Weekly Fishing Report - 11 October 2018

The weekend fishing weather looks great... it's what arrives before then which is going to cause a few problems. 

The rivers are looking great at present and the fishing has been awesome too. Unfortunately we've got some wild weather arriving today and lasting through to early Saturday. 

Wind and rain will cause rivers to rise, but by how much we can't tell. Hopefully it'll flush through really quickly. 

Please ensure you use the links we provide to check the state of the rivers before you head out. The weather is clearing on Saturday so if you look to the smaller waterways you might get a fish or two. 

Apologies for the technical issues with last week's report - our newsletter provider mucked up the links and sent readers to an old report. We are assured this won't happen again. 

Because of the link issues we've repeated our 'Tip of the Week' for those who couldn't access it. Casting practice might be pertinent this weekend if you can't get out on the water because of swollen river!

Please ensure you know the regs for this season and have your licence on you at all times. If you haven't bought you licence - grab one online, the easy way, here. 

PS - Please note that some important changes have been made to the regulations for the Rangitikei backcountry fishery. See the Notice Board below.   

Pictured above right: Dan Thomas enjoying the great action the lower Ruamhanga River offers early season (Credit: Andrew Harding) 

Here's the outlook:

Hutt River and tributaries

Click the weather icons above to update.

The Hutt River catchment is looking great at time of writing but rain coming - Check the flow before you go.             

Kapiti Coast

Click the weather icons above to update.

Again, the main Kapiti Coast rivers - the Waikanae, the Otaki and the Ohau - are looking good this morning and have been fishing well too, according to locals. The rain main spoil the action this weekend for the bigger rivers but the smaller streams might clear for Saturday and Sunday. 

Wairarapa

Click the weather icons above to update.

The Ruamahanga is likely to come up with the rain and snow headed for the Tararua Ranges! Certainly not a weekend for the backcountry but check the smaller streams which will clear faster once the weather has moved through. Links to the live flows for the smaller tribs can be found here.                 

Manawatu

Click the weather icons above to update.

The Manawatu has the best weather outlook for the region over the weekend but the rivers are likely to come up today and tomorrow. Check the small feeder streams - they're likely to be your best bet for Saturday or Sunday. Click the highlighted river names for live flow updates for the Manawatu, the Pohangina and Orua rivers.           

Rangitikei

Click the weather icons above to update.

It's looking pretty nasty in the central high country today and tomorrow, with rain persisting in parts over the weekend too. The Rangitikei is a picture of perfection this morning but that is unlikely to remain the case given the front bearing down on us. Check the flows and pick the smaller streams if you're desperate to get out this weekend.                           

Video of the week

Click the screenshot below to check out what angling in the Wellington Fish & Game region has to offer... Grab a licence and get into the action!  

Tip of the Week - Practice, Practice, Practice...

Many anglers hit the new season expecting that they'll be casting like they did at the end of the season past.

That's well and good if they've been fishing over the winter but the reality is many hang up their gear over the cooler months and, as a result, are a little rusty come October 1. 

This doesn't just apply to fly anglers either. 

Spin fishing requires equally accurate casting to achieve good, life-like presentations and, subsequently, hook-ups. And, it so happens that months without practice can certainly affect accuracy with this method of freshwater fishing too.   

Click the screenshot above to watch casting guru Carl McNeil's casting essentials.  

Just because the fish have been well rested over the winter doesn't mean they're not going to spook when a sloppy cast is dropped on their head.  

The best way to avoid this is to get in some practice ahead of hitting the water. A few half-hour sessions each evening on the lawn after work should iron out any early-season creases. 

Put a series of targets out at different distances and practice landing your fly or lure in front of these.

Tip: If you're using spinning lures to practice on the lawn, remove the hook(s) as it stops the lure getting snagged in the grass. And if you're fly fishing then ensure you have something tied to the end of the leader to avoid damage to the terminal end of the line - a small piece of yarn or wool is ideal. 

Do take a little time to get your casting sorted. Standing behind a trophy trout that's feeding furiously and hasn't seen a'fly or lure for months is not the time to throw a shoddy cast!                         

By Wellington Fish & Game officer Hamish Carnachan.

Notice board

• Important changes to the regulations for the Rangitikei backcountry fishery come into force at the start of this season - click here for more. 

• River bulldozing - Don't let this destructive activity by Greater Wellington Regional Council ruin your fishing. Email Debbie.Kelly@gw.govt.nz for updates on their activity and to register your complaints with this practice. 

• Ruamahanga access at Gliding Club (Greytown). Anglers are being directed to the Tilsen Road access.

Email Wellington Communications and Field Officer Hamish Carnachan if you'd like any fishing or freshwater-related items posted to this noticeboard.

​*This report was accurate at time of writing - please ensure you check the latest weather and river flow information before you head out on the water.