Northland Reel Life September 2017

Share fishing fun with a family licence

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.

Family fishing at Kai Iwi lakes.

There’s the challenge of outwitting wily fish and being able to commune with nature in the beautiful Northland region.

Take a respite from the chaos of modern life and enjoy an antidote to work stress, while helping younger members of your family discover the appeal of sports fishing.

A family licence can be made up of parents or grandparents and up to four of their children or grandchildren under the age of 18 on 1^st October.

It’s excellent value for money; this licence can also be used anywhere in NZ, except the Lake Taupo fishery which is managed by DOC.

For more information about the new season’s licences, and tips to help you catch more trout, check out our Northland website pages.

What’s the weather doing?

El Nino weather effects still persist in the North with NIWA predicting a good chance of higher than normal river flows and more rainfall.

It’s pretty obvious that things are very wet at the moment around the region. Cooler water temperatures will provide more opportunities for keen anglers in between high flows. Our Lakes and reservoirs are still fishing well.

Father teaching his child at Kai Iwi Lakes.

Lake Manuwai off limits

This lake is temporarily closed to the public - for more information check out our Northland website pages.  We will keep you updated on when the lake will reopen.

Kai Iwi Lakes proposed Navigational Bylaw

Northland Fish & Game presented its submission to an NRC hearing in September in Dargaville. We strongly advocated for continued unrestricted access to this valuable fishery, especially during the winter months.

Points of contention included powered boats on Lake Waikare, charging of permits for powered boats, designated swimming areas and congestion caused by the 200m rule on Lake Taharoa.

We’re grateful to all those anglers who came along to support our submission and comment themselves, and those who put in their own submissions on the bylaw.

By the time this is published, NRC will have held a deliberations meeting where a final decision on the bylaw was expected to be made. We will keep you posted of the outcome.

We hope everyone exercised their democratic right to get out and vote in our rollercoaster of an election. It’s an important opportunity to have your say on matters that are dear to you.

Northland Fish & Game staff wish you all the best for the upcoming fishing season.

Tight lines!

Andrew Kirk, Field Officer

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