Their visit coincides with the journey of quinnat salmon from the Pacific Ocean, a journey that started in the river gravel two or three years before. Most return to the river in February or early March. This year however the salmon are a little tardy so there are still fresh fish in the river now. The salmon season has been rather poor by all accounts but those who have been disappointed so far might just still be able to improve this year's score over the next couple of weeks. Salmon fishing is more than a bright fish on the bank.
Most realistic anglers consider it a bonus.
Catch rates are measured as days per salmon. Trout fishers hope for fish per hour. While salmon will come to persistent anglers who have the right gear, and who know where, when and how to fish it, there are many fishless hours, even for the experts. But salmon days are not wasted. Just being on the Waitaki is reward.