Reel Life April 2022

As we write this, there’s been nearly a month of low flows, although it’s looking like there will have been at least a minor fresh through the rivers by the time you get to read this.

Most ringplain streams are currently sitting at or near their average annual low flows, and water temperatures have fallen back to their usual autumn levels thanks to the persistent (and annoying) southeasterly winds.

The fishing has been Ok and will likely improve further as streams are freshened up with the expected rainfall.

Conditions have certainly suited the flyfisher, although spin fishing has still been effective in the larger rivers.

Taranaki Fish & Game Councillor, Gerard Karalus, sent through this photo of a nice ringplain brown trout he caught recently while stalking fish on their feeding lies.

Above Right: A late February 2022 ringplain brown.

The lower Waitara River is as clear as it gets.

Gerard also sent this photo of the lower Waitara River with the flow almost entirely made up of Manganui River water and very little sediment input from the eastern hill country portion of the catchment. Definitely fishable!

In the last week, flows in the lower Patea River below the dam have been sitting at around four cumecs, again very fishable, and with decreasing water temperatures from now on is a good time to visit this backcountry fishery.

Over the last five years, 5,000 tagged brown trout yearlings, and 2,500 tagged rainbow yearlings plus 477 larger adipose fin-clipped rainbows from the Hawera hatchery have been released here.

We’d love your feedback on the success or otherwise of these releases.

Photos of fish and recording of tag numbers would be much appreciated. Click on this link for the latest on lower Patea River flows and water temperatures

https://www.trc.govt.nz/environment/maps-and-data/site-details/?siteID=28&measureID=9&timePeriod=30days

Productive fishing for perch

New Plymouth’s Lake Rotomanu is still producing some very nice perch, with multiple fish around the 700– 800 gm mark caught recently.

The best time to target these larger perch seems to be just before dusk, using a pink or similar coloured paddle-tail soft bait with a 3.5gram head.

Perch will readily take coloured toby and veltic spinners, so give them a try.

Chasing perch is an easy way to get kids into freshwater fishing so make sure you utilise the Taranaki lakes that hold good populations of this tasty fish, such as Lakes Ngangana (Waitara), Ratapiko (Tariki), Rotokare (11km east of Eltham), Rotorangi and Wiritoa and Kohata (both Whanganui).

The Manganuioteao is looking good!

Waimarino rivers very fishable

The Mangawhero and Manganuioteao rivers are also at low flow, and of course, water temperatures are 2-3 degrees cooler than on the ringplain – perfect for fishing.

Trout will also be more accessible on their feeding lies, so well worth a visit.

From the team at Taranaki Fish & Game