Wellington Weekly Fishing Report - 22 October 2020

A long weekend is on the cards and the great run of weather looks set to last, allowing anglers to make the most of the bonus fishing day on Monday. 

Wairarapa and Manawatu are the top spots for Labour Weekend with sunny skies and temperatures almost summer-like.

Wellington and Kapiti anglers have a few intermittent showers but these shouldn't put a dampener on the great early-season fishing to date.   

With the temperatures starting to climb throughout the region, this will warm the water and anglers can expect the trout activity to pick up accordingly. 

If you're on the road and heading away for a break over the long weekend, don't forget every river you cross is an angling opportunity.

We've got a dedicated resource page to help touring anglers get the most of this region's - and the country's - amazing trout fishing resource. Check out our 'Tip of The Week' below for more details. 

Make sure you grab a licence and get into it the action this season - it's been an awesome start so far and is only set to get better! 

Pictured: Peter de Boer with a big early-season brown from a tiny Ruamahanga tributary (Copyright: Andrew Harding)  

Hutt River and tributaries

Click here for live weather updates.

The Hutt is looking great this morning on a sunny and calm Wellington day. The Akatarawa, Whakatikei and Pakarutahi are in good spring flow and will be holding good numbers of post-spawning fish. Some niggly spring showers arrive on Saturday but this won't affect the rivers or what has been a stellar start to the new angling season.        

Kapiti Coast

Click here for live weather updates.

The Waikanae, Otaki and Ohau all saw a good fresh early in the week but they are back at fishable flows and looking great at time of writing. As with over the hill in the Hutt Valley, some spring showers are forecast for the long weekend but don't let this deter you from the fantastic angling on the Coast at the moment, particularly in the lower ricer reaches where good numbers of trout are reportedly holding.            

Wairarapa

Click here for live weather updates.

The Wairarapa is going to be the pick of angling spots this long holiday weekend with light winds, sunny skies and summer-like temperatures. The Ruamahanga is rapidly dropping the rain it received on Tuesday and will be firing come Saturday, as will the tribs - Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau. Be sure to get out - it's going to be a belter of a weekend for fishing.        

Manawatu

Click here for live weather updates.     

The Manawatu and its tribs, including the Mangatainoka, Pohangina and Oroua, are all looking great and with settled weather and mild temperatures the fishing in this part of the region should be sensational over the weekend and into Labour Day on Monday. The Pahiatua Trout Carnival is being held over the weekend so expect to see more anglers out and about.    

Rangitikei

Click here for live weather updates.

The Rangitikei was reportedly tough last weekend but this could be a feature of the cooler temperatures in this part of the Wellington Fish & Game region. There's also been plenty of snowmelt which can slow the trout activity down. Despite some scattered showers this weekend there are milder temperatures forecast and this should get the fish going.            

Family Fishing Venue 

There are still plenty of trout swimming around Hokowhitu Lagoon, Palmerston North, just waiting to be caught (Credit: Matt Kavermann).   

With so many Kiwis travelling around, exploring their own backyard and rediscovering this amazing country, we've noticed an increase in interest in trout fishing from regular anglers and those keen to find out more. 

That's why we've developed a dedicated suite of resources to make it easy for itinerant anglers to find good, easily accessible fishing spots right throughout the country.

Expert anglers and novices will find the Park & Cast website packed with useful resources. 

We've called it Park & Cast to illustrate how easy it is anywhere in New Zealand to simply pull up to a river, park your car or camper, and start fishing. 

While some of the 'how-to' instructional information on the webpages will likely be a bit simplistic for experienced anglers, we hope the access points and directions to spots across the country will be useful for those seasoned trout fishers who are on the road looking for somewhere to flick a fly or cast a lure. 

All the spots detailed from Northland to Southland are also family-friendly fishing locations where staff reckon there is a good chance of success. 

We hope you can get out for a break this long weekend -- and if you're travelling somewhere new or to a part of the country where you're unfamiliar with the fishing potential, check out Park & Cast.          

By Wellington Fish & Game officer Hamish Carnachan.

 

Webcams

Click the screen shot below to go to Horizon's website showing the list of available river webcams.

 

Notice board

• Fishing regulations for the Wellington Fish & Game region can be found here.  
• Don't get a nasty surprise by Greater Wellington Regional Council's river bulldozing ruining your day on the river. The upcoming activity schedule can be found here.     

 Email Wellington Communications and Field Officer Hamish Carnachan if you'd like any fishing or freshwater-related items posted to this noticeboard.

​*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.