Rivers Should Clear In Time For The Weekend       

Pictured - Hamish Carnachan hooked up on a feisty rainbow from a Rangitikei River feeder stream (Credit: Matt Kavermann)    

A heavy bout of rain has gone through the lower part of the region, but most rivers should be fishable by the weekend. 

Further north, while the lower Manawatu and Rangitikei are up and dirty, the tribs are looking surprisingly clean and clear.

With another two days for rivers to drop before the weekend, and a fine extended weather forecast, there should be plenty of angling options available. 

Staff managed to sneak in the last of their drift dives last week and the result are very encouraging. 

Excellent numbers of large fish were recorded in both the Ohau and the lower section of the Otaki rivers.

Meanwhile, the Rangitikei had astounding numbers of very large trout - the best we've seen in years. For a river that is consistently a stand-out, that's really saying something too! 

Get out and get amongst it...      

Here's the outlook:

Hutt River and tributaries

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The Hutt is on the rise with a slight tinge of colour. However, according to our local sources, it is in good shape for swing a few lures down the edge. The Akatarawa and Pakarutahi have a hint of extra flow but are otherwise okay to go this morning. These tribs, including the Whakatikei, should be coming into their own as fish move in ahead of spawning season.                               

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

Kapiti Coast 

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The Kapiti Coast rivers are carrying some extra flow and are brownish this morning but with fine weather ahead they should be clear by the weekend, if not Saturday afternoon at the latest. That's great news because our drift dives last week revealed excellent number of good-sized trout in both the Otaki and Ohau. The Waikanae currently dropping quickly.

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

Wairarapa 

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The Ruamahanga is carrying colour and extra flow but falling. The Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau are also all up following heavy rain in the ranges overnight. However, we are expecting them to return to fishable flows on Saturday.           

The Ruamahanga at Pontahi this morning (Credit: Hamish Carnachan)

Manawatu

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The mainstem Manawatu River is still big brown and dirty in the middle reaches. Unless you head much higher you're going to struggle. The Pohangina and Ōroua are clearing and should be fishable by Saturday - a good option with trout starting to move into spawning mode.             

The Manawatu River at Teachers College this morning (Credit: Horizons)

Rangitikei 

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The Rangitikei River is still carrying plenty of sediment in the middle and lower reaches - quite dirty at Mangaweka. However, further upstream it is clearing nicely and probably even fishable around and upstream of Mangaohane.        

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

National Angler Survey

Where have you been fishing in the last two months?

This season Fish & Game is undertaking the National Angling Survey.

The next round of the 2022 survey starts in the coming week, so anglers may receive a call asking about where and how many days they have been fishing.

This is the fifth in a series of surveys dating back to 1994-95. The survey data is analysed by NIWA on behalf of Fish & Game and the resulting database of information is one of most significant long-term datasets on freshwater environments in New Zealand... and it's all thanks to the participation of anglers!

The National Angling Survey data has been a critical tool for Fish & Game in our advocacy work. It has been used to identify waters of regional and national significance, help to gain Water Conservation Orders and is used in everyday resource management as well as enabling Fish & Game to monitor trends in fisheries over time.

If you get a call in the next couple of weeks, we would really appreciate your input.

Tip of The Week - Autumn Angling Tactics

Autumn is a time to start concentrating your angling effort on the smaller spawning streams (Credit: Matt Kavermann). 

Following are a few simple tips to help you increase your chances of hooking up on fish in what can be both a frustrating and exciting period on the angling calendar:

1. Trout will start congregating in their natal streams - the small waterways where they came from and return into for their own spawning. Concentrate on these before they close at the end of April. 

2. Check out the confluences of waterways. Often fish will stack up at these 'intersections' as they wait for conditions to run into their spawning waters. Cues to run could be a pro-longed drop in temperature, falling air pressure, or rain. 

3. If trout aren't cooperating and are ignoring your dries and nymphs, bring out the big guns. Switch to large streamers - the bigger the better (even articulated patterns). This can force an aggressive territorial strike if the fish aren't actively feeding.

4. Threadline gear and spinners can be effective in autumn for the same reasons as outlined above. 

5. Make them bite. When trout get the urge to spawn, often feeding is the last thing on their minds as they wait for mates or concentrate on defending their patch. If they won't feed, annoy them into biting. Often it can take up to a dozen or more casts at a 'doggo' trout, but if you're accurate enough and keep the flies or lures bouncing just past its nose eventually it will hit it, possibly out of sheer annoyance.        

Autumn certainly brings its own set of challengers for the angler. At times it can be very frustrating sighting large fish that won't take anything as they chase each other around, but other times they'll aggressively strike at anything that hits the water.

Try not to get frustrated. Instead mix up your fishing to suit the season.       

River Webcams

Click the screen shot below to go to Horizon's website showing the list of available river webcams.

Noticeboard

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

  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.