Reel Life November 2021

Opening weekend, a big success (for some)

We would like to start this Reel Life with a huge thank you to Auckland anglers for doing their part to keep our country safe.

Now that the Waikato is under level 3 restrictions, the Waikato anglers are starting to understand how frustrating it is to let a good sunny weekend slip by.

However, despite the travel restrictions, some anglers have been making the best of what they have, and staff have had several good reports from the Wairoa River.

The Whakapapa was fishing well on the opening weekend, and with good snow on the mountain, there were plenty of people enjoying National Park.

If you have not had a chance to get out for your opening day, don’t worry 80% of the other anglers wanting to go down to the Whakapapa or the Awakino are in the same boat.

Fishing has been excellent and will just get better as things heat up, so make your plans now for your first weekend in level 2.   

Above right: Marvin Daniel with his opening day brown.

Level 3 and 4 fishing for Auckland/Waikato

The Auckland/Waikato Fish and Game Office has been inundated with anglers looking for fishing spots near Auckland and Hamilton.

Even if the level 3 restrictions are lifted, knowing your local options can be beneficial when you are short on time.  

Although it is legal to fish during levels 3 and 4, you will need to keep it local until your region goes into level 2.

For Waikato anglers, it is important to keep the government advice in mind “go to your nearest fishing spot, not your favourite fishing spot”.

Although most of you can’t travel, there are still several good sites listed on the Walking Access NZ site, and our recommendations are as follows:

Auckland containment zone: 

• There are two stocked lakes in the Auckland containment zone.

1.   Quarry Lake (Lake Pupuke) was stocked with 300 two-year-old trout in May 2021.
2.   Lake Whatihua, near Waiuku, was stocked at the same time with a similar number of one-year-old rainbows.

• The Wairoa River also has a decent population of small wild rainbows with good access from the Te Araroa Trail off McNicol Road.

• Parkinson’s Lake is full of nice sized browns and rainbows. The Lake sits within the Waikato region but has been included in the Auckland covid containment zone.

• There are fish in the Upper Mangatawhiri and Mangatangi reservoirs, but unfortunately, both sit within the Waikato Region.

Hamilton area:

• The Waikato River is a great spot to spin fish for brown trout. Also, any parks from Cambridge to Mercer will hold browns around structures, including overhanging willows.
• If you are looking for your nearest fly-fishing spot, the Pirongia streams offer some great fishing. The Kaniwhaniwha has good access and plenty of fish off Limeworks Loop Road.
• The Awakino is within the Waikato level 3 containment zone, but the advice is to “fish your nearest, not your favourite” stream.