Taranaki Reel Life April 2019

Waterways in great shape for spawning trout

Three freshes in the last three weeks have cleared out the accumulated algal growth and sediment from streams and restored base flows - so that waterways are now in good condition going into the trout spawning season.

Right: A nice Lake Mangamahoe brown (Photo Charles Frere).

While many Taranaki region fisheries close to angling at the end of April, a good selection of waters remain open during the “winter season”.

These include Lake Mangamahoe, a picturesque lake near New Plymouth that is currently fishing well, with brown and rainbow trout up to 2kg cruising the lake margin.

While the brown trout are wild, the lake is stocked annually with 300 adipose fin-clipped hatchery rainbows, which show good survival and growth.

Please note that Lake Mangamahoe is restricted to fly fishing only, with fly rod, fly reel, fly line and artificial fly.

The lower reaches of a number of ringplain streams and rivers also remain open to angling, including the Waiwhakaiho River, where there's a good stretch of fishable water accessible from a walking track at the right-hand end of Rimu Street extension, upstream to a white-yellow and black marker pole.

Fish water in the winter fishing section of the lower Waiwhakaiho River.

The lower reaches of Kaupokonui Stream below SH45 is another popular stretch of water, with easy access from the Kaupokonui beach camp off Lower Glenn Road.

In the Ruapehu district, the mainstem of the Manganuioteao River downstream of the Makatote River confluence remains open until the end of June.

Fly fishing this river with a weighted two-nymph rig, or spin fishing should produce fish.

The river between Ruatiti Domain and the Orautoha Stream confluence will be well worth a visit on a nice sunny day, as fish congregate in this area prior to spawning.

From July 1, only the section downstream of Ruatiti Road Bridge remains open and spin fishing in the pools adjacent to Ruatiti domain is a good option.

The Mangawhero River downstream of Raetihi-Ohakune Road Bridge is another Waimarino fishery that is worth a visit in the winter season during periods of stable flow.

Options further away

Many Taranaki anglers also visit the Awakino River in the Auckland/Waikato Region at this time of year, particularly the fly fishing only section upstream of the Mahoenui SH3 Bridge, although the entire river remains open until June 30.

Likewise, the Rotorua lakes also attract their fair share of Taranaki anglers in May.

For anglers who haven't bought a 2018-2019 whole season licence, the option of a reduced price winter season licence is now available.

It allows anglers to fish waters that remain open through to September 30, including the Rotorua lakes – click here

Taranaki winter season angling waters

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