Canterbury is Chinook country. Many anglers concentrate on this species to the to exclusion of all else when they start to run up the snow-fed rivers from late November until April. While recent seasons have been less than memorable hope springs eternal and despite high rivers the prospects are not looking too bad with the Rangitata especially producing good numbers so far this season.

Just last Sunday I accompanied John Booth to a pool well up-river from the mouth. Within a couple of casts John had succeeded in hooking his first ever salmon on a white Zed Spinner. He subsequently landed a medium-sized but well conditioned fish.

Most salmon angling is spin fishing and for anglers not averse to spinning it adds another dimension to the Canterbury experience. The accompanying pic shows John anxiously playing out his first of the season.