Reel Life September 2025 - Wellington

Hopes High For Another Stunning Season

Last season was a cracker for Wellington Fish & Game region anglers and hopes are high for a repeat of the awesome angling come October 1.

Image above: Todd McVey with a stunning 7lb brown from a Hutt River tributary last summer

The rivers maintained healthy flows last summer despite the clear sunny skies, and the condition of the fish was incredible in all the main catchments. No matter where you fished in the lower North Island – from the backcountry to the lowlands – the trout were plentiful, and it was some of the best angling many can remember.

We conduct extensive monitoring of our fisheries in the Wellington region. This includes drift diving – covering around 60-70km of river transects each year to gauge the fish population and river health – along with electric fishing and spawning surveys to ascertain recruitment.

Results of this intensive field work once again point towards very healthy fisheries throughout the lower North Island with good recruitment, meaning fish stocks are successfully self-sustaining. It is great to see that the trout fishery continues to be in such great condition just a few years after Cyclone Gabrielle did her best to try and wipe them out. 

From the monster rainbows caught in the Rangitikei headwaters (and some lowland giants to), to sprightly Manawatu River trout, to the hundreds of solid browns from the amazing Hutt River urban fishery, it was awesome to see the photos of your escapades last season too, showcasing the amazing freshwater fishing resource we’re so lucky to have in this part of the world. 

On that note, once again we’re running our photo competition, generously sponsored by Wairarapa Hunting & Fishing who have put up a $300 voucher. To find out how to win, make sure you’re signed up to our weekly fishing report – The Lower North Lowdown (see ‘Tools to Help Your Angling Success’ below). 

With only a few weeks ‘til the new season opens, there’s plenty to be excited about - Grab your licence and we’ll see you on the water!

Grab Your Ticket To Adventure

Your freshwater fishing licence is a ticket to adventure, offering amazing value and angling quality unsurpassed anywhere else in the world.

The best value for money licence is the Adult Whole Season, allowing you to fish 365 days, anywhere in the country (excluding Taupo).

Grab you licence now.

Tools to Help Your Angling Success

The team at Wellington Fish & Game want you to get the most out of your investment in a fishing licence this season, so we’ve put together some handy resources to help make your angling adventures more successful.   

• Weekly Angling Report:
  The latest weather and river flow conditions, tips and videos sent direct to you via email each Thursday – our ‘Lower North Lowdown’ report is the ultimate angling intelligence. Click here to sign up to receive the report.
  
  
• Online Access Maps:
  Start planning your new season fishing adventures using our interactive angler access mapping system. Click here to check it out.
  
  
• Brochures:

1. Reading Water, Fishing Fish
2. Spin Fishing Basics
3. Advance Spin Fishing
4. How to Fish the Hutt River

If you’re after any of these handy how-to guides, email the office: wellington@fishandgame.org.nz

Kourarau Dam Access Re-opens

Fish & Game officer Hamish Carnachan and Carterton Mayor Ron Mark at the re-opening of access to the dam

After seven years, Kourarau Dam is finally re-opened to the public. This popular fishing spot in Wairarapa was closed for safety reasons after a significant localised flood event undermined the bridge that provided access to the lake.

Wellington Fish & Game advocated for years to have the bridge reinstated because Kourarau Dam provides one of the few still water fishing options in the lower North Island.

Owned by Trust House, Masterton, initially the remediation work was put in the “too hard basket” owing to excessive safety restrictions imposed by local councils made the repair cost prohibitive.

Several years on, with staff changes at Trust House and a new council providing impetus to re-open this community asset, the access bridge has been reinstated. The successful outcome is the result of collaboration between Trust House, Carterton District Council, adjacent landowners and Wellington Fish & Game.

Korarau Dam provides idyllic fishing on a small hydro lake surrounded by gently rolling farming farmland. It holds rainbows up to 3lb, with the occasional larger fish. For anglers in the lower part of the North Island, this fishery is a great fallback option when rivers are blown out after rain.