Lower North Lowdown Weekly Fishing Report - 6 November 2025

Great Weather Makes For Great Angling!  

It's amazing what just a week with no rainfall can do for the rivers - they're looking beautiful and clear at time of writing this morning and are set up perfectly for your weekend fishin' mission.

Most of the lower North Island and Taranaki can expect fine and clear weather, with just a smattering of light showers forecast for western areas.   

Pictured - Blake Murray with a chunky small stream brownie taken in the Wellington region.  

While still holding good spring falls, all the waterways through the Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game regions will be in top shape for the weekend with plenty of hungry trout that have had to ride out some rough conditions. 

Hopefully that rubbish is behind us now - it certainly seems that way with sunny skies and summer temperatures.   

Another small-stream brown caught by Blake Murray last weekend.

If you've been holding off wetting a line, this is the weekend grab your licence and get out on the water as it's looking like the best conditions of the season so far.  

We hope to see you out there soon. 

Grab Your Licence Now!

Anglers have finally got the weather they've been waiting for!

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 Fish & Game is now on Facebook!

To keep up to date with all the news and events from the region, 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 looking beautiful and clear this morning... and very fishy too! Lovely sunny skies are forecast right through the weekend. The Pakarutahi, Whakatikei and Akatarawa are set up perfectly and, with good spring flows, will still be holding good numbers of fish. If you find conditions a bit blustery and exposed on the mainstem Hutt, then these tribs will provide more shelter and certainly some great angling opportunities.           

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 clean and clear and ready for you this weekend. There are a few showers expected on Friday and Saturday, but the forecast is for mainly sunny conditions so there's no concern about the rivers colouring up. We're hearing reports of plenty of whitebait still moving in the lower river reaches. These large schools will soon start to wane and break up so if you're after some hot action then make the most of it while the trout are congregated down in the estuaries.                 

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 is looking a picture this morning! It has good flow still and just the faintest tinge of colour but has fished well all week, particularly for anglers flinging soft baits, spinners and streamers; heavier nymphs are required to get down through the water column. The Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau are at perfect fishable flow. With a lovely weekend weather forecast it could be a great chance to get up into the headwaters of these Ruamahanga tributaries in the Tararua Forest Park. Don't discount the lower Ruamhanga though; there'll still be plenty of fish chasing whitebait and there's always the chance of a mixed bag of browns and rainbows, along with perch and kahawai.                                  

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

The Ruamahanga River at 'The Cliffs' this morning (Photo: Hamish Carnachan).

Manawatu

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

Finally, after several weeks of high flows and strong winds restricting fishing options, Manawatu anglers can take their pick of where to head out this weekend. The Manawatu River is running clear all the way through. A quick-fire fish in the town section could be productive as it has been unfishable for some time. The upper reaches are the clearest they've been all season so they too should fish well. All the tribs - including the Pohangina and Oroua - are open for adventure. Take your pick and make the most of what will be the best weekend of the season for fishing so far.  

 

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

Rangitikei

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

The Rangitikei River is finally clear all the way through the system this morning and, with little pressure since Opening because of the high flows and dirty water, will be fishing superbly over the weekend! The middle reaches - with numerous easy-access points - from Mangaweka downstream will be well worth a look. Those wanting to venture further afield will find the river at the Mangohane and Springvale access points in stunning shape. The Hautapu will also be fishable for the first time in a while. The many small spawning streams of the Rangitkei have been fishing well despite the floods through the mainstem and these will continue to hold fish for several weeks.                     

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

Taranaki Ringplain

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

The current run of fine weather means all streams and rivers are at low flow and they’ll provide great angling opportunities this weekend. Even the Waingongoro River in south Taranaki is likely to drop below 6 cumecs at SH45 and the river will be worth a visit with fly, spinner and softbait to target both browns and rainbows. Likewise, flows in the Patea River downstream of Patea Dam are also receding, and with water temperatures still around 16 degrees, a trip to fish the 14km of river between McColl’s Bridge and the dam with spinners and softbaits could be very productive. Keep an eye out for adipose fin-clipped brown and rainbow trout in the lower Patea and we’d appreciate photos of any fish caught.

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

The Patea River at Stratford this morning (Photo: Allen Stancliff).

Waimarino

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

It’s a similar story in the Waimarino/Ruapehu area, with the Manganuioteao and Mangawhero rivers having stable and clear flows that will provide for great angling this weekend. 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. 

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

Photo Competition - Win A $300 Hunting & Fishing Voucher

David Dodge with a nice little rainbow a small Rangitikei River tributary.  

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 - Small Stream, Large Fish

Here's an excellent example of why you should never overlook small streams... at this time of year they can hold some very large fish!

This is in the Wellington Fish & Game region but not too far from the Taranaki boundary, highlighting what an amazing angling resource we have in this part of New Zealand. 

Put in the time to explore and you could be rewarded with your own magical discovery! 

Lake Rotomanu Kids' Fishing Event

One the 10lb 'trophies' released into the lake for the event.

There’s been a lot of interest in this New Plymouth event being held this Saturday (November 8) between 8am and 1pm, and the weather is looking great.

The 500 rainbow trout funded by Taranaki Fish & Game are now getting to know the lake and they include four trophy fish, the biggest of which is at least 6kg!

Grab your kids or grandkids and your fishing gear and come down to the Inglewood Rod, Hunting & Clay Target Club marquee set up by the boat ramp for advice on fishing, baits etc.

If you have a supply of garden worms, they’ll be very much appreciated.

Taranaki Hunting & Fishing will also be in attendance, and they’ll have spin fishing sets available for $40 each.

This year we’ve been fortunate to get sponsorship from New Plymouth’s Pak n Save and they’ll be plenty of free sausages cooked on the Hynds Pipe Systems BBQ trailer, along with chocolate fish.

Jade and the Vibe coffee cart will also be on site.

For kids under 12 on October 1, grab them a free fishing licence from the Fish & Game website.  

See you there.

• Taranaki Fish & Game is also holding the Stratford Kids' Fishing Day on Saturday, December 6. 

  The booking sheet for this event is now at the Stratford i-Site in Miranda Street and parents and caregivers can book a 15-minute time slot for their kids by visiting or ringing them on 0800 765 6708.

   

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

• Check out Greater Wellington Regional Council's latest schedule of flood protection operations here.
• Access to Otaki Forks in Tararua Forest Park - Another slip just 50m from the completed Blue Bluff works sites has again closed the access. Repairs are expected to take around one month. 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.