Published On: Thu, Sep 13th, 2018

Rakaia River / Salmon | By Allan Burgess

Rakaia River Salmon Fishing Contest Photographs

Rakaia River Salmon Contests Photographs

2003-2010 Photographs Allan Burgess

A second gallery will be posted on this page soon!

Jet boaters on the lower Rakaia River during the Competition 2009.

Local Rakaia woman Jill burrows scooped the big prize in the recent 2009 Rakaia River Salmon Fishing Competition held 27 February to 1 March.

Compare "Ken" Linda Topp - of the Topp Twins - congratulates Jill Burrows winner of the major prize draw.

Salmon anglers on the south side of the rivermouth during the competition. The river came down a bit discoloured on day 3. During 2009

One of only six salmon weighed in on day three. There were 14 on day 1 and 21 salmon caught on day 2. 2009.

A Kawasaki 4x4 motorbike similar to that won during the fishing competition.

Time for a break from fishing near the Rakaia River mouth.

Nigel Riley Rakaia Salmon Fishing Contest 2010

4x4s near the Rakaia River mouth during the fishing contest.

Gary Sullivan from Ashburton won the big prize of a four wheeler and trailer in the Major Prize Draw held at the end of the 2008 Rakaia Salmon Fishing Contest.

Blue Morrison Rakaia Salmon Fishing Contest 2010

Gary Sullivan Heaviest Trout 2010

Members of the organising committee.

Compare John Gadsby left talks with Kerry Whiting at the prize giving. Kerry's salmon weighed 7.24kg and was the heaviest salmon caught during the contest. 2006

Contestants in the hall during the 2006 Rakaia River Salmon Fishing Contest.

Kerry Whiting (left) at the prize giving. In all there were some 700 contestants, with 24 salmon and 71 trout caught altogether. The salmon that were caught were in excellent condition but small. The Rakaia River was running very low and clear during the event. 2006

From left: Bruce Rule, James Moore, Ken Lee and Grant Perry.

Rakaia Salmon Fishing Contest 2007 Phil Strangman

Don and Penny Sippel from Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada.

The Rakaia River Salmon Fishing Competition is a major highlight on the angler’s social calendar. Entry tickets are usually limited due to the size of the hall at Rakaia where the prize-giving is held. So if you wish to enter it pays to get your tickets early. The competition runs over three days during late February and early March. It is very well run, has tremendous prizes, and attracts entrants from all over new Zealand. For tickets and further details see the Rakaia River Fishing Promotions link below.

Rakaia River Fishing Promotions have been running a salmon fishing competition since 1983 which makes us the most successful fresh water fishing competition and the only salmon fishing competition in New Zealand.

Rakaia River Salmon Fishing

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About the Author

Allan Burgess - Fishingmag.co.nz website editor.

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Salmon Fishing Menu

Salmon Fishing Menu

Rakaia River Salmon Pics

Big sea-run brown trout caught and released by Allan Burgess at the Rakaia River mouth. It measured at least 700 mm in length.

More salmon anglers' quad bikes on the beach at South Rakaia.

Salmon anglers at South Rakaia.

Salmon anglers' quad bikes on the beach at South Rakaia.

Salmon fishing at South Rakaia.

Another salmon caught during the 2016-2017 season in the Rakaia River. Photograph courtesy of Charles Smith.

Salmon caught during the 2016-2017 season in the Rakaia River. Photograph courtesy of Charles Smith.

Kevin Belcher with a brace of salmon from the Rakaia River 8 February 2008.

Kevin Belcher heaviest salmon caught during the Rakaia Salmon Fishing Competition 2017

Limit bag. Photograph Charles Smith.

Early Morning on the Rakaia River. Photograph Charles Smith.

Sam Petrie doing a fine job with the cook-up! Photograph Charles Smith.

Tyler Brown with a Rakaia Salmon. Photograph Charles Smith.

Two salmon limit bag. Photograph Charles Smith.

Rakaia River mouth salmon anglers in the fog during the annual fishing contest 2015.

Modern atv at the Rakaia River mouth.

Rakaia River salmon anglers.

Laid-back fishing at the Rakaia Lagoon.

Fishing the Rakaia River surf.

This salmon was taken on a Sally spoon rather than a zed spinner.

A good salmon on the line.

The north side of the gut was the place to be as the tide dropped.

A narrow channel of blue river water, hard against the north bank, can be seen extending from the gut down to the red arrow. Conditions were perfect for anglers on the north side as salmon swam up the river within a river!

There were no salmon caught on the south side of the gut during the morning. However after lunch, when most contestants had returned to the hall at Rakaia for the competition prize-giving, there where about 10 salmon caught where this line of anglers are standing at the top of the gut. Waves from the incoming tide where driving dirty sea water across the spit on the south side, forcing the clean river water up against the bank on the north side. This created a sort of blue water channel for the salmon to swim up on the north side. Hence the reason all the salmon were being taken on the north side though none had been all morning. Only a couple of fish were taken on the north side of the gut during the afternoon.

Another fish hooked on the north side of the gut.

Playing one of the fish on the north side of the gut.

With anglers casting zed spinners from both sides of the gut it is inevitable that lines become crossed. Its all part of the fun!

This salmon was taken on the north side of the gut. It was one of the fish that swam up the line of clear water.

It was a walk of at least 3km down to the mouth on the south side without a quad bike. or jet boat.

One of the salmon taken in the surf.

This fish weighed 7kg. It was taken in the surf.

Note how the line of anglers extends out into the river flow. All the salmon caught here, except one, were taken close to the end of the line. Some blokes got a bit scared after a big wave rolled in and decided to head back up the beach.

This is one of a dozen salmon taken from the surf on the south side.

Anglers casting for a salmon early on Sunday morning 1 March 2015 at the mouth of the Rakaia River. Heavy fog was eventually burnt-off by bright sunshine. These guys are standing in the river where it meets the sea on the south side of the river mouth. The high tide has was holding back the river flow. There were about a dozen salmon caught early on before the fog lifted.

Charles with what looks light quite a big fish for the 2014-2015 season.

A "red letter" salmon fishing day at the mouth of the Rakaia River.

Another good fish on!

A fresh caught silver salmon from the lower Rakaia River.

A bright silver sea-run salmon.

A salmon on in the Rakaia River lagoon.

Though not huge salmon they are good fighters and excellent eating.

This is another good size fish from the Rakaia River.

Charles with a fresh sea-run salmon.

A brace of silver beauties from the Rakaia River surf.

Easy does it. Keeping a constant bend in the rod!

Picket fence on the south side of the Rakaia River mouth.

Rakaia River salmon anglers photographed from the south side of the river mouth. Photograph courtesy of Charles Smith.

Rakaia River salmon on an Abu Revo Toro reel. Photograph courtesy of Charles Smith.

Robert Watson with a pre-Christmas Rakaia River Salmon. Photograph courtesy of Charles Smith.

Charles Smith with a 9lb salmon from the mighty Rakaia River. This is a typical sized fish for the 2014-2015 salmon season.

Tyler Brown fighting a salmon in the Rakaia River. Photograph courtesy of Charles Smith.

Tyler Brown fishing through a hole on the lower Rakaia River.

Charles in to another Rakaia River salmon.

Charles playing a Rakaia River salmon during the early part of 2015.

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