Lower North Lowdown Weekly Fishing Report - 7 November 2024

Another Week, More Stunning Fish!

Anglers from Wairarapa and the Taranaki Ringplain have been sending in photos and the condition of the trout is as good as we've seen for so early in the season. 

Just check out some of the pics - we really are off to a super start! 

Pictured - Andrew Harding caught this cracker lower Ruamahanga River brown trout last weekend.

Pesky spring weather is going to be a feature of the weekend for anglers but there'll still be plenty of opportunities to get into the action again. 

We've got a mix of blustery winds for some parts, the odd patch of scattered rain about, but sunny skies in between. 

Noticeable is the warm and humid conditions across both regions.

Expect these increasing temperatures and moisture in the air to boost insect activity, and this should hopefully see the trout really start to get on the feed.        

An estimated 8lb Taranaki brown taken softbaiting from a Ringplain river recently.

So, more exciting angling lies ahead. Make sure you get in on it. 

And don't forget to keep snapping and sending in those photos to enter our competition - see details below. 

Hope to see you on the water this weekend. 

Don't Miss Out On The Action!

Get yourself in on the action!

Jump online and get your licence the easy way - it only takes a minute. Click the image above to get started. 

Here's the outlook this weekend...    

Hutt Valley

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

The Hutt River actually came up last Saturday despite the settled forecast, however, it was running clear. Today sees the river about 10cm down from last week with the water still clear and flowing well. If the sun doesn't peek through to aid sight fishing then working upstream with indicator and a nymph should produce results. If not, then swing streamer patterns through that soft looking water. Don't forget to add a split shot if you need to get down a bit deeper with these spring flows. The Pakarutahi, Whakatikei and Akatarawa are all good to go. Wind looks like the only thing to contend with this weekend but it is forecast to die off through Saturday. 

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 is flowing at moderate levels and running relatively clear this morning providing good angling opportunities both upstream and downstream of the township. Note that there is some flood protection works underway, with a digger removing gravel about 400m downstream of State Highway One. This is restricted to work in the dry though with only a small amount on the wet fringe. This should not impact fishing, particularly with the larger trout further downstream of the State Highway One bridge. The Waikanae and Ohau are looking good for this weekend; the latter should be fishing well.   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 tributaries - the Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau - are looking great this morning! They have plenty of flow but are running clear and cool with a beautiful green hue. There is some rain forecast for Saturday but at this point it is only supposed to be scattered so it may not affect the entire catchment. If you do find the aforementioned rivers have come up, however, then there may still be opportunities in the Waipoua (which is fishing really well) and the eastern streams. Also, the Tauherenikau Delta is a few stout trout at the moment - not huge fish but they are in sensational condition. On calm days they can be spotted cruising in very shallow water, almost with their backs out. A Wooly Bugger has been doing the damage!                

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

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

Manawatu

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

The Manawatu River is looking good most of the way through after dropping lots of flow from the rain that came through last Sunday. It is fishable in the town reaches and looking really fishy up above the gorge at Weber Road. The Pohangina and Oroua are clearing a small pulse of isolated rain that went through early this morning but they should be good to go from tomorrow. The Mangahao River looks clean and clear and should continue to fish well over the weekend, even despite the showers forecast for Sunday.            

The Manawatu River at Teachers College this morning (Photo: Horizons).

Rangitikei

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

The Rangitikei River is back to fishable most of the way through the system. In fact, it's sitting at the lowest flow it has been all season. This is great news for anglers who may not have had a window to fish it yet because it should be good for the next few days - just watch to see how those showers develop on Sunday. The spell from rain in the region should see some of the Rangitikei tributaries fishable too. The Hautapu is the lowest it has been in a month so the fish could be very obliging after being rested for so long!            

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

Taranaki Ringplain

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

Spots of rain here and there haven’t stopped anglers from getting out there and targeting trout, with large, healthy fish being caught! Rivers are flowing relatively clear as of today, with a decent window of fairly settled weather, low winds, and higher air temperatures extending towards Saturday evening. Northeasterly and nor'-west winds will dominate over the next few days, offering many opportunities to find sheltered areas to cast a line along ring plain waterways. A front is forecast to hit Saturday evening, bringing with it some rainfall, but with Monday and Tuesday looking dryer any elevated flows should calm down fairly rapidly. Check out the up-to-date data on rainfall and river flows. 

The Hangatahua (Stony) River at SH45 this morning (Photo: Jack Harland).

Waimarino

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

Flows are currently settled throughout the Waimarino region. There may be the odd patch of drizzle from now through to Saturday evening when some rainfall is forecast to arrive, so if you can make the time try to get in for a fish before then. River flow data for the Mangwhero River at Pakihi Road is showing relatively stable levels – this monitoring station is constantly updated and can be a great tool to gauge the state of rivers in the area. For more info on fishing opportunities in the Ruapehu region, click here. 

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

 

Video of The Week - Early Season Rainbows  

Here's another video from the Trout Hunter crew - an early season 2024-25 backcountry mission pretty close to the Taranaki Fish & Game boundary. Click the screenshot above to watch.  

 

Photo Competition - Win A $300 Hunting & Fishing Voucher

Stephen Phillips with a chunky lower North Island rainbow caught this season.

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.

Click the map below to start planning your weekend angling outing!

Otaki Take A Kid Fishing

Kapiti Fly Fishing Club member Hugh Driver about to net a good sized two-year-old rainbow trout for a novice junior angler at the kids' fishing day held last weekend in Otaki.

Over 220 young anglers were given the opportunity to catch trout at the Otaki Take a Kid Fishing event last weekend.

Around 200 fish were landed with expert mentoring from members of the Kapiti Fly Fishing Club.

The event has become a popular tradition on the Kapiti Coast, providing an opportunity for kids to have a go at trout fishing as a pursuit and actively catch their own food for the table.

Wellington Fish & Game Council chief executive Phil Teal says it is a great opportunity for kids to get into the outdoors, connect with nature, get off the couch and away from the PlayStation.

"While this is still not quite fishing out of a barrel, it provides an increased chance of success for their introduction to fishing.”

Fish & Game thanks the dedication and skill of all the members of the Kapiti Fly Fishing Club for mentoring the participants.

“I’d also like to acknowledge the principal sponsors of the event - Pub Charity NZ and NZ Community Trust - and to those organisations that provided logistical assistance: Otaki Hunting & Fishing for coordinating registration, and to Winstones Aggregates and GWRC for assisting in site preparation.”

Lake Rotomanu Fish Release

One of many happy young anglers who took part in the Kids' Fishing Day at Lake Rotomanu last weekend (Credit: Jack Harland). 

Taranaki Fish & Game's annual Take a Kid Fishing day was a great success, with a large turnout of people catching numerous rainbows and perch on a beautiful sunny day at Lake Rotomanu.

It is worth noting there are still plenty of trout currently in the lake so grab your gear (and your licence) and head on down to try your luck. 

Also, keep an eye out for our Stratford Kids' Fishing Day coming up on December 14 - details below! 

 

Stratford Kids’ Trout Fishing Day

This event has been rescheduled to Saturday, December 14. 

Taranaki Fish & Game will liberate around 300 good-sized rainbow trout from its Hawera hatchery into the Scout Den Pool in King Edward Park for this event.

A booking sheet will be at the Stratford i-site from mid-November.

 

Check, Clean Dry - Help Protect Our Lakes and Rivers

With summer fast approaching and the days getting longer, now is the perfect time to familiarise yourselves with the NEW North Island Check Clean Dry procedures. 

Rowing legend Mahe Drysdale has come on board as a CCD ambassador for Biosecurity NZ and has just released a new video. Click the here to watch. 

 

Noticeboard

• Hutt Valley Angling Club has a meeting on Monday 11. All are welcome - contact secretary Michael Hutchinson for more details on how to join. This Monday's meeting will focus on nymph fishing, with videos, discussions and demonstrations. 
• 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.