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Fishing News index> December 2008
PROSPECTS EXCELLENT FOR PRIME TIME FISHING
As Christmas draws nearer so to does the period where fishing reaches its prime! The last few weeks has produced some outstanding days - both weather and fishing wise. We can now say goodbye to those stuttered winter occasions and welcome the calm clear still summer dawns and dusks. The Met Service is predicting a summer with low rainfall, consistently high temperatures, and with this we will see that over the next month or two the fishing will reach its ‘prime’. Christmas holidays are a time to relax in the outdoors and retire from the concrete jungles where we normally live – a time to recharge the batteries. So get some of that new fishing gear you asked for - for Christmas and get out enjoy the kiwi fishing experience – and you can do all this so close to home.
A stunning brown trout from the Rangitikei River Photo: Jack McKenzie
RIVER LEVEL UPDATE – Is the river fishable?
For information on river levels you can ring our 0900 TROUT phone line.
FISHING IMPROVES ON LOCAL RIVERS
Recently, most of the Wellington region has experienced some amazing days that have seen people flock to waterways in great numbers. In the Wellington urban surrounds, both the Hutt and Wainuiomata rivers are continuing to produce reasonable numbers of trout. The headwaters of some of the tributaries to these rivers hold some good sized trout in them also, and can often be a good place to fish when the main rivers are flowing high and slightly discoloured due to rainfall. In December and Janurary most fish are finding their way back from these spawning reaches into the main stems and settling in to their favourite pools and riffles.
Along the Kapiti Coast, all three rivers are giving anglers consistent results. The Regional Council has nearly finished its flood protection work so from now onwards, combined with fewer rainfall events, we will see more undisturbed rivers and experience fishing of great quality. The trout are starting to move up the system as the whitebait run tapers off on the lower reaches. Like most areas the flow here is beginning to drop and the fish are locating themselves in areas with plenty of food, oxygen and shade.
The Otaki River looking an absolute picture -- with a backwater pool giving refuge to some good sized brown trout.
Also, in the Wairarapa area, the rivers are becoming less affected by rainfall, the flows are dropping and water is becoming clearer on a regular basis. This has seen trout move into the deeper pools or sections where shade is plentiful. Often trout have been observed rising during the day to feed, although the preferred time is still on the change of light early morning and early evening, when the temperatures are slightly lower and the trout are in shallower water. The Ruamahanga River is still holding good numbers of trout, which are free to move up and down at will and often alternate between the Waiohine, Waingawa and Waipoua Rivers. Areas that seem to be productive are the confluences with the above rivers and the Ruamahanga River.
Further north the Rangitikei, Manawatu and Hautapu rivers are all holding good numbers of reasonable sized trout. Early indications are that last year’s fantastic season are being matched – in terms of catch rate and condition. The Mangatainoka has also been productive with the odd brown trout of 3-4lbs being caught and released. Large trout have been seen on several occasions in the Manawatu River from bridges around Palmerston North. This is a useful snapshot of what might be present as trout can be seen from many of the bridges that cross the rivers, and is often a good place to fish.
A productive days spin fishing on the Pohangina River
It is only a matter of time before a large trout is caught a just a stones throw from the local bridge. Time after time in previous years, there is always a trophy fish caught down at the local bridge over the Christmas and New Year period and often it is caught on the trusty old black and gold Toby lure.
Website – River Level Update
If you’re near a computer over summer (which you should avoid on holiday) try the Fish and Game website www.fishandgame.org.nz and go to Wellington’s homepage and click on ‘river levels’ which is below the latest news section.
Trout Monitoring Programme Starts
To gain more of an understanding of the trout population, Wellington Fish and Game have begun the drift dives programme down most rivers in the region between Wellington and Waiouru. ‘Drift diving’ is simply a method used where several divers (depending on the size of the river) float down with the current in a single line across the river counting and recording trout numbers and sizes. In some cases the number of each species of trout present is also recorded. The first drift dive has already been carried out on the Waikanae River and the results are currently being analysed. We can let you know that several trout were seen to be getting close to 5-8lbs in size.
Fish & Game staff complete a drift dive section on the Waikanae River in December
Upcoming - Hints and Tactics
In the next article in January we will discuss in greater detail what techniques are fishing well and those that are not fishing so well. Now is the time where trout fishing reaches its potential, so I encourage all anglers to find time to get out and about and do some quality fishing in your region.
Remember that every dog has its day - and if your day wasn’t today, it could very well be tomorrow!
Good luck, have a safe and happy Christmas!
Tight lines
Nic Cudby
Fish & Game Officer
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