Forecast Rain To Reset Fisheries   

Pictured - Hamish Carnachan with a beautiful Wairarapa small-stream brown taken on cicada last weekend (Credit: Ben Ellison).   

Warnings of heavy rain for much of the region isn't the news anglers wanted ahead of the long weekend, particularly when the fishing has been on fire recently with trout going wild for cicadas and other large terrestrials! 

However, going on the premise that every cloud has a silver lining, the rivers and fisheries will certainly benefit from the recharge they are going to get over the next few days. 

Anglers have been reporting nuisance build ups of algae in the Rangitikei; similar problems are occurring in other rivers blighted by low flows and warmer water temperatures. 

Trout acting noticeably sluggish in the middle of the day in the larger rivers is also another symptom of fisheries becoming slightly stressed by high-summer conditions. 

So, while the timing could have been a lot better, at least the reset that this rain will create is going to be beneficial in the long run.

Unless you're close to some still-water fisheries - e.g. Lake Wairarapa wetlands, Kourarua Dam, or Hokowhitu Lagoon - your best bet is to get out on the water today and possibly tomorrow before the deluge starts.                    

Here's the outlook:

Hutt River and tributaries

Click here for live weather updates.

The Hutt, Akatarawa, Pakarutahi and tribs are all low but this will certainly change over the coming 24 hours. There is a heavy rain watch out for the Tararua Range so watch for the possibility of rapidly rising rivers. There may be a brief window to hit the water today and tomorrow but check the flows.               

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

Kapiti Coast 

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Great conditions on the Otaki, Ohau and Waikanae at the moment but it won't last. Heavy rain is forecast to arrive from early Saturday morning and persist through to noon Sunday. Hit the rivers today and tie some flies this weekend.        

Wairarapa 

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The Ruamahanga, Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau are all low and in desperate need of a fresh. This will arrive in the form of heavy rain in across the region and in the Tararua Range from Saturday morning.    

The Waiohine River above SH2 this morning (Credit: Hamish Carnachan)

Manawatu

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Don't be fooled by the benign looking Manawatu River pictured below - all the waterways in this part of the region, including the Pohangina, Orua, Mangatainoka and Makakahi are going to cop a good dose of rain on Saturday and Sunday. Hokowhitu Lagoon is an option when sunny skies return on Monday, which is a public holiday.        

The Manawatu River at Palmerston North this morning (Credit: Matt Kavermann)

Rangitikei 

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The algae that has been annoying some anglers on the Rangitikei should be scoured out when the river comes up after heavy rain forecast for early Saturday morning and most of Sunday. Great weather for ducks, not so good for anglers we're afraid.   

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

Video Of The Week 

Increasingly Fish & Game is having to confront and counter warped views on interactions between native and introduced fish, often promulgated by people and groups who are basing their opinions on personal prejudice against trout, rather than the facts and robust science.  

Wellington Fish & Game staff are undertaking research to unravel the relationships between sports fish and native fish in New Zealand, and what we are finding in some areas is that after more than a century of co-evolution these relationships are more complex than previously thought.

Here Dr Matt Kavermann presents a short film investigating a sport fish removal experiment from a 7.5 ha shallow lagoon within the Wairarapa Moana wetland system, and the unexpected consequences that have ensued. Click on the screenshot above to view.       

Noticeboard

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

 9:00 pm Tuesday 15 February to 2:00 am Wednesday 16 February 2022
 9:00 pm Tuesday 15 March to 2:00 am Wednesday 16 March 2022
 9:00 pm Tuesday 3 May to 2:00 am Wednesday 4 May 2022 (river ecological state dependent)

• 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.

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.