Wellington Weekly Report 24 October 2019

A long weekend is looming which means an extra fishing day - and the weather is looking like it will play it's part too.

The spring winds are going to persist but generally sunny skies will dominate. So, with a day off on Monday, there's ample time to hunt out a sheltered spot to flick a fly or cast a lure.  

Camping could be on the cards; make it a family affair with a pitch near a river, fire and fishing at your leisure. What an awesome adventure, fun for everyone and an experience the kids will remember!

Enjoy your bonus break on Monday. Grab your licence online - Make it a Family Licence this season so you can get everyone involved in this fantastic pursuit and utilise this great fishery we have on our doorstep .

Pictured above right: A chunky brown from a Hutt River tributary about to be released to fight another day (Copyright - Andrew Harding)      

Here's the outlook:

Hutt River and tributaries

Click here for live weather updates.

The Hutt is high from the recent rain but should settle back to good fishing flows nicely in time for the weekend. The smaller tributaries are carrying a bit of colour too, however, this will only make the fishing better. These feeder streams have been firing so far this season and don't look as though they've had much pressure yet either.     

Kapiti Coast

Click here for live weather updates.

The Waikanae, Ohau and Otaki are quickly dumping the flow from the front yesterday. They should be near perfect by Saturday. If the larger Otaki is still a bit tea-coloured it'll be spot on for lure fishing. Spinners work well at this time of year when the whitebait and smelt are running, and the river turbidity is higher.  

Wairarapa

Click here for live weather updates.

The Ruamahanga is still a bit high but will hopefully have come right by the weekend because it is fishing really well, particularly in the mid-reaches. The larger tribs such as the Waiohine and Tauherenikau are settling back down, and the Waipoua is well worth a look with good numbers of fish spotted right in town (Masterton) last week.           

Manawatu

Click here for live weather updates.     

The Manawatu is likely to be out for at least another few yet as it clears sediment and flow. The Pohangina and Orua meanwhile are dropping back down nicely, still a touch of colour in the water but by Saturday they should be cracker! Camping and fishing with the family at Piripiri or Totara Reserve over the long weekend would be hard to beat!  

Rangitikei

Click here for live weather updates.

The Rangitikei is carrying too much and flow and colour to be fishable for the next few days unfortunately. It could possibly be worth a look towards to eh end of long weekend, otherwise head to the smaller tribs would should drop the flood flows faster.         

Tip of the Week - Family Fishing Days 

All smiles at the Otaki Fish-Out day (Credit Phil Teal)

Wellington Fish & Game and several clubs in the lower North Island hold a number of family fishing events over the course of the season. 

We release two-year-old rainbow trout at safe, contained sites on the Kapiti Coast and Palmerston North, and then open these fisheries under controlled access. 

The aim is to give kids, or novice anglers, an experience of hooking up and paying a trout.

If you're an experienced anglers who has tried in vain to get the kids or spouse enthused about trout fishing because "it's too hard" on the river, or "I never catch anything", then bring them along to one of these events. 

With success almost guaranteed, once they hook up and feel the thrill of a live fighting fish on the end of their line, they're bound to be hooked.

Keep an eye on the Notice Board in these Weekly Fishing Reports where we'll post details of upcoming family fishing events. 

Meanwhile, the Manawatu Family Fishing weekend is being held over on November 9 and 10 at Hokowhitu Lagoon (Centenial Park) in Palmerston North.

Free tickets are available from Manawatu Hunting and Fishing. Get in quick because spaces are limited.

By Wellington Fish & Game officer Hamish Carnachan.

Webcams

 Click the map below to go to Horizon's website showing the list of available river webcams.

Notice board

• Anglers wanting to fish the Rangitikei backcountry must have a licence endorsement for this fishery. Click here to find out more. Or purchase your backcountry endorsement.   
• Fishing regulations changes for the Wellington Fish & Game Region in 2019-2020 might affect you. If you missed last week's report, you can find out about the changes here.  
• Don't get a nasty surprise by Greater Wellington Regional Council's river bulldozing ruining your day on the river. Check out the latest schedule of activity here. 
• Flushing flows from the Moawhango Dam, which will cause the rivers downstream (including the Rangitikei) to rise, will be conducted on the following dates: 

Release from Dam 9:00pm Tuesday 10 December 2019 – 9 hours
Release from Dam 9:00pm Tuesday 28 January 2020 – 5 hours
Release from Dam 9:00pm Tuesday 18 February 2020 – 5 hours
Release from Dam 9:00pm Tuesday 17 March 2020 – 5 hours
Release from Dam 9:00pm Tuesday 28 April 2020 – 5 hours (subject to monitoring triggers being met)

More info here. 

 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 - For your safety please ensure you check the latest weather and river flow information before you head out on the water.