New Blog Post
More sublime summer angling conditions are coming our way this weekend as the stellar run of weather continues across the lower North Island!
Yes, rivers are running low, however the trout seem to be happy enough and having a field day with the multitude of food on offer at the moment, including terrestrial insects.
On that note, we've seen fish gorging on passion vine hoppers in recent weeks so make sure you have a few imitations in your fly box or tie some up before the weekend.
Anywhere there is good bank side covering of blackberry you'll find these small insects infesting the vines. Cicadas are also on the menu but they appear to be small and lighter in colour this season (a different sub-species perhaps) so ensure you have several patterns to 'match the hatch'.
So, with a little wind to blow the insects into the water the angling should be white hot this weekend.
Get your licence here and get into it!
Pictured: Finn Harding into a lively Hutt brown. There are plenty of great fish holding in this river at present! (Copyright Andrew Harding)
Hutt River and tributaries
Click here for live weather updates.
The Hutt is running very low at present but the fish are still quite active. We noticed some XOS browns happily feeding off the top earlier this week, even during the hottest part of the day! The Akatarawa and other smaller feeder streams are fast losing water to the drought-like conditions - target the deeper pools or more gorgy areas where flow is higher and there's more shade.
Kapiti Coast
Click here for live weather updates.
The Waikanae, Otaki and Ohau rivers are in very low state. Fish are still active on the terrestrial insects hatching at present, however the trout appear to have retreated to parts of the river where they can get refuge from the restricted flows and higher-than-normal water temperatures.
Wairarapa
Click here for live weather updates.
The Ruamahanga, Waipoua, Waiohine and Kopuaranga rivers are in desperate need of some refreshing flows. Staff have still observed plenty of good fish in the main larger rivers and they've been feeding well, which could indicate they aren't overly stressed. Please ensure, however, you take care when releasing trout in these warm conditions.
Manawatu
Click here for live weather updates.
Feedback we've had from anglers suggests the the Manawatu is still fishing well - this is surprising and also encouraging after a poor run of fishing on the mainstem last season. The Pohangina and Oroua are, however, a bit patchy and our drift dives confirm lower than normal numbers (perhaps the trout are yet to move up from the Manawatu). The Mangatainoka is very low so, as is usually the case, most of the fish will be holding in the deep pools.
Rangitikei
Click here for live weather updates.
The Rangitikei is running low and crystal clear, and the Hautapu is in equally great shape for fishing this weekend. The odd shower and mild temps should play to the angler's favour by making the trout more active. Note that there is a flushing flow schedule for the Moawhango Dam this week - see the notice board below for more details.
Tip Of The Week - Go Light Or Go Home
This large brown sitting in shallow, clear water is not going to be fooled easily (Copyright Andrew Harding)
As is the norm for this time of year, staff are noticing while drift diving that the water clarity in many rivers is very good.
Long periods without rain means suspended sediment stirred up by higher flows has well and truly settled out. As such, we're recording visibility of 8m-plus in several rivers, even some of our lowland waterways.
What this means for anglers is that the fish are going to be particularly wary - they can see further and have a wider field of view.
It means you will need to be more cautious in your approach to a likely pool, run or riffle, lest the trout see you first.
Also, at this time of year it pays to go as light as you can with your terminal tackle. Finer leaders are obviously going to be less visible; also consider dropping down a rod weight for more delicate presentations and to avoid splashing or rippling the surface when you lay out a cast.
Of course this all must be be balanced against the need to get the fish in as fast as possible if you plan to release it so as to avoid over-stressing it.
By Fish & Game field officer Hamish Carnachan
Video of the Week
In case you haven't seen this already, here's a great little montage of some of the action on the Hutt River that will screen on the Pure Fly TV series later this year.
Click the screenshot below to watch.
Webcams
Click the screen shot below to go to Horizon's website showing the list of available river webcams.
Notice board
- Greater Wellington Regional Council has issued an advisory about toxic algae in the Waipoua River - read more here. Please note that this does not mean that you can't fish, however trout in affected waters are likely to be stressed so care should be taken if you plan to release them.
- The Otaki Kids Fishing Day has been cancelled. We'll provide updates about any advised event as soon as we receive further information.
- Anglers wanting to fish the Rangitikei backcountry must have a licence endorsement for this fishery. Click here to find out more. Or purchase your backcountry endorsement.
- Fishing regulations changes for the Wellington Fish & Game Region in 2019-2020 might affect you. Find out about the changes here.
- Don't get a nasty surprise by Greater Wellington Regional Council's river bulldozing ruining your day on the river. Check out the latest schedule of activity here.
- Flushing flows from the Moawhango Dam, which will cause the rivers downstream (including the Rangitikei) to rise, will be conducted on the following dates:
Release from Dam 9:00pm Tuesday 18 February 2020 – 5 hours
Release from Dam 9:00pm Tuesday 17 March 2020 – 5 hours
Release from Dam 9:00pm Tuesday 28 April 2020 – 5 hours (subject to monitoring triggers being met)
More info 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.
Categories
Archive
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- December 2013
- March 2013
- September 2012
- July 2012