Fishing News index> October 2008

As is usually the case at this time of the year our office is generally taking calls or visits from anglers and their early season successes. Unfortunately this season things are off to a slow start with the only angling reports coming from anglers still targeting the Kai-Iwi Lakes near Dargaville. Northland, unlike the rest of the country suffers from a lack of anglers so fishing pressure is minimal so the need to be the first on a favourite stretch of water is irrelevant. 

Despite the lack of reporting we feel confident that the rivers and streams throughout the region will still produce the goods despite the earlier severe flooding they received during winter and autumn periods. Annual spawning beds and fry may have been destroyed or diminished but older age class fish will survive to continue the cycle.

The larger fish simply drop into deeper pools and backwaters where they are afforded some flash flooding protection. Upper reaches on most waterways will show signs of fish once the summer temperatures kick in with larger lower reaches being the place to try right now. Waters around the region are starting to clear so sight fishing will improve. Fishing on or near tributary confluences is probably the best place to fish at the moment as fish haunt the waters where clean meets cloudy.

Reporting from our main lakes fishery (Kai-Iwi Lakes) has been great with good numbers of fish being taken. The attraction to these waters is obvious as their eating quality is superb and always enjoyed. Anglers are catching the fingerling releases from May this year, which are already legal at 300mm in length. Most fishermen report that they choose to release these juveniles in the hope that the growth rates continue for next winter.

Numbers caught are easily obtainable and most fish are being taken during the day trolling with lead lines. The lake levels are higher than normal which we believe is having a dramatic effect on the fisheries aquatic life and food production. Higher water levels expand spawning areas where other fish species in lake can reproduce. Usually dry reed bed margins are now inundated, which offer greater protection allowing for higher rates of survival.

As the summer heat builds up  it  will no doubt dwindle lake levels to their normal but in the meantime anglers can look forward to well conditioned fish.

As we head into November/December we expect reports to improve especially with longer finer days and the thought of the Christmas holidays. Updates for these months will be available as reports are received.
 
Old But New

Staff have recently investigated the upper reaches of the Tirohanga River catchment near Kawakawa. The Tirohanga fishery is a self-sustaining fishery, which has its origins in the Russel State Forest and the upper Ruapekapeka hills areas.

This is a wonderful fishery with wide lowland shingle runs and pools and native tree-lined wilderness gorges which offer solitude and cool waters. Fish & Game have always wondered at the fisheries potential so an in stream trek was undertaken. Staff found that the “Tiri” (local nickname) was like so many other Northland rivers in that they are easily manipulated with flash flooding. In stream boulders and obstructions are few and far between, which definitely offers little in the way of protection for fish from these flooding events. Fish tend to be swept down stream into the lower reaches where bigger deeper wider pools and tree debris offers protection.

Visual confirmation of Fry/fingerlings age class fish in the upper reaches was non-existent where one would normally expect to find them. Local farmers confirmed that the fishery has some good-sized specimens in residence so a summer expedition is planned when it is expected these fish will seek the cooler bush clad waters.

Our office hopes that the fishery is viable enough to allow an access programme to be implemented so anglers can enjoy this little known water. Progress on this fishery will be ongoing so we hope to be able report favourable findings in the near future.

Until next month.

 
 Regards
Graham White
Field Officer

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