Lower North Lowdown Weekly Fishing Report - 19 March 2026

Wellington Taranaki
19/03/2026

Stunning Weekend To Hit The Water!

Autumn is really turning it on for anglers, not just in terms of the quality of the fish but the weather seems to have finally settled too!

This weekend the entire lower North Island is going to be bathed in clear sunny skies and mild temperatures - perfect conditions to get into some chunky late-season trout.

Pictured - Des Parker-Munn rapt with her Wairarapa brownie.

As we head further into autumn, fish behaviour starts to change which can present challenges - and opportunities- for anglers. With that in mind, and carrying on from advice in last week's report, we've got some more tips to help you improve your success at this time of year.

We're also conscious that the fuel crisis may be starting to pinch, and may make you rethink your angling plans. Just bear in mind that Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game anglers are blessed with having amazing fisheries right on the doorstep... you don't have to travel far to get into the action.

Check out our maps and 'Park and Cast' resources below to find fishing spots close to home.

Hope to see you on the water this weekend.

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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 cool, meaning fish will be active as we head into a fine and settled weekend. The Pakarutahi, Whakatikei and Akatarawa are looking quite low, which may delay fish running ahead of spawning but it shouldn't be too far off. With these flow conditions, confluence areas should be prime spots to target as trout start to congregate ahead of their seasonal upstream migration.

The Hutt River at Totara Park yesterday afternoon (Photo: Hamish Carnachan)

Kapiti Coast

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

It's a stunning day on the Kapiti Coast this morning! And great news is that this weather will continue into and beyond the weekend. The Otaki, Waikanae and Ohau are all at relatively low flows compared to the last few weeks, however, the angling conditions are superb - clear and cool temperatures. The spell of fine weather has set the rivers up nicely throughout the entire catchment. Get out there and enjoy it.

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

Wairarapa

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

Gloomy skies in Wairarapa this morning but the cloud is forecast to burn off tomorrow and break into a beautiful weekend. The Ruamahanga River, Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau are all clean and clear and looking very fishy. The mainstem is running quite low but the trout are still very active owing to cool water temperatures. Clarity will be high with these conditions so anglers should consider dropping down in tippet weight, and also consider smaller nymphs if sighted fish are being fussy.

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

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 and all the rivers in the catchment are low and clear and nothing will change that with a glorious weather forecast for the weekend. The Pohangina has been hit hard by recent flood events but it was encouraging to see fish happily rising when we took the shot below yesterday. The Wellington Fish & Game team drift dived the Mangatainoka earlier this week and we counted excellent numbers of browns and rainbows, particularly in the stretch upstream of the Tui brewery. This is an easily accessible spot with excellent opportunities to get into some healthy autumn trout.

The Pohangina River at Raumai yesterday afternoon (Photo: Matt Kavermann).

Rangitikei

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

The Rangitikei River is as low and clear as we've seen it all season after a prolonged stretch of no rainfall. Like the rest of the lower North Island, the weather forecast over the weekend is superb so there are abundant opportunities for anglers to explore any of the waterways in the Central High Country. The Hautapu, Whakaurekou and Kawhatau will all be coming into their own now as they'll see a pulse of fish moving in from the mainstem ahead of spawning.

The Rangitikei River at Mangaweka. Credit: Paul Eames, Awastone.

Taranaki Ringplain

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

The forecast is shaping up very nicely - light southerlies, a mix of sun and cloud, and cooler mornings with daytime highs in the early 20s. This should make for great conditions on the water. Rivers are in excellent shape and are flowing low, clean, and clear. The trout are coming off what has been a particularly favourable summer in terms of habitat conditions. With consistent flows and moderated temperatures, they've had the opportunity to build condition leading into the spawning period. This weekend is an opportunity to add a few more highlights to your fishing season as it begins to wind down.

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

Waiwhakaiho at Audrey Gale Reserve yesterday (Photo: Jack Harland)

Waimarino

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

A small fresh last weekend saw Ruapehu rivers spike but flows have since dropped back to their mean annual lows, and conditions are looking great for this weekend and into next week. Rivers are running low and clean, with daytime water temperature highs sitting in optimal zones. Weather-wise, overnight lows are forecast to dip into the single digits, while light southerlies and a mix of sun and cloud should see daytime temperatures reaching the high teens, making for ideal conditions for autumn fishing targeting trout that will be migrating upstream to spawn.

To keep an eye on regional flows, you can check these out here.

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

Photo Competition - Win A $300 Hunting & Fishing Voucher

Blake Murray's sensational season continues with yet another gorgeous Wellington region brown.

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 - More Tips For Autumn Angling

A beautifully coloured rainbow hen from a Wellington Fish & Game region small stream getting ready for spawning (Credit: Hamish Carnachan).

The trout in our patch are switching to spawning mode, so anglers need to adapt to the behaviour if they want to be successful.

Carrying on from the advice in last week's Lower North Lowdown, here are a few more simple tips to help increase your chances of hooking up on fish in what can be both a frustrating and exciting period on the angling calendar:

Trout will start congregating in their natal streams - the small waterways where they came from and return into for their own spawning. Concentrate on these before they close at the end of April.
Check out the confluences of waterways. Often fish will stack up at these 'intersections' as they wait for conditions to run into their spawning waters. Cues to run could be a pro-longed drop in temperature, falling air pressure, or rain.
If trout aren't cooperating and are ignoring your dries and nymphs, bring out the big guns. Switch up to large streamers - the bigger the better (even articulated patterns). This can force an aggressive territorial strike if the fish aren't actively feeding. Threadline gear and spinners can be equally effective in autumn for this reason.
Make them bite - when trout get the urge to spawn, often feeding is the last thing on their mind as they wait for mates or defend their patch. If they won't feed, annoy them into biting at your fly. Often this can take up to a dozen or more casts to a 'doggo' trout, but if you're accurate enough and keep the flies bouncing just past its nose eventually it will bite, possibly out of annoyance.

Autumn certainly brings with its own set of challengers for the angler. At times it can be very frustrating sighting large fish that won't take anything as they chase each other around, but other times they'll aggressively strike at anything that hits the water.

Tip Of The Week - Beat The Fuel Pain

Don't let the price of fuel hinder your angling options.

In the lower North Island we've got amazing fishing, right on our doorsteps with many of our anglers fortunate to be able to walk, ride a bike or take public transport to quality water.

Dive into our access maps and scout for a spot close by. Click here or on the screenshot below to explore.

Our 'Park and Cast' webpages also have some handy hints on places to go.

Often these spots also have camping available too so you can stay overnight and get two days fishing to maximise your travel expense.

Car-pooling with a bunch of angling mates is also a great way to reduce the travel cost burden.

Women On The Fly Events In Wellington

Summer Sunday Fly Fishing Sessions for 2026 - open to all female anglers.

Save the dates for the next sessions:
* Sunday April 12 - Onstream Day, Ōtaki River: Presentation, setting up a drift, mending, line management.
* Sunday May 10 - More Advanced Casting : Achieving distance, double haul casting.

Join the 'Women on the Fly NZ' private Facebook group for more information and to register for each event. Or contact Cheryl 021 040 2211 or Gordon 027 494 6487.

Important Reminder

A quick reminder for anglers to Check, Clean, and Dry your gear, especially if you are fishing in multiple locations over the weekend.

Taking a few extra minutes to clean and dry waders, boots and nets helps prevent the spread of invasive pests and aquatic diseases between waterways.

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

Noticeboard

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.
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.

Disclaimer:

The information presented in these news items is based on the context and regulations in place at the time of publication. Please note that some articles may include reference to laws and regulatory standards that have since changed. For the most current and accurate information please check our Fishing Licences & Regulations pages or our Hunting Licences & Regulations pages.