Lower North Lowdown Weekly Fishing Report - 26 March 2026

'Watch And Wait' As Weather Moves Through 

The weather system bearing down on the country means it's a matter of watching and waiting to see what happens to river flows. 

The worst of it looks to pass through today and tonight before skies clear across the lower North island, however, the issue is going to be the amount of rain that falls and whether there's time enough for rivers to clear by the weekend.

At this stage, Saturday and Sunday look like a possibility for river conditions to be okay in most parts, at the very least the smaller waters should be fishable.                 

Pictured - Alex Mitchell's rainbow illustrates the stunning condition of the fish this season.           

Anglers are encouraged to target these waterways anyway, as trout will be moving in ahead of the spawning season so these streams really come into their own from now on.    

A stunning rainbow about to go back to fight another day (Photo: Alex Mitchell)

Despite the difficult task of forecasting fishing this weekend, we're confident all parts of the Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game regions will have some opportunities on offer. Just be sure to check the flows before heading out.

With only a few more weeks of the main season, make the most of any chance to get on the water.  

Hope to see you out there this weekend. 

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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 at the moment. However, if the weather forecast is correct, it will come up tomorrow. Already there are strong nor-easterlies with the odd spot of rain. The Pakarutahi, Whakatikei and Akatarawa will come up too but these tribs will clear faster after the rain moves through, so they could be an option Saturday or Sunday if the fresh has passed through; fish will be moving in to spawn from now on. 

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 are all running at quite low levels at the moment. They are clear and there is some algae build-up in backwaters but with the forecast rain and subsequent fresh will clear this out. The looming bad weather isn't supposed to last long though, so there's a chance that Kapiti Coast anglers will have some options over the weekend. 

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, Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau are all low and clear but the weather is moving in quickly. Expect a reasonable fresh to be moving through the catchment tomorrow. With little rain forecast on Friday, the rivers should be clearing by the weekend; the smaller streams like the Waipoua, Huangarua and Kopuaranga could well be a worth a look for trout that have moved in for spawning. 

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

The Ruamahanga River at Te Ore Ore Bridge in Masterton this morning (Photo: Hamish Carnachan).

Manawatu

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

The Manawatu catchment rivers are low and clear this morning, however, like the rest of the lower North Island, expect that to change over the following 24 hours. The short-lived storm makes way for sunny skies tomorrow and over the weekend    so anglers will find opportunities in the smaller, more stable waterways. The Pohangina may take some more time to clear after previous storm damage and bank destabilisation though.                            

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

Rangitikei

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

The Rangitikei River, along with the major tribs - the Hautapu, Whakaurekou and Kawhatau - are looking great but, again, the weather is casting a question mark over fishability this weekend. The best bet after the rain has moved through will be the mainstem Rangitikei upstream of the Whakaurekou, which will bleed sediment in from past storm damage. Waimarino region prospects look good for the weekend for those anglers prepared to venture up to the Central Plateau.        

The Rangitikei River at Mangaweka (Photo: Paul Eames, Awastone)

Taranaki Ringplain

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

After an extended period of low flows, the Ringplain has finally got some rain today that will likely produce a moderate fresh in streams, flushing out accumulated algae and setting them up nicely for the last month of the main season. With the rain easing on Friday and just a few showers forecast, the weekend looks like a good time to be out on the rivers. The increase in base-flow, and perhaps a bit of tannin stain, will make the use of soft baits and spinners the go-to in the larger river pools. Cicada and passion vine hoppers are still about and imitations floated down foam lines or through pocket-water will also be worth a go. A bushy dry fly with a hare and copper nymph on a dropper is another option. Please see the noticebaord below for an update on Lake Ratapiko.  

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

The Waiwhakaiho River at Merrilands Domain yesterday (Photo: Allen Stancliff)

Waimarino

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

It’s looking like the Waimarino will get less rain than the Taranaki Ringplain. As a result, rivers are only likely to be in minor fresh come Friday morning and they should be pretty good by the weekend. At this time of year, brown and rainbow trout begin moving upstream in the Manganuioteao River and the section from Ruatiti Domain to the Orautoha confluence will be well worth a visit – but please obtain permission from the appropriate landowner if crossing private land to get to the river.

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

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

Have Your Say On Simplifying Our Regulations 

Please have your say. The survey only takes a couple of minutes and can be found here. 

Photo Competition - Win A $300 Hunting & Fishing Voucher

One of three rainbows caught last weekend in the Oroua River by nine-year-old Sam Doreen (Photo: Ricky Doreen)

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. 

Farewell To Jack Harland

Jack Harland in the field (Photo: Allen Stancliff) 

Taranaki field officer Jack Harland’s last day was on Friday, March 20, and after a few hunts in his home province of Otago to get match fit, he'll be off to British Columbia and Alberta Canada to be a big game hunting guide.

In the last 18 months Jack did all the things required of a field office to a high standard, including plenty of electric fishing, drift diving, trout spawning surveys, trend counts for paradise shelduck in the backcountry, shoveler duck counts, wetland habitat work, weekly fishing and hunting reports, monthly Reel Life & Both Barrels ezines, managing the Taranaki Fish & Game Facebook page, analysing data and producing reports, liaising with iwi and licence holders and other work.

The team at Taranaki and Wellington Fish & Game will certainly miss Jack, but wish him all the best in his new adventure.

NZ's Wild Rivers Showcased

Swedish fly fishing explorer Emilie Bjorkman visited New Zealand for episode 6 of Loop's Wild Fish, Wild Places series, and the result is a beautiful showcase of what makes our trout fishing so special: clear rivers, breathtaking landscapes, and fish to make your jaw drop.

Click the screenshot above to watch. 

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

• Manawa Energy is going to lower the level of Lake Ratapiko after Easter for weed control and maintenance. The lake supports a good population of perch, as well as brown and rainbow trout, so now is the time to make the most of the fishing before the water ski (eastern) arm is de-watered. Check out the webcams courtesy of our local provider Primo Wireless - Camera one and camera two.     

• 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.