The Lake Hāwea Family Fishing Classic is coming up this Saturday (February 13) with registrations opening on Friday (February 12).

The classic has been running annually since the early 1990s, and often nets hundreds of people for the community day out.

Billed as a family event, lots of locals take part, but in recent years people have travelled from Southland, Canterbury and even from as far as Blenheim to participate. 

You don’t need a boat to take part - around 30 per cent of people usually fish from Lake Hāwea’s shores.

And you don’t have to be a top fisher to score something at the end of the day either: as well as the traditional prize for the ‘heaviest fish overall’, there are also prizes for the ‘biggest tangle presented at weigh in’ and the ‘best genuine hard luck story’.

Three types of fish are caught in Lake Hāwea: Salmon, rainbow trout and brown trout - but it’s not all about the catch at the classic. 

Organisers are particularly keen for the event to introduce young people to the pleasures of fishing, and there are some awards just for the kids. 

Registrations will open on Friday February 12 and organisers said one of the sponsors, The Cardrona Distillery, has provided 200 double passes for their classic distillery tour.

“A voucher will therefore be given out to the first 200 adult or family entries that [we] receive at the registration night at the Hāwea Hotel, from 5pm…” they said.

Last-chancers will also be able to register on the day between 7:00am and 9:00am at the Hāwea Hotel.

On Saturday, weigh-in will take place between 2:00pm and 4.30pm at the Hāwea Hotel and the prizegiving will start a couple of hours later, at 6.30pm, at the same place.

Organisers have more than 20 sponsors this year. 

As in previous years, the fishing classic is a fundraiser - all net proceeds will go back into the local community.

Register for the Lake Hāwea Family Fishing Classic at the Hāwea Hotel on Friday February 12 (5:00pm-10:00pm) or Saturday (7:00am-9:00am), but the earlier the better: The best fishing is usually found early in the morning.