Lower North Lowdown Weekly Fishing Report - 3 October 2024

Season Off to A Great Start

The 2024-25 season is off to a great start, with those lucky enough to get out on the water this week enjoying unprecedented weather and getting into some good fish. 

Pictured above: A 6.6lb hunk of South Taranaki gold! (Photo - Matthew Gordon)

Opening Day (Tuesday) presented some fantastic fishing conditions with clear sunny skies for most places in the Wellington-Taranaki Fish & Game regions.

Anglers on the Central Plateau and high country had to compete with some blustery winds, but the sun was out and this greatly helped with spotting fish. 

Conditions in the major rivers and tributaries of the lower North Island were also very good, and it was awesome to see so many younger anglers enjoying the fishing during the first week of the school holidays.       

While there's a bit of an ugly system bearing down on the country, we're still picking there'll be some reasonable fishing prospects this weekend for those who haven't ventured out yet.

It looks like tomorrow and Saturday are going to be the best bet before more rain arrives on Sunday so make the most of the weather window and get into it!       

Pictured: Jack Ogden with a solid early-season rainbow.

Grab Your Licence 

Please don't leave it to the last minute to get your licence, jump online now and get sorted - click the image above to get started. 

If you've already bought your licence, we'd like to sincerely thank you. Not only is it your passport to adventure this season, you're making a direct contribution to the freshwater angling resource and investing in the future of the pursuit you love. 

Here's where the funds from your licence are directed:

Now for the outlook this weekend...    

Hutt River and Tributaries

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

The Hutt River and its tributaries - the Pakarutahi, Whakatikei and Akatarawa - are running clear at time of writing despite some overnight rain. The flow gauges are registering a very slight increase this morning but with only showers forecast for the rest of today it is unlikely they will come up too much further. Conditions should be great for tomorrow and Saturday, particularly in the Hutt tribs where post-spawning fish will still be holding in good numbers.        

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

 

Kapiti Coast

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

Despite isolated rain in the area overnight, the flows in the Otaki, Waikanae, and Ohau are steady and running clear at time of writing this morning. There are some pulses of showers and light rain expected later today but a fine Friday should set the fishing up well for Saturday before rain moves in later on Sunday. Plenty of good opportunities to get out on the water and into some early season trout for Kapiti Coast anglers!  

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

Wairarapa

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

Despite some heavy localised falls overnight, the Ruamahanga River and tributaries - the Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau - have barely registered any increase in flow. In fact, all the rivers look to be in exceptional shape, as the photo of the Waiohine illustrates below. Friday and Saturday should see some great conditions, then rain moves in on Sunday so get in ahead of that weather. We've had plenty of interest from anglers in the lower Ruamahanga River. This fishes best when the Lake Onoke mouth is open to the sea, and the whitebait and other baitfish can move into the system. Call the following number for a voice recorded report - 083229069 - on conditions in the lower Ruamahanga valley.           

The Waiohine River at SH2 this morning (Photo: Hamish Carnachan).

 

Manawatu

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

The Manawatu River continues to fall from rain the region received on Sunday. It is definitely looking clear enough to fish above the gorge, with a clear edge and a hint of colour downstream. Anglers should really be looking to target the newly opened smaller tributaries for the most rewarding fishing though - these should be holding plenty of trout, have good flow and be running clear after five days without any appreciative rain. The Pohangina and Oroua fisheries are still patchy post Gabrielle; thanks to those anglers who sent in their reports on these rivers - we'd love to hear more on others' experiences this season. Please get in touch.            

The Pohangina River at Mais Reach this morning (Photo: Horizons).

Rangitikei

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

For the first time in a while the Rangitikei is looking quite fishable downstream of Mangaweka! Staff stopped in at Vinegar Hill campground for licence checks yesterday afternoon and the river, while carrying a bit of 'milky' blue colour, had a good clear edge and a few metres of visibility - perfect for spin fishing or soft baits. With no expected rain until later on Sunday, conditions will continue to improve for anglers heading out on the weekend. The river is looking great up at Pukeokahu so those who venture up to Mangaohane or Springvale should be in for a treat!          

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

Taranaki Ringplain

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

With rain expected early Thursday and then rain and showers for much of the following week, anglers should keep an eye on river flows and the weather forecast. Friday evening and Saturday morning may provide a bit of a weather window to get out fishing. If the rivers are in fresh, Lake Ratapiko (brown and rainbow trout and perch), Lake Rotokare (perch) and Lake Mangamahoe (fly fishing only for brown and rainbow trout) will be worth a visit. Back-eddies in rivers like the Waingongoro can also be productive during freshes, as fish target the accumulated worms and bugs. Check out up-to-date flow information for the region's river before heading out.

The Manganui River on Opening Day (Photo: Allen Stancliff).

Waimarino

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

The weather forecast for the Waimarino/Ruapehu area looks better than for the Taranaki ringplain, with less rain and likely smaller fresh flows. Mid-week the rivers looked in fantastic shape with extra spring flow from snow melt but running fast and clear. Friday and Saturday look to be the better days for fishing. Check out the live flow on the Mangwhero River at Pakihi Road to get an indication of levels in other nearby waters. For more info on fishing opportunities in the Ruapehu area, click here. 

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

 

Tip of The Week - Beating the Wind

Don't let the wind beat you, fight back (Photo: Andrew Harding)

If NIWA's latest outlook is anything to go by, we could be in for a windy start to the season. 

I often hear from anglers that they're not going to go fishing until the wind abates, or that they plan to head further afield to get away from it.

The early months of the fishing season can be trying when it comes to weather conditions, particularly in this part of the world. But you don't need to hide inside or make lengthy treks across the island, and as a result miss out on the early season action...   

Keep these tips in mind whenever you’re faced with blustery conditions so that you can spend more time on the water rather than time at home doing odds jobs or sitting in a car:

• Go up in line weight - Even if you're fishing small water, your big lake rod or Taupo gear can often punch through the wind. It won't be pretty, but it'll get a fly on or in the water.
• Consider the spin option - Short rods and heavy spinning lures are infinitely better when it's blowing a gale, no question.
• Seek shelter - Some stretches of river will be more sheltered than others, making it much easier to cast a fly. Target sections that have high banks or high trees lining the river's edge as these will break up the wind and reduce its velocity.
• Go heavy - If your heart is set on the so-called purist pursuit (fly fishing), think about using heavy nymphs. These will unfurl the leader much better than a lighter pattern or a large wind-resistant terrestrial dry fly.
• Don't cast - Rather than trying to cast into a headwind, put on a stream fly and strip line out downstream i.e. let the current do the work. Streamers work well at this time of year in certain lowland reaches too as there are an abundance of migratory bait fish around.

Think outside the square, mix things up, and you'll always get a shot at a fish no matter what the conditions throw at you.

- By Hamish Carnachan

Photo Competition - Win A $300 Hunting & Fishing Voucher

Daniel Lash with a very silver Ruamahanga River rainbow. 

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.

 

Wellington and Taranaki Access Maps  

There's no better resource to help you plan your fishing missions this season than our new online access maps.

The maps are fully interactive, allowing you to 'fly' around the Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game regions, find fishing access points, zoom in for more detail and even download or print off access brochures for storing on your mobile device.      

We encourage anglers to explore further afield this season and hope this resource is helpful for your upcoming adventures. 

Click the map above to start planning your next angling outing!

If you notice any access points that need updating or have changed, please get in touch.

Want to Fish the Upper Rangitikei This Season? 

This replaces the Backcountry system and is designed to see Kiwi anglers get a fairer share on some of the waterways that Fish & Game’s research has shown are subject to too much pressure.

The new licence category will help us manage angling pressure by spreading angling effort around so that it isn’t concentrated in certain areas, which detracts from the angling experience and also has the potential to negatively impact the fisheries.

It will also allow us to gather better data on fishery use in the Upper Rangitikei River. For more information on Designated Waters and the requirements for anglers, click here.    

Catch The Latest Angling News, Tips and Info 

The latest issue of Fish & Game NZ magazine is out now. 

If you purchased a licence last year, you should have received a copy in the mail.

Those who didn't fish last year can still catch up on all the action and get primed for the awesome season ahead by reading the magazine online - just click on the cover above.    

 

Noticeboard

- Council 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.    

- 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.