Lower North Lowdown Weekly Fishing Report - 29 October 2026

Fresh Hopefully Clearing In Time For Weekend

A bout of rain on Monday and Tuesday has seen rivers rise across both the Wellington and Taranaki regions but the good news is they are clearing fast. 

A question mark remains around a fast moving front which will deliver another brief burst of rain around midday tomorrow.  

Conditions improve markedly as we head into the weekend, though, with sunny skies for most parts of the lower North Island. It'll be a matter of checking the live river flow links provided in this report for you local region.    

Pictured above: A stunning Wairarapa brown caught by Cam Carter in the Tararua foothills.  

If the rivers are clear for Saturday, the angling could be great with falling water levels, a rising barometer and hungry trout that haven't seen much pressure.

The fresh early in the week should see a pulse of whitebait moving into the lower river reaches of the larger systems too.

Terry Ashburn's stellar run on the Manawatu River continues!

With that in mind, we've got some tips and tactics for soft bait angling in this report, which is a perfect method for targeting trout at this time of year. 

We hope you get out for a fish this weekend. Grab your Whole Season Licence now!

Follow Us On Facebook This Season

Wellington and Taranaki Fish & Game are on Facebook!

To keep up to date with all the news and events from the two regions, be sure to check out our page and follow us.  

Here's the outlook for the weekend ahead... 

Hutt River

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Hutt Valley.

The Hutt River is running high - about 15 cumecs - with plenty of colour but there's currently a clear, fishable edge. Watch closely how much rain falls tomorrow though. The Pakarutahi, Whakatikei and Akatarawa will also be running with colour but, being from smaller catchments, they should hopefully clear early enough to fish from Saturday.    

The Hutt River at Gibbons Street yesterday afternoon (Photo: Al Markham)

 

Kapiti Coast

Click here for live updates and forecasts for the Kapiti Coast. 

The Kapiti rivers - Otaki, Waikanae and Ohau - are looking good. They are sitting at moderately low flows, creating distinct braided channels. The lower reaches continue to be productive, holding good numbers of trout chasing whitebait. Check out the Family Fishing Event run by Kapiti Fly Fishing Club at Winstones Lake, adjacent to the Otaki River this weekend. Club members helping the next generation of anglers get hooked!

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 carrying extra flow after Tuesday's run but it is dropping back fast and clearing nicely. It will fish really well to soft baits and spinners today! The Waiohine, Waingawa and Tauherenikau are also up with a tinge of colour but are all fishable at time of writing. With a pulse of rain tomorrow, keep a watchful eye on river flows before planning your weekend trip. The Lake Onoke mouth was opened today after several days of being closed so expect some good fishing in the lower reaches of the Ruamahanga as a pulse of whitebait come into the river system.  

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.

The Manawatu is up slightly but still looks to be fishable with most of the fresh having cleared through - the higher up in the catchment, the better for fly fishing. The Pohangina and Oroua rivers are also dropping quickly back to fishable flows after rain early in the week. The Mangatainoka registered a small increase in flow but it is clear and looking good this morning - the rain was needed as the river was already getting very low. A short band of rain is forecast for midday tomorrow so check the flows before you go.      

The Kahutarawa Stream this morning (Photo: Horizons)

 

Rangitikei

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

The Rangitikei River has the merest hint of colour at Mangaweka this morning but looks to be in lovely condition for fishing. Up at Pukeokahu it doesn't seem to have registered any rain at all. The current river state would suggest that the Kawhatau and Whakaurekau are running clean, so these two major tribs could be worth a weekend outing if the forecast brief rain tomorrow doesn't come to much. The Hautapu is the lowest it has been in the last month so should be fishing really well! 

       

The Rangitikei River at Mangaweka this morning (Photo: Awastone)

 

Taranaki Ringplain

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

Close to 100mm of rain on the upper ringplain on Tuesday resulted in moderate freshes in northern and coastal waters such as the Waiwhakaiho, Manganui, Timaru and Waiaua, but only minor flow increases in rivers such as the Patea, Waingongoro and Kaūpokonui. Flows dropped quickly and all waters were fishable on Thursday. There are a few showers and a run of westerlies forecast, but they should clear by the weekend, leaving rivers and streams in great condition for angling.  

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

The Kapuni Stream at Skeet Road this morning (Photo: Allen Stancliff)

 

Waimarino

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

Ruapehu rivers and streams had a very minor fresh on Tuesday, with flows quickly dropping back. There are showers forecast for Friday, but they won’t affect flows much and conditions will improve for the weekend with sunny skies prevailing.

To keep an eye on regional flows, you can check these out here.

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

Kids' Fishing Event This Weekend

Looking for something fun to do with the kids? Kapiti Fly Fishing Club is hosting its Take A kid Fishing Event at Winstone Lakes, Otaki. 

The event will be held on Saturday October 31 and Sunday November 1.

This free event is a great opportunity for kids to have a go at fishing and enjoy the outdoors. 

Sessions need to be booked in advance. Click here for more. 

 

Win A $300 Hunting & Fishing Voucher Plus More

Albert van Dalen with a ripper backcountry brown from Wairarapa. 

Our photo competition is back again for 2026-27 with an even bigger prize pack on offer.  

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 and Wairarapa Hunting & Fishing can publish and use the photos for publicity material.

Entries must be in by 5pm Sunday, March 28, 2027. The winner will be announced in the final Lower North Lowdown report for the season on Thursday, April 1, 2027.

More Epic Prizes To Be Won!

Want 2 Catch More Trout has put up three awesome prizes to add into the mix for this year's photo competition!

Up for grabs:

1st Prize - 30 flies, plus a branded T-shirt.
2nd Prize - 12 flies, plus a branded T-shirt.
3rd Prize - 12 flies. 

The collection of flies can be tailored to what each successful individual would like from the current range. Click the logo above to see the full range.

• Click here to submit your entry.

The same Terms & Conditions of entry apply as above. 

Video Of The Week - Soft Baiting Success 

Soft bait fishing is an incredibly versatile and productive method for catching trout and perch, particularly at this time of year with rivers slightly higher and whitebait running. 

Click the screenshot above to watch a video by Fish & Game officer Cohen Stewart explaining the best set-up and how to fish the lures, along with a heap of other handy info.   

Attention Rangitikei 'Designated Water' Anglers

The Game Animal Council and Sika Foundation, along with contractors, are carrying out thermally-assisted aerial deer management in the Southern Kaimanawa area.  

The deer management operation will be taking place in the Kaimanawa Remote Experience Zone between October 20 and November 20. 

The Rangitikei River 'Designated Waters' fishery is within the operational area. 

For more information, see the Q&A sheet here.  

 

Noticeboard

• Greater Wellington Regional Council's latest schedule of river works can be found here.
• Horizons Regional Council's latest schedule of river works can be found here (scroll down to 'Planned Works').   
• Moawhango Flushing Flows - Proposed dates are as follows:

12/13 December 2026
26/27 January 2027
16/17 February 2027
16/17 March 2027
27/28 April 2027 (potential)

• Kapiti Kids Fish Out Weekend will be held Saturday October 31 and Sunday November 1, 2026. For more information, click here. 
• Lake Namumanu: Same as last season - access is currently closed for the logging of the surrounding Ngaruru Forest by Ernslaw One Ltd.

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.