Lower North Lowdown Weekly Fishing Report 16 October 2025

Fishing Is On This Weekend!

Finally we've got a weekend with no major rain forecast... possibly the first real chance of the new season to get out and amongst the angling.  

The heavy rain band that rolled through late last week really brought the rivers up across both regions, but most are falling fast and there will be plenty of fishable water come Saturday and Sunday.         

Pictured - Michael Bakker caught this beautiful Taranaki Ringplain brownie to get his season off to a start. 

The larger rivers, fed by big catchments, are going to be marginal but the tributaries are clearing nicely. 

With flood conditions most of this week and flows now receding, the trout will be hungry and back on the bite as soon as visibility returns.

These conditions present excellent opportunities for anglers using soft baits and larger streamer patterns fished across the current and downstream.

The smaller waterways should be clear enough for nymphing, if not today then certainly by the time Saturday rolls around. 

While the weekend is forecast to be mainly fine for the Wellington and Taranaki, anglers in both regions will have some wind to contend with. Check out our article below on tips for 'Tackling Windy Conditions'. 

Don't forget to send in some photos of your angling exploits over the weekend - you'll automatically go into the draw to win a $300 voucher from Wairarapa Hunting & Fishing (see details below). 

We hope to see you out on the water soon. 

Grab Your Licence And Get Into The Action!

 

Get yourself in on the action!

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 Valley

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

The Hutt River is still quite high and has plenty of colour but this should push through over the next day or so - expect conditions to be good to go come Saturday. The wind could be an issue but if you scout around you'll likely find a sheltered reach. The Pakarutahi, Whakatikei and Akatarawa are good options when the wind is funneling down the Hutt Valley, and can be a bit more protected from the nor-westerly. They all have a tinge of colour but they're dropping back to normal spring flows very quickly and should be firing over the weekend.      

The Hutt River at Ewen Bridge this morning (Photo: Al Markham)

Kapiti Coast

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

The Otaki, Waikanae and Ohau are carrying moderately high flows but they are all dropping quickly from earlier in the week. There is still some colour but they're suitable for spin fishing now; clearing fast enough for the weekend for all methods to be effective. We've had reports of some very good catches of whitebait in the lower reaches so now's the prime time to target trout down there. Unfortunately, vehicle access to Otaki Forks has again been closed due to a slip earlier this week. For more details on access to the upper reaches of the river, please see the noticeboard below. At this stage it looks like a short walk is required.    

 

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

 

Wairarapa

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

The Ruamahanga River had a significant flood go through which saw the Martinborough bridge in the mid-lower reaches closed on Sunday. Remarkably, it has dropped a heap of flow since then and is almost fishable in the middle section at time of writing with a clear, clean edge and some visibility through the main water column. The Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau are, not surprisingly, up but they are close to clear and will be set up perfectly by Saturday. It's all on for anglers in the Wairarapa this weekend.                          

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

The Waipoua River at Masterton this morning (Photo: Hamish Carnachan).

Manawatu

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

The Manawatu River is running like chocolate milk in the town section but the Weber Road camera, upstream of the gorge, shows the river is clearing and has a fishable edge. With no major rain forecast, just the occasional shower, expect conditions to continue to improve over the next few days. The Pohangina and Oroua are up in flow but falling quickly; the Mangahao River is very close to fishable today so it could be worth visiting over the weekend, particularly as the wind will be generally upstream.   

The Mangaatua Stream at Woodville this morning (Photo: Matt Kavermann).

Rangitikei

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

The Rangitikei River at Mangaweka has high flow and is currently loaded with sediment. At time of writing it is still well above the 'fishable' flow of 3200mm at this site and doesn't look likely to clear enough by the weekend. However, with no rain forecast, the middle reaches around Mangaohane and Springvale might be worth a look, perhaps later Saturday or Sunday. The Hautapu is falling quickly but still has some way to go before being fishable. Keep checking the live flow before heading out this weekend.                

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

Taranaki Ringplain

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

After three weeks of consistent rain, the weather has finally broken, and conditions are improving in time for the weekend. While rain earlier this week briefly lifted river levels, they are now back to typical October averages. Rivers may remain slightly discoloured, however, good fishing is still on offer. Friday and Saturday are looking much improved, with northerly winds and plenty of sun, with the odd chance of a shower on Sunday. The lower Pātea River below the dam remains washed out but coastal streams around Taranaki Maunga have held up well and should offer much better opportunities. Most Ringplain and still-water fisheries are expected to be fishable by the weekend, particularly with spinners and soft baits.

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

Patea River at Swansea Road yesterday afternoon (Photo: Jack Harland).

Waimarino

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

North-westerly to westerly winds are forecast into the weekend, bringing a mix of sun and cloud. A brief patch of rain may pass through on Sunday. The Mangawhero River at Pakihi Road recently rose quite high but has already dropped and should continue to fall heading into the weekend. Spin and bait fishing are likely to be the most effective methods here. For those exploring the upper reaches, try the headwaters of the Mangawhero or spring-fed streams in the Tokiahuru–Waitaike area, where weighted nymphs or softbaits with solid jig heads should get deep enough to produce results.

The Mangawhero River is a good reference for regional flow levels (information found here). For more info on fishing opportunities in the Ruapehu region, click here. 

 

Video of The Week - How To 'Read' A River 

Unlock the secrets of reading a trout river with 'The Invisible Map'. In this video, you'll learn how to recognise and understand the hidden structure of a river so you can improve your fly fishing results.

Whether you’re new to fly fishing or an experienced angler, learning to see the 'invisible map' that trout follow will change the way you approach every cast. 

Click the screenshot above to watch.  

 

Photo Competition - Win A $300 Hunting & Fishing Voucher

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. 

 

Tools to Help You Catch More Fish 

The team at Wellington-Taranaki Fish & Game have produced some handy ‘how-to’ guides to help you get the most out of your investment in a licence and catch more fish this season.

These cover tips and techniques that will help you get started, take your fishing to the next level, or trouble-shoot some common issues anglers encounter on the water.

Select from the links below to download the right resource for you:

• SPIN FISHING BASICS
• ADVANCED SPIN FISHING
• READING THE WATER

For any anglers visiting or new to the Wellington Fish & Game region, and have had the Hutt River on their bucket list, we've designed a dedicated brochure to help you be successful on this exceptional but challenging piece of water.

Although the fishery holds high numbers of trout, the Hutt isn't an easy river to fish. However, the rewards are exceptional with large hard fighting browns the prize.

• HOW TO FISH THE HUTT RIVER     

 

Tip of The Week - Tackling Windy Conditions

If it isn't the rain, it's the wind thwarting attempts to get out on the water... It looks like it is just going to be one of those starts to the season.

Don't let the conditions get you down though. You don't need to hide inside or make lengthy treks across the island to find somewhere to fish. Keep the following tips in mind whenever you’re faced with blustery conditions, and it’ll ensure you spend more time on the water this season rather than time at home doing odds jobs or sitting in a car travelling to calmer fishing spots:

• Go up in line weight - Even if you're fishing small water, your big lake rod or Taupo gear can often punch through the wind. It won't be pretty, but it'll get a fly on or in the water and often the ruffled surface will disguise a less-than-delicate presentation.
• Consider the spin option - Short rods and heavy spinning lures or softbaits are infinitely better when it's blowing, no question. You can even rig up a bubble float and flies to use with your spin-fishing outfit. 
• Seek shelter - Some stretches of river will be more sheltered than others, making it much easier to cast a fly. Target sections that have high banks or high trees lining the river's edge as these will break up the wind and reduce its velocity.
• Go heavy - If your heart is set on the so-called purist pursuit (fly fishing), think about using heavy nymphs. These will unfurl the leader much better than a lighter pattern or a large wind-catching terrestrial dry fly.
• Don't cast - Rather than trying to cast into a headwind, put on a stream fly and roll cast or strip line out downstream i.e. let the current do the work. Streamers work well at this time of year in certain lowland reaches too as there are an abundance of migratory bait fish around.

Think outside the square, mix things up, and you'll always get a shot at a fish no matter what the conditions throw at you.

 

Lake Rotomanu Kids' Fishing Event

Trout being released into Lake Rotomanu earlier this week.  

We’re pleased to confirm that this year’s Lake Rotomanu Kids' Fishing Event will take place on Saturday, November 8, 8am to 1pm.

To keep anglers busy in the meantime, 120 healthy rainbows were released into Lake Rotomanu this week, with many of these fish exceeding the 2lb mark.

Anglers are encouraged to make the most of this latest release by grabbing a licence and heading out for a fish before the next scheduled stocking in the first week of November.

For more information on this event and your options for free registration, check out the Facebook event here.

 

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!

 

Regs Changes For 2025-26

Wellington Fish & Game Region: NO changes for the new season. 

Taranaki Fish & Game Region: 

There have been three small changes for the new season:

• Return to a 2-fish limit and the use of all methods (fly, spin, and bait fishing) for the Waiaua River and Opunake Lake. Opunake Lake is not currently fishable, but we are hopeful that it will be when the hydro scheme gets up and running again.
• A new clause (1.5) has been added to Note 1: Scented artificial lures may be used in all waters other than fly fishing only waters, when actively fished to imitate a bait fish. Scented soft baits can now be used in fly and spin only waters (e.g. Hangatahua [Stony], Kaiauai and Kapuni) when actively fished as a spinner. These days it’s hard to tell the difference between scented and unscented soft baits and so this is a change for practical reasons.
• And another new clause (1.6) has been added to Note 1: No licence holder shall use as bait any fish taken from any water other than where the fishing is occurring. This is a biosecurity measure to reduce the risk of disease or organism spread (e.g. gold clam).

For the full regulations, click here.  

 

Noticeboard

• Check out Greater Wellington Regional Council's latest schedule of flood protection operations here.

• Saturday, October 25 is the date set for the Pahiatua Trout Carnival. The Pahiatua Information Centre is taking entries. They are open 10-2pm weekdays and entries must be in by 2pm on Friday, October 24. This is the preferred way to enter the Carnival but if you are unable to get there, please email your entry - an entry form and online payment details will be sent but the cut off for this is Wednesday, October 22. There will be spot prizes for any registered anglers that pop into the weigh-ins, fish or no fish.

• Taranaki Fish & Game is holding the Stratford Kids' Fishing Day on Saturday, December 6. We'll bring your more details in the coming weeks. 

• Access to Otaki Forks in Tararua Forest Park - Just three months after reopening, another slip this week has closed the road. Check the 'Road Updates' section on this webpage for the latest details.  
• Moawhango Flushing Flows - Confirmed dates are as follows:

December 09/10, 2025
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.