Taranaki Reel Life August 2019

Productive early spring fishing expected

Regular freshes have kept base flows relatively high, but Taranaki ringplain rivers and streams are clearing very quickly after rain and the winter fishing reaches have been fishing well with a spinner and also providing some action for fly fishers.

Anglers fishing the lower Waingongoro River at Ohawe have been catching some nice brown and rainbow trout in recent days and also the occasional kahawai.

The lower Kaupokonui Stream, which is accessible from Lower Glenn Road and then Kaupokonui Heads Road, has also been producing some good fish along with some smaller rainbows.

Above Right: Carlos Cardoso do Vale with a nice winter season ringplain brown.

On the northern ringplain, the lower Waiwhakaiho River and the Manganui River downstream of the Bristol Road Bridge are well worth a fish with a spinner in between freshes.

The upper tidal reaches of the Waitara River above SH3 can also be productive when the river clears during fine spells.

Lakes Ratapiko, Mangamahoe and Opunake have received releases of rainbow trout and are also worth a visit.

Lake Mangamahoe in particular, has been providing some good early spring action for the flyfisher as trout begin to cruise the lake margin again.

Water quality in New Plymouth’s Lake Rotomanu has improved as winter rains have flushed out much of the algal bloom and the lake should fish well for perch, using spinners and coloured soft baits.

The winter season reaches of the Manganuioteao and Mangawhero Rivers in the Ruapehu area also provide large areas of fishable water and spin fishing should produce fish.

New season licences available now

Licences for the 2019/2020 fishing season are now available either on-line through the Fish & Game website http://www.fishandgame.org.nz/licences or through your local licence agent.

There are nine different fishing licence categories available including the local area licence which is perfect for NZ residents who only fish in their home region, the loyal senior licence for the long-time older Kiwi angler and the short-break (3-day) and long-break (9–day) licence.

Of course, the premier licence remains the adult whole season licence, which allows the holder to fish anywhere in NZ except the Taupo trout fishery.

TARANAKI REGION WINTER SEASON ANGLING WATERS

Rivers and Lakes	Open From	Brown Trout	Rainbow Trout	Perch	Area Open
Taranaki Ringplain
Lake Mangamahoe	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Excluding inlet & tributaries. Fly fishing only with fly rod, fly reel and fly line
LakeRotomanu	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*	*
LakeNgangana	1 Oct-30 Sept		*	*
OpunakeLake	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*
WaitaraRiver	1 Oct-30 Sept	*			Below ManganuiRiver confluence
WaiwhakaihoRiver	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Sea to landmark pole at the end of gravel track at the right-hand end of Rimu St. extn.
Huatoki Stream	1 Oct-30 Sept	*			Below Brois St. Bridge
Manganui River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*			Below Bristol Road Bridge
Mangaoraka Stream	1 Oct-30 Sept	*			Below Devon Road SH3 Bridge
Waiongana Stream	1 Oct-30 Sept	*			Below Devon Road SH3 Bridge
Patea River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*	*	Below Patea Dam
WaingongoroRiver	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Below SH45 Bridge
WaiauaRiver	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Below SH45 Bridge
Kapuni Stream	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Below SH45 Bridge
Kaupokonui Stream	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Below SH45 Bridge
Stony River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Entire river
WareaRiver	1 Oct-30 Sept	*			Below SH45 Bridge
LakeRatapiko	1 Jun-30 Sept	*	*	*	Except inlet race
LakeRotorangi	1 Jun-30 Sept	*	*	*	Dam face to Mangamingi Bridge
Whanganui
Lake Namunamu	1 Oct-30 Sept		*		Lake closed 1 December – 31 January
LakeWiritoa	1 Oct-30 Sept		*	*	Partial closure 2nd May – 1 July
Lake Pauri	10 Jul-30 Sept			*
Whanganui River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Below Ohura River confluence, excluding tributaries
Waimarino
Manganuioteao River	1 Oct-30 June	*	*		Below Makatote River confluence. Excluding tributaries
Manganuioteao River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Downstream of Ruatiti Road Bridge. Excluding tributaries
MangawheroRiver	1 Oct-30 Sept	*			Downstream of the Ohakune - Raetihi Road “golf course” Bridge
Tokiahuru Stream	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Downstream of SH49 Bridge
Waitaiki Stream	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Downstream of SH49 Bridge
Retaruke River	1 Oct-30 Sept	*	*		Downstream of Oio Road Bridge
Sattlers Dam	1 Oct-30 Sept		*

Allen Stancliff, Taranaki Fish & Game Officer.