Lower North Lowdown Weekly Fishing Report - 11 December 2025

Another Stunning Weekend For Fishing!  

You couldn't wish for better fishing conditions! Sunny skies, clear rivers and light winds across the lower North Island for the weekend. 

Throw into the mix plenty of bug life, including terrestrials, and it's an angler's paradise out there at the moment.  

Pictured - Justin Smith with a Wellington Fish & Game region trophy rainbow.   

Cicadas are now humming loudly through the hottest parts of the day in certain locations - always a welcome signal that midsummer angling is well underway. 

While water temperatures are starting to climb in the afternoons in some of the lowland waterways, the mornings and evenings remain comfortably within that ideal bracket for trout. 

Anglers willing to work those cooler periods are being rewarded with active fish and reliable surface activity.

With warmer days ahead, anglers would do well to consider water temperatures when deciding where to concentrate efforts.

A very healthy hatchery rainbow caught at the recent Startford Kids Fishing Day.

For example, pushing higher into catchments and fishing more towards headwaters where the altitude keeps temperatures down, or focusing on spring-fed streams that hold consistently cool flows throughout the year.

These cooler refuges can fish exceptionally well as the summer heat intensifies.

Deeper pools, and runs and riffles which oxygenate the water, are also good spots to target in our more easily accessible fisheries if you don't feel like heading too far afield. 

Where ever you go, enjoy the perfect fishing conditions this weekend - and get out on the water to decompress ahead of the Christmas rush. 

Hope to see you on out there this weekend!

Grab Your Licence Now!

Jump online and get your licence the easy way now - it only takes a minute.

Click the image above to get started. 

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Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game are on Facebook!

To keep up to date with all the news and events from the two regions, be sure to check out our page and follow us.  

Here's the outlook this weekend...    

Hutt Valley

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

The Hutt River is low and clear and looking very fishy! When the river conditions are like this, Hutt trout have a tendency to hold in the shallow riffles - look for likely shapes in these areas and roll a dry-dropper rig over the top. Be sure to fish under the willows where the trees are casting shade on the water too - blind fishing will reap rewards. The Pakarutahi, Whakatikei and Akatarawa are starting to get very low so the fish will be somewhat wary. Make sure you're extra stealthy and don't forget to wear good camo clothing.             

Just a reminder that Greater Wellington Regional Council has advised that toxic algae levels in some areas of the Hutt River have reached alert levels. It is recommended to avoid swimming and keep dogs away from the river at this time. The best thing you can do to stay safe is to know what toxic algae looks like and avoid it. Search ‘Is it safe to Swim’ for the latest toxic algae updates here.

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 have excellent water clarity at the moment after several days of fine weather on the coast. Flows are described as low to moderate so there are ample opportunities anywhere in the catchment. With the Otaki Forks road reopened, and a stunning weather forecast, it'd be a great weekend to push up into the backcountry on an extended fishing trip. Let us know how you get on!    

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

 

Wairarapa

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

It was a light overcast and (welcome) cool start in Wairarapa this morning after several days where the mercury hit the low 30s. The cloud is now peeling back and we're heading into a great weekend with clear skies and more hot temps on the way. The Ruamahanga River is looking stunning this morning and fish are still active despite the water temperature climbing. Meanwhile, the Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau are crystal clear and still running cool. A day or two in the Tararuas would make for some epic fishing this weekend.                                        

Check out the latest conditions for the lower Ruamahanga by calling this free-phone number - 083229069.             

The Ruamahanga River below Wardells Bridge this morning (Photo: Hamish Carnachan).

Manawatu

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

The Manawatu River is clean and clear all the way through. The Pohangina and Oroua are starting to head towards summer low flows. Plenty of options this weekend for Manawatu-based anglers - the forecast is perfect so take your pick of where to go. Standouts so far this season have been the Manawatu beyond Woodville, and the Mangatainoka and Mangahoa rivers have also been producing exceptional fishing.       

The Manawatu River at Ashurst this morning (Photo: Matt Kavermann).

Rangitikei

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

The Rangitikei River is set up perfectly this weekend! It received a small pulse of water from the Moawhango Dam flushing flow yesterday which will simulate a fresh for the fish downstream, but it is now running clear, so the trout will be back on the bite and feeding well. The Hautapu is looking great too and won't have copped too much pressure this season after several minor flood events. The Kawhatau will also be well worth a look, particularly up into the Ruahine foothills.           

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

Taranaki Ringplain

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

Summer has definitely arrived in Taranaki with long stretches of sunshine and warm temperatures settling our rivers into their December low flows. With conditions so stable, it’s a good time to explore new water or revisit spots that can fish particularly well under low, clear water conditions. With another great weekend of weather on the cards, there are ample options for anglers to get out and get amongst the great fishing we're having this season. Meanwhile, please see the 'Noticeboard' below for an important biosecurity update on Lake Rotomanu. 

As always, keep an eye on the latest flow data to help find the best places to fish (such as this flow meter for the Patea at Stratford).

Check out the up-to-date data on rainfall and river flows. 

The Patea River at Carrington Walkway last night (Photo: Jack Harland).

Waimarino

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

December has started with some incredible weather in this part of the region. The Mangawhero and surrounding rivers are showing pronounced daily temperature swings that have spurred trout into feeding more aggressively. While warmer water can cause fish to shut down, there are plenty of cool streams coming off the mountain feeding into the larger waterbodies. A recent electric-fishing survey in Mount Ruapehu headwaters underscored this nicely: one spring-fed stream was recorded at just 8.4°C in the middle of the day (and held a healthy population of small trout).

To keep an eye on regional river flows, check here.

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

Photo Competition - Win A $300 Hunting & Fishing Voucher

Lachie Blundell with a healthy Lake Rotomanu Perch.     

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 Sunday, March 29, 2026. The winner will be announced in the Lower North Lowdown report on Thursday, April 2, 2026. 

 

Tip Of The Week - Nymphing Fundamentals

Ever feel like your nymphing should be catching way more fish than it is?

Most anglers love the idea of dry fly eats... until they realise fish feed mostly underwater.

That's where nymphing comes in, however, depth, drag, and missed strikes can make it feel way harder than it should be.

The crew at 'Untangled' have broken the fundamentals of nymph fishing in this excellent podcast. 

This will help you catch more fish with nymphs. Everything will start to click once you understand:

• Why depth matters more than anything else.
• Small presentation tweaks that lead to big improvements.
• Why fly patterns aren't nearly as important as we think.
  
  

Video Of The Week - The Introduction

Fly fisherman and historian Jack Kós delves into the backcountry and the archives as he explores the introduction of brown trout to New Zealand.

One hundred and fifty years since the first ova was hatched out near the Avon River, 'The Introduction' reveals the efforts that brought trout to New Zealand and the challenges faced moving forward.

Click the screenshot above to watch.  

Important Reminder 

Unwanted pests can have a serious impact on our amazing freshwater fisheries.

Please do your bit to prevent their spread. Check, clean and dry all your equipment!

For a refresher on how to properly clean your gear, click here.  

Stratford Kids' Fishing Day! 

Happy kids with their rainbow trout (Photo by Graham Green)

The 28th annual Stratford Kids Fishing Event provided plenty of excitement and some quality trout landed (including fish topping 3lb+).

For some kids it was their first time catching or even seeing trout, which made for a memorable time.

There have been good reports over the past few days of healthy numbers still being caught, so if you haven’t yet sorted your licence now’s a great time to do so and head down to the Patea River at King Edward Park to make the most of the action.

Wellington and Taranaki Access Maps  

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

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

 

Noticeboard

• Lake Rotomanu will be drained this week and remain empty over summer in an attempt to eradicate the recently discovered invasive gold clam incursion. Read more here.  
• Check out Greater Wellington Regional Council's latest schedule of flood protection operations here.
• Access to Otaki Forks in Tararua Forest Park is now open.  
• Moawhango Flushing Flows - Confirmed dates are as follows:

January 20/21, 2026
February 17/18, 2026
March 17/18, 2026

• 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.