'Reel Life' Newsletter

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Reel Life November 2023

Whau Valley Trout 08 Oct 24

Northlands' most accessible fishery, the Whau Valley Dam is fishing well currently.

Read more about 'Reel Life November 2023'...


Reel Life October 2023

Whau Valley Trout Oct 23

During the last year, Fish and Game staff have conducted fish surveying on two of the stocked reservoirs to determine growth rates (Manuwai and Wilsons dam).

Read more about 'Reel Life October 2023'...


Reel Life September 2023

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The excessive rainfall over the last 18 months has appeared to have subsided with predominantly westerly winds drying things out.

Read more about 'Reel Life September 2023'...


Reel Life August 2023

23868 FG 2023 24 Fishing Licence May23 Print Ready

It took only 17 minutes for the first licence to be sold last Thursday when the new season’s licences went on sale at midnight.

Read more about 'Reel Life August 2023'...


Reel Life April 2023

Dan with large trout

Wilson's Dam has a persistent algal bloom outbreak which is potentially toxic to animals.

Read more about 'Reel Life April 2023'...


Reel Life March 2023

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The wettest summer on record in Northland has played havoc with the trout fishing as fishable water has been difficult to come by.

Read more about 'Reel Life March 2023'...


Reel Life February 2023

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Please contact the team at Northland Fish & Game for the best advice on where to fish in Northland.

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Reel Life January 2023

Makarewa trout in net photo takien by Lindsay Withington

Please contact the team at Northland Fish & Game for the best advice on where to fish in Northland.

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Reel Life December 2022

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Please contact the team at Northland Fish & Game for the best advice on where to fish in Northland.

Read more about 'Reel Life December 2022'...


Reel Life November 2022

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The persistent large rainfall events have made fishing in our river systems challenging.

Read more about 'Reel Life November 2022'...


Reel Life October 2022

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Spring and early summer are the best time to fish in Northlands waterways before excessive weed growth and temperatures increase.

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Reel Life September 2022

Blake spawning rainbow

In early May, Northland Fish and Game completed its annual trout liberations.

Read more about 'Reel Life September 2022'...


Welcome to the first Reel Life issue of the 2022/23 fishing season

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Your new season fishing licence will unlock the wonderful New Zealand rivers and lakes to you for a fishing season that is looking awesome.

Read more about 'Welcome to the first Reel Life issue of the 2022/23 fishing season'...


Reel Life April 2022

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Please contact the team at Northland Fish & Game for the best advice on where to fish in Northland.

Read more about 'Reel Life April 2022'...


Reel Life March 2022

Please contact the team at Northland Fish & Game for the best advice on where to fish in Northland.

Read more about 'Reel Life March 2022'...


Reel Life February 2022

Harry Wilson 12year old with a 6.5 pound trout in Ikamatua area. photo Hamish Wilson

Following a dry January, February’s rain has got the salmon moving and the trout feeding.

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Reel Life February 2022

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Contact the team at Northland Fish & Game for the best advice on where to fish in Northland.

Read more about 'Reel Life February 2022'...


Reel Life January 2022

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Contact the team at Northland Fish & Game for the best advice on where to fish in Northland.

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Reel Life December 2021

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Contact the team at Northland Fish & Game for the best advice on where to fish in Northland.

Read more about 'Reel Life December 2021'...


Reel Life November 2021

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Contact the team at Northland Fish & Game for the best advice on where to fish in Northland.

Read more about 'Reel Life November 2021'...


Reel Life October 2021

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COntact the team at Northland Fish & Game for the best advice on where to fish in Northland.

Read more about 'Reel Life October 2021'...


Reel Life September 2021

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The Kai Iwi lakes fishing competition was held over the first weekend in July.

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Reel Life April 2021

Kai Iwi Lakes Poster 2021 Flyer

The annual Kai Iwi lakes trout fishing competition will be held between 2 July and 4 July 2021.

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Reel Life March 2021

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Over the last month, Fish and Game staff along with the Northland Regional Council, Kaipara District Council, Te Roroa, MPI and DOC have been conducting netting operations in Lake Taharoa...

Read more about 'Reel Life March 2021'...


Reel Life February 2021

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Authorities are appealing for sightings of a koi carp – an unwanted freshwater pest fish – after a young kayaker reportedly saw one while out on Lake Taharoa, the largest...

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Reel Life January 2021

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For any fishing advice and tips in Northland please call the Office on 09-438-4135

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Reel Life December 2020

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Christmas is almost upon us and visitor numbers to the region will swell during the summer break.

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Reel Life November 2020

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Northland

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Reel Life October 2020

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Northland has had a great start to the season, the rivers seem to have recovered from the extreme weather events over the last year.

Read more about 'Reel Life October 2020'...


Reel Life September 2020

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In early September Northland Fish and Game completed its annual trout liberations.

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Reel Life August 2020

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The new fishing season is only five weekends away and your new season fishing licence will unlock the full fishing potential of New Zealand for you to explore.

Read more about 'Reel Life August 2020'...


Northland Reel Life January 2020

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In 2019 rainfall in many parts of Northland have been the lowest ever recorded.

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Northland Reel Life December 2019

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Sections of this stream feel like an oasis, hidden away from the world.

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Northland Reel Life November 2019

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Kerikeri River

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Northland Reel Life October 2019

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This small stream inland from Waipu holds a self-sustaining population of rainbows.

Read more about 'Northland Reel Life October 2019'...


Northland Reel Life September 2019

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Fishing at the lakes is pretty hot at the moment, we have had reports about anglers catching their limit within an hour.

Read more about 'Northland Reel Life September 2019'...


Northland Reel Life August 2019

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The Kai Iwi lakes fishing competition was held over the first weekend in July.

Read more about 'Northland Reel Life August 2019'...


Northland Reel Life January 2019

Kai Iwi success

As we’re in the middle of another hot summer, many anglers tend to stop trout fishing as the river levels are starting to drop to low flows.

Read more about 'Northland Reel Life January 2019'...


Northland Reel Life December 2018

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If you're visiting the Northland region, or simply a local looking for some different places to fish, you'll find our Fishing Locations and Access pages a ‘must read.’

Read more about 'Northland Reel Life December 2018'...


Northland Reel Life November 2018

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If you’re heading to Northland for the summer holidays, don’t forget to take some fishing gear - there is some good fishing on offer in the Kai Iwi Lakes and...

Read more about 'Northland Reel Life November 2018'...


Northland Reel Life October 2018

Russell Daniels with a trout caught from Whau Valley Dam on 24 August 2018 2

Fish & Game Northland staff are appealing to anglers to help with a national research project into the genetic makeup of rainbow and brown trout.

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Northland Reel Life September 2018

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Spring growth is flourishing and with that comes more insect life.

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Northland Reel Life August 2018

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Right: Crystal Prins enjoying whats on offer in the 'Sin Bin' on Lake Taharoa.

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Reel Life May 2018

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We’ve got a simple message as May rolls into June and the start of winter…there is still some terrific fishing out there!

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Northland Reel Life April 2018

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Winter’s just around the corner although the warm temperatures have still been persisting at the height of the day.

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Northland Reel Life March 2018

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Autumn tips for Northland

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Northland Reel Life February 2018

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Subtropical weather has caused flooding in several catchments, but thankfully we’ve escaped the full force of the ex-tropical cyclones that have hit New Zealand so far.

Read more about 'Northland Reel Life February 2018'...


Northland Reel Life January 2018

N 2 Karl Pereira 6lb Kai Iwi Lakes Rainbow Trout Downrigger

Why not try to take some time out and try some twilight freshwater fishing to give you a break away from the whirlwind of the New Year?

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Northland Reel Life December 2017

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Summer’s heating up early this year and water temperatures are already well on the rise.

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Northland Reel Life November 2017

N Happy angler great condition trout Kai Iwi Lakes

We’ve had a few pulses of rain but most river levels are back to normal levels.

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Northland Reel Life October 2017

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We hope everyone had a great Labour Weekend and school holidays.

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Northland Reel Life September 2017

N Kai Iwi Lakes Family Fishing

With the new fishing season underway, it’s the perfect time to buy a family licence and share the special experience that is freshwater fishing.

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Northland Reel Life August 2017

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Kalani Snooks (left) and Leo Banicevich (right) enjoying winter success on Kai Iwi Lakes.

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Northland Reel Life May 2017

Breigan Yorke Winner of Children Heaviest Trout2

It’s that time of the year again when we hold our annual Kai Iwi Lakes trout fishing competition.

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Northland Reel Life April 2017

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Northland Report not available for April 2017

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Wellington Reel Life Mar 2017

A backcountry beauty for Peter de Boer

Okay, the weather has been crazy, and at least in some rivers that normally fire the fish have been fickle...

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Auckland / Waikato Reel Life Mar 2017

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An ambitious tagging program has been started on the Whanganui River by Fish & Game councillor Nigel Juby.

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Hawke's Bay Reel Life Mar 2017

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After another hot dry summer, it was refreshing to get some decent rain in early March to give the rivers a flush out and add some volume to their flows.

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Taranaki Reel Life Mar 2017

TRL1April2017. A fine south Taranaki autumn rainbow photo Michael Bakker.

With only one significant fresh in the last month, Taranaki ringplain streams and rivers have been very fishable – and there’s even been a nice period of settled weather to...

Read more about 'Taranaki Reel Life Mar 2017'...


Nelson Marlborough Reel Life Mar 2017

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Trout flying bright green streamers were released into the Riuwaka River during a day long operation in mid-March. 

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Otago Reel Life Mar 2017

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Calm conditions and clear water through March was welcomed by anglers.

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West Coast Reel Life Mar 2017

Dallas Dowdell with a Nice South Westland Salmon Caught Last Week

Conditions have certainly come right recently, with great fishing available.

Both opportunities for salmon and trout fishing have been excellent this month, as the weather has settled down and the river flows have stabilised.

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North Canterbury Reel Life Mar 2017

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Late March and early April often brings settled weather to the Canterbury region.

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Southland Reel Life Mar 2017

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Finally, in a clear patch of weather Southland staff were able to get out and undertake drift diving surveys as part of their annual trout monitoring program.

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Central South Island Reel Life Mar 2017

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April is the last month of the ‘summer’ fishing season.

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Northland Reel Life Mar 2017

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Autumn has arrived – with the mornings noticeably cooler and some heavy dews happening.

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Eastern Reel Life Mar 2017

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Autumn has rolled around quickly and seasonal changes are evident in the Eastern Fish & Game region.

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Southland Reel Life FEB 2017

In this month’s Reel Life article, field officer Cohen Stewart interviews retired fishing guide and honorary ranger Len Prentice to find out how the average angler can make their fishing...

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West Coast Reel Life FEB 2017

Over the past week and a half, weather conditions have improved significantly on the West Coast, with a period of excellent settled weather.

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North Canterbury Reel Life FEB 2017

High hopes for March fishing

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Nelson / Marlborough Reel Life FEB 2017

'exhilarating' cicada season in full swing

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Northland Reel Life Feb 2017

With warm temperatures and a “medium adverse event” declared in Northland, water levels have been getting very low.

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Taranaki Reel Life Feb 2017

At last...after a long period of westerly conditions bringing cool winds and lots of rain, we've finally enjoyed some settled summer weather in Taranaki, not a moment too soon!

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Hawke’s Bay Reel Life Feb 2017

With February air temperatures peaking at 33OC at the airport, it was nice to receive some decent rain in the middle of the month to give the rivers a good...

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Eastern Reel Life Feb 2017

Lake Rotoiti has been one of the top performers so far this summer, serving up some “solid” catches.

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Auckland / Waikato Reel Life Feb 2017

The weather has been less than ideal recently but the heat has brought out the cicadas – and the trout that feed on them.

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Southland Reel Life JAN 2017

As mentioned in previous Reel Life articles, there have been isolated increases in mouse populations in some parts of Southland.

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North Canterbury Reel Life Jan 2017

As I write this report, the East Coast rivers in Canterbury have peaked in flood, with flows higher than seen for some time.

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Northland Reel Life Jan 2017

We hope everyone has had a good summer break...or are still enjoying your holidays.

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Eastern Reel Life Jan 2017

Lake Rotorua’s shoreline fishery has been slow to get underway this summer due to cooler and windier than normal conditions.

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Otago Reel Life JAN 2017

It’s fair to say that the summer holiday period has been severely interrupted by some abysmal weather over the past month and leading up to the New Year.

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Central South Island Reel Life JAN 2017

It has been a fickle summer weather-wise, with welcome small but regular rainfall events occurring across the region.

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West Coast Reel Life Jan 2017

Large numbers of hunters turned out in the West Coast Region for Opening Weekend this year, both local hunters and many from other regions.

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Nelson/Marlborough Reel Life JAN 2017

The Taylor River fishery is in good shape after a 50 medium to large brown trout were released before Christmas.

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Wellington Reel Life Jan 2017

Spring and now 'summer' continue to be a real mixed bag when it comes to weather and fishing prospects.

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Taranaki Reel Life Jan 2017

Regular freshes, persistent westerly winds and even an early dump of snow have conspired to provide great conditions for the trout, but not so flash for the anglers.

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Hawke’s Bay Reel Life Jan 2017

December and early January have seen many of the rivers running low and clear as we progress through the hot summer months here in the Hawke’s Bay.

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