Lower North Lowdown Weekly Fishing Report - 5 March 2026
- Wellington Taranaki
- 5/03/2026
Still Plenty of Angling to be Had
The team at Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game are out in the field, drift diving despite the recent polar blast, so we're bringing you an abridged report this week.
Pictured above - Jake Stuart (14) with a beautiful 8lb rainbow trout, caught on his fly rod after walking seven hours into the southern Ruahines. The rainbow took one of Jake's home-tied flies!
At time of writing the long-range forecast looks settled so there should be plenty of opportunity to get out on the water this weekend.
To be sure, please check the latest regional weather forecasts and live river flow links we've provided below to plan your outing.
Don't forget to keep those photos rolling in (details below) to enter our competition to win a $300 Hunting & Fishing voucher.
Tight lines and we'll be back with a full report next Thursday.
Hope to see you on the water.
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Here's the outlook for the weekend:
Hutt Valley
Click the link for live updates and forecasts for the Hutt Valley.
Live river flow information for the Hutt and Akatarawa can be viewed by clicking the highlighted river links. If you're after more info on the waterways in this part of the region check out our dedicated access website where you can download maps and access instructions.
The Hutt River at Te Marua - stunning trout fishing water just minutes from town (Credit: Hamish Carnachan).
Kapiti Coast
Live river flow information for the Waikanae, Ohau and Otaki can be viewed by clicking the highlighted river links. If you're after more info on the waterways in this part of the region, check out our dedicated access website where you can download maps and access instructions.
A cracker Otaki rainbow from below the SH1 bridge (Credit: Andrew Harding).
Wairarapa
Click the link for live updates and forecasts for the Wairarapa region.
Live river flow information for the Ruamahanga and major tributaries - the Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau - can be viewed by clicking the highlighted river links. If you're after more info on the waterways in this part of the region, check out our dedicated access website where you can download maps and access instructions.
Pete de Boer with a lively Ruamahanga River brown trout (Credit: Andrew Harding).
Manawatu
Click the link for live updates and forecasts for the Manawatu region.
Live river flow information for the Manawatu and its main tributaries - the Oroua, Pohangina, Mangatainoka and Mangahao - can be viewed by clicking the highlighted river links. If you're after more info on the waterways in this part of the region, check out our dedicated access website where you can download maps and access instructions.
Beautiful water for sight fishing high up on the Mangatainoka River (Credit: Hamish Carnachan).
Rangitikei
Click the link for live updates and forecasts for the Rangitikei region.
Live river flow information for the Rangitikei and Hautapu can be viewed by clicking the highlighted river links. If you're after more info on the waterways in this part of the region, check out our dedicated access website where you can download maps and access instructions.
Hooked up on the Rangitikei River above Springvale (Credit: Hamish Carnachan).
Taranaki Ringplain
Click the link for live updates and forecasts for the Ringplain region.
The latest live flow data for Taranaki Ringplain rivers can be found here. If you're after more info on the waterways in this part of the region, check out our dedicated access website where you can download maps and access instructions.
The Waingongoro River with Mount Taranaki in the background on a lovely summer's day (Credit: Allen Stancliff).
Waimarino
Click the link for live updates and forecasts for the Waimarino region.
Live river flow information for the Mangawhero River can be viewed by clicking the highlighted river links. If you're after more info on the waterways in this part of the region, check out our dedicated access website where you can download maps and access instructions.
Fishing the evening rise on a slow-moving Manganuiateao River (Credit: Hamish Carnachan).
Hunting & Fishing Photo Comp - Win $300 To Spend in Store
Master of camouflage! This is one of 10, 4lb-plus fish visiting US anglers Matt and Jaci Goetz caught in an outing in Wairarapa recently.
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.
Video Of The Week
Silver bullets, chunky browns, scorching runs and screaming reels...
Check out this video by clicking the screenshot above to see why the Rangitikei River is one of the best in the Wellington Fish & Game region, if not the country!
Notice Board
- 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 information you'd like to have considered for addition to the notice board, please get in touch with us.
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.