Lower North Lowdown Weekly Fishing Report - 20 March 2025

Fresh Rivers Clear For Weekend   

Another midweek rain event has seen most rivers in both the Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game regions receive some welcome flow.

And as we've seen before this season, the rivers are dropping back quickly to be timed perfectly for weekend fishing!         

Pictured - Blake Murray with a stonking lower North Island brown caught last week.

With the extra flow, cooler nights and shorter days, fish will be receiving their cues that spawning time is approaching.

From now on until the close of the season anglers should start looking to the smaller streams and spawning waters where trout will be starting to congregate.

We've still got five or so weeks before the main season closes at the end of April, however there's still ample angling ahead and it's a super exciting time too.

Pre-spawning trout tend to get territorial and will generally be less selective in what they eat. Don't forget that larger streamers can be effective at this time of year as aggressive trout snap at anything within reach.

Lots to look forward to in the weeks ahead and certainly this weekend with sunny skies across both regions.                    

Jump online if you haven't got a licence yet. 

Here's the outlook this weekend...    

 

Hutt Valley

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Hutt Valley.

This morning sees drizzle still falling in the Hutt Valley but it should clear as the day goes on. The Hutt River is sitting at 10cumecs (up from low flow of 3cumecs) but is falling as the last of the mid-week rain pushes through. There is colour but also a clear edge for those wanting to get on the water today. The mainstem will be well fishable by tomorrow but anglers could start to find some exciting action in the tributaries as the fresh and shorter days see trout move to their spawning grounds.      

The Hutt River at Totara Park this morning (Photo: Al Markham)

 

Kapiti Coast

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Kapiti Coast. 

The Otaki, Waikanae and Ohau are high and carrying colour after two days of intermittent rain on the coast and some very heavy falls in the Tararua Range. The good news is there is already a clear and fishable edge at time of writing, and with no further rain forecast - just sunny skies for the weekend - the fishing will be all go from tomorrow.       

The Otaki River at SH1 this morning (Credit: Phil Teal).  

 

Wairarapa

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Wairarapa region.

The Ruamahanga River and main tributaries - the Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau - are all dropping back from another good fresh, the best we've had in months. While the mainstem Ruamahanga has quite a bit of colour, there's a fishable edge this morning. With fine weather forecast right through the weekend all rivers in the region should be firing. 

Check out the latest conditions for the lower Ruamahanga by calling this free-phone number - 083229069.             

The Ruamahanga River at The Cliffs this morning (Photo: Hamish Carnachan).

Manawatu

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Manawatu region.

The Manawatu River is running high in the town section but again seems to be clear upstream of the gorge, with the webcam at Weber Road showing good clarity and the river even appearing quite low. With the Pohangina and Oroua pushing a good fresh through it seems this is where the dirty water is coming in. However, the Mangatainoka is dropping back very quickly and Mangahoa is almost back to base summer flow so there are plenty of options on offer with a lovely forecast for the weekend.           

The Manawatu River at Weber Road this morning (Photo: Horizons).

Rangitikei

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Rangitikei region.

The Rangitikei and Hautapu rivers are have a reasonable fresh after the rain over the last couple of days. While the Hautapu seems to have stabilised the mainstem Rangitikei is still creeping up. With no rain forecast for the rest of the day and a lovely weekend on the cards, there should be fishable conditions come Saturday though; higher up in the Rangitikei is probably going to be the best bet, or target the smaller tribs which should see pre-spawning fish starting to move in.      

The Rangitikei River at Mangaweka this morning (Photo: Horizons).           
 

Taranaki Ringplain

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Taranaki Ringplain region.

The Taranaki region has finally received some long-awaited rainfall. This should help lower water temperatures and flush periphyton and algae from some of the waterways throughout the region, but may not be heavy enough to provide the big flush we are seeking to really clean the rivers up. As we head into the weekend the weather fines up again with high pressure and westerly winds - Saturday and Sunday could prove to be a great time to head down to your local river with cicada and passion-vine hopper imitations well worth a try, as will suspending a small nymph under a choice of bushy dry fly.

Check out the up-to-date data on rainfall and river flows. 

The Waiwhakaiho River at Merrilands Domain yesterday afternoon (Photo: Jack Harland).

Waimarino

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Waimarino region.

The Waimarino region also experienced some welcome rainfall with a minor fresh on Tuesday elevating some rivers, assisted by patchy rainfall throughout Wednesday. As the sun returns and flows drop back towards their summer averages, the weekend looks promising for some productive fishing.

Click here to keep track of water temperatures and flow data within the Waimarino.

The Mangawhero River at SH4 this morning (Photo: Horizons).

 

Photo Competition - Win A $300 Hunting & Fishing Voucher

Terry Ashburn caught this chunky Manawatu River hen recently.

Send in your favourite fishing photos from this season and you could be in to win a $300 voucher to spend in store at Wairarapa Hunting & Fishing.

We won't blow your secret spot, just include the name of the angler(s), photographer's details, and general location in the Wellington-Taranaki Fish & Game region.

• Click here to submit your entry.

You can send us as many fishing photos as you like. By submitting images to enter the competition you acknowledge that Wellington Fish & Game can publish and use the photos for publicity material.

Entries must be in by 5pm Tuesday, April 2, 2025. The winner will be announced in the Lower North Lowdown report on Thursday, April 4, 2025.

Tip of the Week - Fishing in Other's Footsteps

Bumping into other anglers on the river doesn't mean your day is ruined (Photo: Nick King)

The fantastic run of weather we've had since the New Year has seen an increase in anglers out and about, including in our backcountry river reaches. 

This can sometimes create tensions between fishing parties but encountering others on the river doesn't have to ruin your day. 

If you do bump into other anglers on the same stretch of river, here are some tips to help avoid conflict: 

• Remember, angling etiquette dictates the party that is on the water first has 'right of way'.
• Never sneak up ahead of a party and drop in on them - this will certainly lead to confrontation and there's nothing like a streamside barney to ruin a day on the water.
• Agree to giving the other party a section of river you won't fish and then start at an agreed distance upstream so they're not fishing 'second-hand water'.
• Change you plans and try another access point.
• If you're in the backcountry and have limited options on alternative places to fish, work you way up behind them from the opposite bank.
• Ask the other angler if you can fish with them... Who knows, you could end up becoming good fishing buddies.
• Consider fishing downstream with streamers or spinning gear.          

Just remember that most anglers are decent people who are there for the same reason as you - to have an enjoyable outing in peaceful surrounds.

Having a friendly conversation will, most of the time, go a long way. Talk to each other about your intentions and try to come up with a compromise.

 

Check, Clean Dry - Help Protect Waterways

Now is the perfect time to familiarise yourselves with the NEW North Island Check Clean Dry procedures. Click here to watch. 

 

Noticeboard

• Fishing Rod Found: A rod has been found by an angler up the Whakatikei River. Please contact Joe if it is yours and you can explain where and how it was lost.  
• Wellington Region River Works: Don't let bulldozers in the river ruin your fishing plans. Click here to download a schedule of Greater Wellington Regional Council's latest planned river engineering works.
• Manawatu Flood and Drainage Works: Anglers can access Horizons Regional Council's latest schedule of flood and drainage river works here.   
• Access to Lake Namunamu, near Hunterville, is closed as the access road is upgraded in preparation for the logging of Ngaruru Forest over the next three to five years.

If you have any angling-related information you'd like posted to this noticeboard, including upcoming angling club meetings and outings, please get in touch with us.  

*This report was accurate at time of writing. For your safety, please ensure you check the latest weather and river flow information before you head out on the water.