Weekly Fishing Report - 15 March 2018

With a great weekend of weather forecast and superb river conditions there's plenty of fishing ahead, but this will be our last Weekly Report for the season.

It'll be a bit blustery over much of the region for the remainder of today and tomorrow but Saturday and Sunday look awesome with light winds and sunny skies.

As mentioned, this is our final report for the 2017-18 season but there's still plenty of fishing to be had before the upper river reaches close on April 30. Get amongst it because often April is very settled.   

And those anglers with a season licence can fish all the way through winter and up to September 30 (on water that remains open) with their current licence. If you've been fishing a shorter licence period and want to get into the great winter fishing in this region, there's a dedicated and discounted winter licence available too -- see our Tip of the Week below.

So, thanks for your support this season - we hope it's been a good one for you. Enjoy the rest of it and we'll catch you again in October.    

Pictured above right: Hooked up spin-fishing in the backcountry (Credit: Hamish Carnachan) 

Here's the outlook:

Hutt River and tributaries

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The Hutt River is in great condition with good flows and very good fish numbers starting to get primed for spawning. Get into it and make the most of the light winds this weekend which will make spotting fish and casting that much easier!             

Kapiti Coast

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The Kapiti Coast rivers - the Waikanae, the Otaki and the Ohau - are all looking great. We can report much better holding water on the Otaki and, correspondingly, better numbers of fish above the SH1 bridge with less in-river work by the regional council lately. Large browns and rainbows were sighted in our recent annual drift dive.           

Wairarapa

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The Ruamahanga and it's tribs are running clear and there are good congregations of fish around. Now is the time of year to start targeting the confluences as fish start to school up for the spawning runs.          

Manawatu

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The Manawatu, Mangatainoka, Pohangina and Orua are all looking good to go this morning and with no significant rain forecast they should be firing over the weekend. As with the Wairarapa, it's a good time to target pre-spawning fish at the confluences.            

Rangitikei

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The Rangitikei is running emerald green high up and clear further below. At time of writing there's nothing more ominous in the forecast than scattered showers so get into the great fishing the Rangitikei and tribs are offering at present - we've had several reports of good numbers of exceptionally well-conditioned rainbows in the mid-upper section of the mainstem.                       

Tip of the Week - A Wealth of Winter Fishing

There're still a few more weeks of open fishing, allowing licenced anglers to fish right up into the headwaters before they close on April 30.

But don't put the gear away after that date!

There's a wealth of winter fishing available in the Wellington Fish & Game region and opportunities not to be squandered if your full licence allows you to fish right the way through to September 30.

Often winter provides some of the most settled angling weather for those of us in the lower North Island and many of the main river systems - Rangitikei, Ruamahanga, Hutt etc. - throw up some sensational mayfly hatches, even in winter, on calm sunny days.

If you have purchased a short licence category this season but still want to fish the winter (as well as April - one of the best months of the season), you can find out more about our dedicated winter licence here that allows you to fish from April 1 through to September 30.    

You'll need to adapt you technique a little, using heavier nymphs to account for increased flows, and spinning really comes into its own at over this period. Winter is also a great time to get kids into fishing and out of the house when the weather plays its part.

More info on waters that remain open after April 30 can be found in the regulations guide or contact our office - (06)3590409 - if you have any queries.              

By Wellington Fish & Game officer Hamish Carnachan.

Fish & Game NZ magazine - online

Did you know there's a heap of information - feature articles, columns, fly tying info, photo spreads - available free through the Fish & Game magazine website?

Why not head over and check it! Click the homepage image above.

Notice board

• River bulldozing - Don't let this destructive activity by Greater Wellington Regional Council ruin your fishing. Click here for the latest schedule of river wrecking (you can also register your complaints by emailing: Debbie.Kelly@gw.govt.nz).

• Ruamahanga access at Gliding Club (Greytown). Anglers are being directed to the Tilsen Road access.
• Moawhanga Flushing Flows - Click here for more information but following is an early alert for the dates the flushes be will conducted: 
  - 17/18 April

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.