strength of the Club has waxed and waned over the last 70 years, currently it is in very good shape with about 70 members. Over the years the Club has taken an active role in the conservation of sports fish in the area, including advocating for the protection of freshwater fisheries habitats and freshwater fisheries resources in the upper Clutha area. It has maintained a close relationship with Otago Fish and Game and assists Fish and Game with fish rescues, spawning surveys and creel census surveys. Synopsis of Upper Clutha Fisheries The Upper Clutha supports some of the best sport fishing in the country with both brown and rainbow trout present in lakes and rivers. Landlocked chinook salmon are also present in the lakes. The waters of the area support fly fishing, spinning and trolling from boats. But remember, all anglers need to hold a current sports fishing licence and check the Sports Fishing Regulations before going fishing. Lakes Wanaka and Hawea and their inflowing rivers provide excellent fishing opportunities for Club members that are close at hand. These include easy to access areas such as the Outlet of Lake Wanaka and the Upper Clutha River above Albert Town and the area around the Hawea Dam and at The Neck at Lake Hawea as well as the large inflowing Matukituki, Makarora, and Hunter Rivers and their tributaries where access can be more challenging. The shorelines of both lakes are also very popular for still-water anglers. The Clutha River, especially the Deans Bank fly fishing only area, also supports some great fishing. Protecting Our Future A rapidly growing population, catchment development and intense tourism pressure are all placing strains on Upper Clutha fisheries and its waters. These will only increase in the future. Climate change also presents unknown risks to sports fish. Accordingly, the Club promotes anglers limiting their catch as well as responsible angling and following Fish and Game's anglers' code of conduct to help protect the future values of our fisheries in the face of these challenges. Invasive species such as Didymosphenia germinata (rock snot) and Lindavia intermedia (lake snow) are now present in our lakes and rivers and affect the aquatic environment that fish rely on. Don't let them spread. To prevent the introduction and spread of all invasive species, check, clean and dry your equipment and/or boat before moving to different waters to fish.  UCAC Web Site. Updated: 2020-02-25 by Owen Baxter, Email: OJB@mac.com. Views: 1,141. Made with and hosted on Macintosh. |