Lower North Lowdown Weekly Fishing Report - 10 October 2024

Great Run of Weekend Weather Continues

The golden run of weekend weather continues across the Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game regions!

We don't often get consistently sunny skies and fishable rivers so early in the season so make the most of the great start to spring angling.

Pictured above: Ben Ellison got his season off to a fine start with some good rainbows and browns like this one (Photo - Ben Ellison)

While some rivers are up a bit after yesterday's southerly, that's now past through and across most parts of the two regions they look like they should clear quickly and be fishable come Saturday.

Most of the minor tributaries will certainly be in good shape, and these are holding plenty of trout at the moment too.

The whitebait runs are reportedly good in many of the larger rivers but anglers wanting to target trout and kahawai in these areas will have to check to see if flows are suitable - use the helpful river links we provide below.     

At any rate there are plenty of opportunities for the weekend ahead with the favourable weather conditions - get into the action!  

And don't forget to start snapping some fishing photos - you could be in to win a $300 Hunting & Fishing voucher. See below for details.   

Grab Your Licence 

Jump online and get your licence the easy way - it only takes a minute. Click the image above to get started. 

Here's the outlook this weekend...    

Hutt River and Tributaries

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Hutt Valley.

The Hutt River and its tributaries - the Pakarutahi, Whakatikei and Akatarawa - had a fresh go through earlier this week but the rivers are falling rapidly. At time of writing the Hutt is running at 13 cumecs at Birchville, which is a flow well suited to streamers and spinners. However, all methods should be good to go come Saturday. There's variable winds forecast for Saturday and Sunday but with plenty of feeder streams to choose from anglers should easily find a stream with the wind on their back.             

 

The Hutt River at Totara Park this morning (Photo: Al Markham)

Kapiti Coast

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Kapiti Coast. 

The Otaki, Waikanae, and Ohau levels are coming down from a small fresh earlier in the week but, despite extra flow, at time of writing they are running clear. There are reports of good size fish in the lower reaches below State Highway One. These are likely chasing the whiterbait. Remember that spring flows should also see fish holding in the lower reaches of some of the lesser streams and rivers running out to sea on the Kapiti Coast - these are well worth an explore at this time of year.      

The Otaki River at SH1 this morning (Photo: Phil Teal).                

Wairarapa

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Wairarapa region.

The Ruamahanga River and tributaries - the Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau - are flowing high this morning and despite running with a green tinge, the visibility is low. There's a fishable edge for streamers and spin anglers at time or writing but we're picking that, come the weekend, there should be plentiful fly fishing opportunities with no further rain in the forecast. Given the flows and colour, the lower Ruamahanga reaches are going to be marginal - you can get a gauge on conditions by using the free-phone number - 083229069 - for the latest. It might be a weekend for heading up the smaller tribs or into the backcountry.            

The Ruamahanga River at Ponatahi Bridge this morning (Photo: Hamish Carnachan).

Manawatu

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Manawatu region.

The Manawatu River, along with the Pohangina and Oroua, are carrying lots of colour this morning suggesting quite a bit of rain fell in the southern Ruahine Range overnight. This will take some time to clear but both the smaller streams coming in from the west, and certainly the east, should be well fishable and holding reasonable numbers of post-spawning trout. Perhaps the Mangahao River could be worth a look as it is falling fast and, being dam fed, is more stable.         

The Manawatu River at Techers College this morning (Photo: Horizons).

Rangitikei

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Rangitikei region.

The rain that hit the Ruahine Ranges yesterday and caused the Manawatu River to rise has also impacted the Rangitikei below Mangaweka - it is high and brown this morning, likely coming in from the Kawhatau River. Upstream, however, the Rangitkei looks great at Pukeokahu; it's got extra flow but is clean and clear. There's no further rain forecast until next week so the mid-upper reaches are worth an explore this weekend.             

The Rangitikei River at Pukeokahu this morning (Photo: Horizons).            

Taranaki Ringplain

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Taranaki Ringplain region.

The procession of west to southwest fronts continues but they’re producing only minor freshes in Ringplain streams as they’re passing over very quickly. Anglers have been catching some nice fish in between these fronts, including good numbers of well-conditioned maiden fish. Some of the larger adults are still in recovery mode after spawning but will pick up condition over the next couple of months. The weather is looking not too bad for the weekend - a westerly will be present, but there are plenty of places to tuck in out of the wind and the skies look clear. Check out up-to-date flow information for the region's river before heading out.

The Waiwhakaiho River at Alfred Road yesterday (Photo: Allen Stancliff).

Waimarino

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Waimarino region.

It’s a similar story in the Waimarino, with frequent minor freshes coming through and elevated base-flows. Spin and soft-bait fishing will be the way to go when there’s some discolouration in the water, and weighted bead-head nymphs and green caddis should also take fish as conditions clear. Check out the live flow on the Mangwhero River at Pakihi Road to get an indication of levels in other nearby waters. For more info on fishing opportunities in the Ruapehu area, click here. 

The Mangawhero River at SH4 this morning (Photo: Horizons).

 

Tip of The Week - Set Some Angling Goals This Season 

Setting goals can make your fishing more exciting and more rewarding (Credit: Nick King)

Have you ever considered setting any specific fishing goals for the season?

Goal setting is not just for work or competitive sport - it can make your fishing season more exciting, more rewarding and more fun too.

Having clear objectives gives you something to aim for, adds purpose and direction to your fishing trips, and can help you learn new skills or new locations you may never have considered.

Instead of just going out and seeing what happens, goals set specific targets in your mind. Whether it is landing a personal best, exploring a new fishing spot or mastering a new technique, these goals can bring a fresh sense of engagement and satisfaction to your time on the water.

One key benefit of setting fishing goals is the motivation they provide throughout the season. It is easy to fall into a routine, visiting the same spots repeatedly and potentially losing some enthusiasm as the season progresses.

But with goals - whether it is catching a trout of a certain size or fishing in a specific location - you are more likely to stay motivated and keep getting out there. This not only means more time on the water but also more opportunities to enjoy nature and spend time with others.

Goals can also be a great way to learn and improve your fishing skills. If you set a goal to catch trout using a new method, you will likely spend time researching and practicing, which can lead to new skills and knowledge.

Over time, these small improvements can significantly enhance your overall fishing experience and success. Plus, the goals you set can lead to some of your most memorable fishing moments, like the thrill of catching a fish of a certain size or helping a loved one land their first trout.

When setting your fishing goals, keep these tips in mind - 

• Make it fun: Your goals should enhance your fishing experience, not make it feel like a chore. Choose goals that excite you and that you will enjoy working towards.
• Be realistic: Set goals that challenge you but are still within reach. This will keep you motivated and will help prevent frustration.
• Celebrate successes: Do not forget to celebrate your achievements. Each goal met is a step towards becoming a better angler

Examples of some goals you could set to get you started include:

• Help a family member catch their first trout.
• Catch your first trout on a fly you tied yourself.
• Try to become proficient casting with your non-favoured arm. 
• Fish in five rivers you've never been to before.
• Catch a trout bigger than 60cm.
• Land at least one trout every month of the season.
• Fish two neighbouring regions this season.   

Photo Competition - Win A $300 Hunting & Fishing Voucher

Jack Gower very happy with his first perch taken at Duddings Lake on a spinner.  

Send in your favourite fishing photos from this season and you could be in to win a $300 voucher to spend in store at Wairarapa Hunting & Fishing.

We won't blow your secret spot, just include the name of the angler(s), photographer's details, and general location in the Wellington-Taranaki Fish & Game region.

• Click here to submit your entry.

You can send us as many fishing photos as you like. By submitting images to enter the competition you acknowledge that Wellington Fish & Game can publish and use the photos for publicity material.

Entries must be in by 5pm Tuesday, April 2, 2025. The winner will be announced in the Lower North Lowdown report on Thursday, April 4, 2025.

 

Wellington and Taranaki Access Maps  

There's no better resource to help you plan your fishing missions this season than our new online access maps.

Click the map below to start planning your weekend angling outing!

Lake Rotomanu Family Fishing Day 

Lake Rotomanu is gradually refilling and should be firing for the family fishing event.

New Plymouth District Council lowered the lake level Rotomanu at short notice to rebuild two platforms and it has been slow to refill.

Our annual family fishing event has therefore been moved to Sunday, November 3.

Taranaki Fish & Game will be liberating 500 good-sized rainbow trout from the Eastern Fish & Game Ngongotaha hatchery for this event.

Families are encouraged to get their under 12-year-olds a free fishing licence by visiting the Fish & Game website.

Stratford Kids’ Trout Fishing Day

This event has been rescheduled to Saturday, December 14. 

Taranaki Fish & Game will liberate around 300 good-sized rainbow trout from its Hawera hatchery into the Scout Den Pool in King Edward Park for this event.

A booking sheet will be at the Stratford i-site from mid-November.

 

Check, Clean Dry - Help Protect Our Lakes and Rivers

With summer fast approaching and the days getting longer, now is the perfect time to familiarise yourselves with the NEW North Island Check Clean Dry procedures. 

Rowing legend Mahe Drysdale has come on board as a CCD ambassador for Biosecurity NZ and has just released a new video. Click the screenshot above to watch. 

 

Noticeboard

- The Wellington Fish & Game Council is holding it's next meeting at 3pm on Tuesday, October 14, in Masterton (Club Wairarapa - 20 Essex Street). Licence holders and members of the public are welcome to attend.  

- The Hutt Valley Anglers Club is having it's next meeting on Monday, October 14. Please email secretary Michael Hutchinson if you're interested in joining the club.     

- Council River Works: Don't let bulldozers in the river ruin your fishing plans. Click here to download a schedule of Greater Wellington Regional Council's latest planned river engineering works.    

- Access to Lake Namunamu, near Hunterville, is closed as the access road is upgraded in preparation for the logging of Ngaruru Forest over the next three to five years

If you have any angling-related information you'd like posted to this noticeboard, including upcoming angling club meetings and outings, please get in touch with us.  

*This report was accurate at time of writing. For your safety, please ensure you check the latest weather and river flow information before you head out on the water.