Small Stream Fishing is Firing!          

Pictured - A beautiful lower Otaki River rainbow (Credit: Andrew Harding)    

More spring rain over the last 24 hours has made forecasting fishing conditions for the weekend tricky again. 

The larger rivers around the region are all but out of action at time of writing and, with more weather coming on Sunday, the prospects are not great.  

The upshot is that the small streams have been fishing superbly, clearly holding plenty of trout yet to drop back into the mainstem rivers. 

The fish are also eager to put condition on and eating ravenously. 

If you like targeting this water, and the challenges and rewards small streams present, now is your time because the action is red hot!

So, not the best conditions ahead but at least there are some good opportunities available. 

Grab your licence online and get into it!         

Here's the outlook for the weekend:

Hutt River and tributaries

Click here for live weather updates.

The Hutt, Akatarawa, Pakarutahi and Whakatikei are all high and unfishable at present. As you'd expect, though, the smaller streams are faring better and haven't received as much water, or are dropping it quickly. These are the waterways to target this weekend as more rain is forecast for Sunday which will bring the Hutt up again.   

The Hutt River at Totara Park this morning (Credit: Al Markham)  

Kapiti Coast 

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The Waikanae, Ohau and Otaki are flowing high and dirty this morning and will take at least 24 hours to fall back to fishable flows, provided no more significant rain falls. There are plenty of smaller streams on the Kapiti Coast, many of which hold trout. These will clear faster and can certainly be worth exploring early season.          

The Otaki River at SH1 this morning (Credit: Phil Teal)

Wairarapa 

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The Ruamahanga, Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau are all in the same state as the other main lower North Island rivers - high and carrying lots of colour. As we're noticing elsewhere though, the smaller tribs like the Waipoua are falling quickly, and the Huangarua has barely registered a blip in any extra low.     

The Waipoua River in Masterton this morning (Credit: Hamish Carnachan)

Manawatu

Click here for live weather updates.  

The Manawatu River mainstem is carrying lots of extra flow and sediment - currently unfishable and will take some time to fall back. The Pohangina and Oroua don't look pretty at time of writing but they are falling quickly and should be back to firing come Saturday. The Mangatainoka has a big fresh coming through and, with more rain forecast for Sunday, will likely be out of order until the next spell of fine weather.                    

The Oroua River at Almadale Slackline this morning (Credit: Horizons)

Rangitikei 

Click here for live weather updates.

It's another weekend for targeting the small streams in the central high country as the Rangitikei River continues to flow high and dirty. There's a chance the Hautapu might clear briefly for Saturday before the rain returns.              

The Rangitikei River at Pukeokahu this morning (Credit: Horizons) 

Angling News - Hot Off The Press

Our latest edition of the Angling News is hot of the press!

For the latest season prospects, tips and techniques, and updates on what the Wellington Fish & Game team has been up to, click the cover shot below. 

Noticeboard

• Treble Hooks - New regulations for the 2022-23 season ban the use of treble hooks on waterways where there are maximum size limits on trout i.e., fish over a certain size must be returned. These rivers are identified in Note 3 on page 39 of the regulations book. This measure was adopted by the Wellington Fish & Game Council to help the survival of large fish, the breeding specimens, when released after being caught. Please consult the Wellington section of the regulations guide, particularly Note 5 which details where trebles are permitted. All other waters only single hooks are allowed. 

• Wellington Fish & Game has been advised of the following dates for flushing flows from the Moawhango Dam:

13 Dec, 21:00-06:00

24 Jan, 21:00-02:00

14 Feb, 21:00-02:00

14 Mar, 21:00-02:00

25 Apr, 21:00-02:00

• River Bulldozing - Don't get an unwelcome surprise by Greater Wellington Regional Council's river bulldozing ruining your day on the river. The upcoming activity schedule can be found here.

• The Happy Valley Trout Centre is having an open day December 11. For more information please contact Strato Cotsilinis.      

• Upcoming fishing competitions:

  January 29-30, 2023: Sport Fly Fishing New Zealand Inc (SFFNZ) Ruamahunga Regional Competition is to be run 29-30 January 2023 from Kokotau Rd (Gladstone) to Te Whiti Rd (Masterton).

 If you have any information you'd like to have considered for addition to the notice board, please get in touch with us.  

​*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.