Reel Life November 2025 - Northland

Trout Fishing Day

On Saturday 18^th October Northland Fish and Game ran a fishing tuition event at Whau Valley Dam in Whangarei. The event is focused on teaching anglers the methods and techniques that catch fish in the dam and other waters in Northland. This year was the second time the event has been run. Attendance was high, with almost 50 participants having a try. Trout were caught on all methods that were demonstrated (fly, softbait and bait) which was a good confirmation that the information and teachings were effective.

Image above: Angler Terry Harvey with a decent rainbow taken at the Whau Valley Fishing Tuition event

It was great to see so many keen anglers giving it a go on a lovely spring morning. Special thanks to the staff and councillors who supported the event and made it a success. 

River and stream conditions

Aside from a period of rain in late October the rivers and streams have been running clear in the region. Fish concentrations have been difficult to find at times so it pays to move around within the catchment you are fishing to get onto areas that are holding fish. With the clear water and warm temperatures trout will be starting to look up for food items like beetles and cicadas – a dry/dropper combo in these conditions is ideal. In turbid water a spinner or lure will usually get better results but in clear conditions fish will come a long way for a big fly.

Pictureque Puketotara Stream near Kerikeri

Fish and Game staff have been out checking access points and looking for new ones in the Kerikeri area. Two new points of access to the Puketotara Stream have been located and will be signposted in the coming weeks. The Bay of Islands streams can offer some decent fishing – see below for some information to help looking to explore these fisheries:

Kerikeri catchment

Description: Winding streams with wooded banks that run over volcanic bed rock. Riverbeds can be very bouldery, a wading pole will be a great asset for those looking to move around in the stream. Fish seem to hold in the pools so these should be fished carefully. Some streams have great streamside access in the form of tracks, others don’t and will require some boulder-hopping and scrambling up banks for those who like to cover ground.

As always, the deadliest lures will be veltics, bibbed minnows and soft plastics, in that order. For fly anglers a streamer like a rabbit stripped across a pool is an option. A nymph suspended under a big dry fly like a large royal wulff, a blowfly pattern or a cicada will be a good bet as well.

Access points:

• Kerikeri River
  • Rainbow falls - upstream and downstream along walking tracks
  • SH10 Waipapa - upstream and downstream along walking tracks
•  Puketotara Stream
  • SH10 bridge at Waipapa - upstream 
  • Blue Gum Lane – follow grass strip from parking area to stream
  • Riverbank Drive – Walk through reserve at cul de sac to rivers edge. Esplanade reserve follows the stream upstream for 700m
  • Golf course Road, upstream and downstream.

Regulation Changes

No changes to the regulations this season. All our waters are open year-round to all permitted methods.

All river and streams, methods - FSB, Limit - 2 fish

Stocked reservoirs, methods - FSB, Limit - 3 fish

We need your help!!

Northland Angler Shen Ho with a rainbow from the Kaihu River

If you catch a trout in Northland can you please weigh and measure the fish. Then email that information along with the location and fin clips (if any) to northland@fishandgame.org.nz This will give us useful information on the health of the fishery. Don’t worry we will keep your prized spot secret. Any fish catch data submitted will go into the draw for a whole season licence for the 2026-2027 season.

Take the Family Fishing

The new season commenced on Saturday 1st October 2025. The family licence is by far the best value for money licence on offer. A family licence can be made up of two parents or grandparents and up to four of their children or grandchildren under the age of 18. This licence can also be used anywhere in NZ, except the Lake Taupo fishery.

For more information about the new seasons licences check out our website: www.fishandgame.org.nz