Lower North Lowdown Weekly Fishing Report - 28 December 2023
- 28/12/2023
- Roslyn Simmonds
Pictured above: A stunning lowland brownie taken on a small Veltic spinner recently. Credit: Cohen Stewart.
Holiday Angling Heaven!
Welcome to the festive season. Hopefully this finds you with some time off for a well deserved break, and time to enjoy the amazing fishing on offer.
If you're working through, make sure you take a break over the statutory holidays and weekends to get out on the water and decompress.
For those lucky enough to be on leave, make sure you get your fill while you're away from the desk or tools and have the time on your hands.
Staying at home, or travelling around over the break, remember that pretty much every stream and river you cross in North and South islands is an angling adventure waiting to be discovered.
No matter whether you plan on exploring new water or fishing your local secret spot, we hope you get amongst the great action we've had so far this season.
Grab your season licence now and ease into some heavenly holiday angling. Catch you in the New Year.
Here's the outlook for the weekend:
Hutt River and Tributaries
Click the link for live updates and forecasts for the Hutt Valley.
Live river flow information for the Hutt and Akatarawa can be viewed by clicking the highlighted river links. If you're after more info on the waterways in this part of the region, find out more about 'How To Fish the Hutt River' here, or check out our dedicated access website where you can download maps and access instructions.
The Hutt River middle reaches looking as enticing as ever on a calm summer's morning. Credit: Andrew Harding.
Kapiti Coast
Click the link for live updates and forecasts for the Kapiti Coast.
Live river flow information for the Waikanae, Ohau and Otaki can be viewed by clicking the highlighted river links. If you're after more info on the waterways in this part of the region, check out our dedicated access website where you can download maps and access instructions.
The Otaki River running emerald green and looking fishy at SH1. Credit: Phil Teal.
Wairarapa
Click the link for live updates and forecasts for the Wairarapa region.
Live river flow information for the Ruamahanga and major tributaries - the Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau - can be viewed by clicking the highlighted river links. If you're after more info on the waterways in this part of the region, check out our dedicated access website where you can download maps and access instructions.
High summer on the Ruamahanga River at Gladstone. Credit: Hamish Carnachan.
Manawatu
Click the link for live updates and forecasts for the Manawatu region.
Live river flow information for the Manawatu and its main tributaries - the Oroua, Pohangina, Mangatainoka and Mangahao - can be viewed by clicking the highlighted river links. If you're after more info on the waterways in this part of the region, check out our dedicated access website where you can download maps and access instructions.
A feisty lower Manawatu River brown takes to the air. Credit: Andrew Harding.
Rangitikei
Click the link for live updates and forecasts for the Rangitikei region.
Live river flow information for the Rangitikei and Hautapu can be viewed by clicking the highlighted river links. If you're after more info on the waterways in this part of the region, check out our dedicated access website where you can download maps and access instructions.
The Rangitikei River at Mangaohane - as stunning as any river in the country. Credit: Hamish Carnachan.
Taranaki Ringplain
Click the weather icon above for live updates and forecasts for the Ringplain region.
The latest live flow data for Taranaki Ringplain rivers can be found here. If you're after more info on the waterways in this part of the region, check out our dedicated access website where you can download maps and access instructions.
Gorgeous pocket water packed full of fish on the Waiwhakaiho River. Credit: Allen Stancliff.
Waimarino
Click the link for live updates and forecasts for the Waimarino region.
Live river flow information for the Mangawhero River can be viewed by clicking the highlighted river links. If you're after more info on the waterways in this part of the region, check out our dedicated access website where you can download maps and access instructions.
A stunning rainbow from a small Ruapehu snow-fed stream. Credit: Hamish Carnachan.
Hunting & Fishing Photo Competition - Win $300 To Spend in Store
Got some summer holiday trout fishing action caught on camera?
Simply send in your favourite fishing photos and you could be in to win a $300 voucher to spend in store at Wairarapa Hunting & Fishing.
You don't have to reveal your secret spot, but please include the name of the angler(s), photographer's details, and general location in the Wellington-Taranaki Fish & Game region.
Click here to submit you 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, 2024. The winner will be announced in the Lower North Lowdown report on Thursday, April 4.
Tip of The Week - Prepare for Your Summer Fishing Break
Summer holidays offer an excellent opportunity to steer kids away from electronic devices and into trout fishing.
To help you prepare for your summer trout fishing break, we thought we'd highlight a few fishing tips and useful info to help you catch more fish.
- Explore Our Larger Rivers
The prominent rivers in the Wellington region - namely the Hutt, Ruamahanga, Manawatu and Rangitikei are currently offering some exceptional trout fishing opportunities. These rivers boast abundant trout populations and offer convenient access points for anglers. To enhance your angling success in these rivers, we recommend you check out our instructional spin fishing video. This short video provides seven crucial tips that will boost your catch rate this summer.
- Use Our Online Access Map
Need some ideas on new fishing spots to try this season? Check out our new online access map. This snazzy new map shows the location of hundreds of fishing access points in Wellington and Taranaki, complete with access instructions and maps that you can download and store on your phone.
- Try Soft Bait Fishing
Soft baits have transformed the world of fishing for trout. If you haven't given them a try, we highly recommend doing so this season. Mastering the fundamentals of soft bait fishing can unlock some fantastic trout fishing opportunities. Explore our instructional video on soft bait techniques for valuable tips and guidance.
- Get the Kids or Grandkids Out Fishing
The summer holidays offer an excellent opportunity to steer kids or grandkids away from electronic devices and into the world of trout fishing. Bait fishing serves as a fantastic option for youngsters - it's straightforward, involves minimal casting, and often leads to success. For some bait fishing tips, check out our short instructional video which breaks down the basics of bait fishing for trout.
- Harvest Some Healthy Fish This Season
The rivers and lakes in Wellington and Taranaki boast abundant populations of trout and perch. With the ongoing rise in food prices, catching fresh fish from your local river or lake is a great option. While fishing over your summer break, and throughout the season, we suggest you bring home a few fish for dinner. Not only are they healthy and delicious, but they can also help reduce your grocery expenses.
Put some fish on the table and save some money in the process.
Summer Holiday Reading
If you missed it in the mail at the start of this season, you can click on the cover of Fish & Game NZ magazine above to download a copy.
There you'll also find issues going all the way back to 2016. So, there's heaps of summer fishing and hunting reading just waiting for you.
Also packed full of news, tips and prospects for the season ahead is the Wellington-Taranaki Angling Newsletter which is out now.
Didn't receive a copy in the post? You can download a copy here or get in touch and we'll send one out to you.
Have Your Say on Waterways In The Horizons Catchment
Please help us to help protect the waterways and fisheries in the Horizons Regional Council area.
We've put together a very short tick-box survey here, which takes less than one minute to complete.
Make sure you have your say if you value trout fishing in the catchment and want to see healthy waterways and sustainable fisheries into the future.
GWRC Weekly River Bulldozing Schedule
Don't get an unwelcome surprise by Greater Wellington Regional Council's river bulldozing impacting your day on the river.
For information on the weekly activity schedule, please contact GWRC.
Notice Board
-
Moawhango River Flushing Flow dates for 2024 have been confirmed:
- 23-24 Jan, 21:00-02:00
- 13-14 Feb, 21:00-02:00
- 12-13 Mar, 21:00-02:00
- 30-01 Apr, 21:00-02:00
- The algal bloom at Lake Ngangana, near Waitara, has now subsided and open to fishing for trout and perch.
- Lake Namunamu will be closed to public access from early November 2023 for logging operations. Access to the lake is likely to be restricted for at least three years, however, Earnslaw-One has promised to let us know if there are opportunities to access the lake during breaks in harvest.
If you have any information you'd like to have considered for addition to the notice board, please get in touch with us.