Reel Life January 2026 - Taranaki
- Taranaki
- 20/01/2026
Over the Christmas and New Year period, conditions across the Taranaki and Waimarino regions were mixed but generally favourable for fishing. While we saw a few unsettled days, including periods of gusty winds and heavier showers around New Year’s Eve, there were plenty of calm, warm windows that made for some great angling conditions on both rivers and still waters.
Andrew Davies with a ringplain brown, photo courtesy of Nik Hannam
Terrestrials like hoppers, beetles, and assorted attractor patterns will see consistent interest from trout at this time of year, particularly into the late afternoon window when insect activity peaks. With regards to soft baiting and spinning, Lake Ratapiko has been fishing well for Perch and Trout, particularly when lures are given time to find the bottom after casting. A slower, meaningful retrieve will work well, enabling the lures action to do the work of enticing fish.
Lachie Blundell at Lake Mangamahoe
For the fly angler, with consistent lower flows and clear water, fly presentation becomes especially important, alongside achieving a natural drift. Thick tippets may be visible to fish, and any unnatural movement or drag of the fly is likely to discourage a take. When this is combined with the fact that fish may be picky due to an abundance of natural food available at this time of year, this reinforces the need for close attention to every detail of your approach and flies presentation.
Regional access and environmental information
Feel free to check out our interactive access map here to find new fishing spots throughout the Taranaki and Wellington region.
To keep track of regional river levels and other useful environmental data, you can check out the Taranaki Regional Councils website for more here, and for those anglers in the Waimarino, a good starting point is found here.
Don’t forget to ‘Check, Clean & Dry’
As head through the warmer months and move around to fish and explore, it is important to highlight the importance of checking, cleaning and drying any clothing, equipment and fishing gear before moving between waterways to help prevent the spread of aquatic pest species.
Disclaimer:
The information presented in these news items is based on the context and regulations in place at the time of publication. Please note that some articles may include reference to laws and regulatory standards that have since changed. For the most current and accurate information please check our Fishing Licences & Regulations pages or our Hunting Licences & Regulations pages.