Wellington Reel Life October 2017

Season Firing Early

After a tough one for lower North Island anglers, this season is off to a superb start with good weather and rivers in fantastic shape.

The very wet winter and high snow falls we’ve had are now well and truly behind us with the days noticeably warming. But the rivers remain in great shape with aquifers recharged and beds cleaned out.

Right: A good brown from the upper Manawatu.

The trout are putting on condition rapidly after spawning too and this is making for some exciting angling with well-rested fish eagerly eating flies and lures!

As we’ve noted previously, there are some very big fish around the lower North Island this season, and they’re not just in the headwaters – sea-runs up to 6lb are being taken in the lower Ruamahanga as they chase the whitebait runs.

Lower river action elsewhere in the region will be firing too. Spots to target are the lower reaches of the Hutt, or the numerous estuaries areas on the Kapiti Coast.

Target the small water too

A nice brown from a tiny stream (Photo Hamish Carnachan).

While many anglers charge off into the backcountry at the first opportunity after Opening, this can create anglers congestion on popular rivers.

If you want to avoid this, in the Wellington Fish & Game region we’re blessed with alternatives. As noted above sea-run trout can be targeted right through to mid-December.

Alternatively, with the good flows we’ve got at present, fish are still holding in the wee headwater streams where they spawn. Targeting large trout in tight confines is challenging but rewarding and exhilarating angling.

Give it a shot while the fish are still holding high.

Win a new rod

 Fish & Game NZ magazine now has an online platform with heaps of great info, articles and prizes.

Fancy a new Epic Kiwi Classic fly rod? Head on over to the Fish & Game NZ magazinewebsite and discover how to enter…

You’ll also have heaps of awesome info at your fingertips including select features, columns and fly tying from, gear reviews, accommodation and more.

And if you didn’t get you pre-season Special Issue magazine, you’ll find it on the website in its entirety.

Don’t forget to like the magazine on Facebook too – search ‘Fish and Game NZ – Online’.

Sign up for our Weekly Fishing Reports

If you want the latest weather, fishing conditions and river flow info emailed direct to you each week, we’re happy to include you in our Weekly Fishing Report email newsletter.

Heaps of handy info, tips and more, direct to you inbox every Thursday to help you plan the perfect fishing weekend!

Interested? Send us an email swray@fishandgame.org.nz with ‘Sign Me Up’ in the subject line.

Get the best bang for your buck

If you haven’t yet got your licence, grab it online here the easy way – a few quick clicks and you’re “Licenced to Thrill” for another entire year.

Don’t get caught short by buying one of the lesser licences and find out the hard way that you’re very restricted in the angling you can do.

The Whole Season Licence is by far the best category offering the most flexibility and unrestricted freshwater fishing available.

You can fish for the entire year – that’s 365 days – for a staggeringly low cost of just 35c/day.

What other world-class recreational activity can you get for that?

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