Lower North Lowdown - 7 March 2024

Great Conditions for Fishing This Weekend  

Once again a well timed front has set up some perfect conditions for fishing this weekend.

Heavy rain early in the week dusted the higher peaks with snow and pushed a good fresh down rivers in both the Wellington and Taranaki regions. 

It is clearing nicely now and rivers should be in great shape for the weekend which is forecast to be fine and sunny for everyone.  

Pictured above: Maximus van Son with a whopper brown caught from a small Wellington stream. 

It's Taranaki Anniversary on Monday so anglers in this part of the region have a bonus day to make the most of the awesome autumn fishing.

For those in the Wellington Fish & Game, you'll have to make do with warm sunny weather and great fishing flows on Saturday and Sunday.

Remember we're down to the final two months of the main season now so make the most of what has been spectacular angling in both regions.  

 

Buy your fishing licence online

Here's the outlook for the weekend:

 

Hutt River and Tributaries

Click the weather icon above for live updates and forecasts for the Hutt Valley.

The Hutt and Akatarawa are falling from their high flows earlier in the week. They're still carrying a touch of colour but are fishable now and trout should respond well to lures today and then traditional dries and nymphs over the weekend. Find out more about 'How To Fish the Hutt River' here.

The Hutt River at Totara Park yesterday. Credit Al Markham.

Kapiti Coast

Click the weather icon above for live updates and forecasts for the Kapiti Coast.

The Waikanae, Ohau and Otaki are still relatively high after the heavy rain on Monday and Tuesday but flows are dropping fast and clearing quickly. Typical of flashy flows on Kapiti Coast rivers but they are fishable now and into the weekend. 

The Otaki River at SH1 this morning. Credit: Phil Teal.

 

Wairarapa

Click the weather icon above for live updates and forecasts for the Wairarapa region. 

There's still plenty of flow in the Ruamahanga this morning but it should be back to fishable come Saturday, if not tomorrow. We're starting to notice trout congregating in numbers now which signals spawning is on the way - if they won't take dries and nymphs, strip some streamers in front of them and see if you can't get an aggressive take.  

The Waiohine River yesterday afternoon. Credit Ben Ellison.

 

Manawatu

Click the weather icon above for live updates and forecasts for the Manawatu region.

The Manawatu, Oroua and Pohangina rivers had a solid pulse of water come through earlier in the week. They're dropping quickly but there still may be some residual sediment. The Mangatainoka is falling nicely and should be fishable by Saturday; and the Mangahao has extra flow so could fish well after being very low. 

The Pohangina River at Mais Reach this morning. Credit: Horizons.

 

 

Rangitikei

Click the weather icon above for live updates and forecasts for the Rangitikei region.

The Rangitikei is cool and clear at Pukeokahu and upstream but still carrying extra flow and colour at Mangaweka and Vinegar Hill. The Hautapu has some water to push through yet, but could be an outside chance for the weekend. Otherwise hit the middle upper reaches of the Rangitikei.       

The Rangitikei River at Pukeokahu this morning. Credit: Horizons.

 

Taranaki Ringplain

Click the weather icon above for live updates and forecasts for the Ringplain region.

All Ringplain streams were in fresh Monday afternoon but these were only moderate flows, well less than half the average annual flood. They were sufficient to remove a fair bit of streambed algae, though, and set streams up nicely for autumn angling. As is usual, flows were back down and fishable 24 hours after the flood peak and are set up perfectly for fishing this long weekend.

The latest live flow data for Taranaki Ringplain rivers can be found here. 

The Waiwhakaiho River at Peters Road yesterday. Credit: Allen Stancliff.

 

Waimarino

Click the weather icon above for live updates and forecasts for the Waimarino region.

Waimarino region streams and rivers also had a moderate fresh on Monday afternoon and with flows steadily receding all waters will be fishable come the weekend. There was a good drop of snow on Ruapehu too, so the melt will certainly spark the fish into life - expect some top angling action over the weekend.

Live river flow information for the Mangawhero River can be viewed by clicking the highlighted river link. 

The Mangawhero River at Pakihi Bridge this morning. Credit: Horizons.

 

Hunting & Fishing Photo Competition - Win $300 To Spend in Store

Heath Priest with a nice 4lb Waiwhakaiho brown. 

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 Tuesday, April 2, 2024. The winner will be announced in the Lower North Lowdown report on Thursday, April 4, 2024.    

Wellbeing and Mental Health Study

Fish & Game's angler wellbeing survey is now live and hopefully you have received and email asking for your participation.

If you don't recall seeing this, please check your email 'junk' folder in case it has landed there. 

While there is research from overseas, this is the first time Fish & Game has conducted an angler wellbeing and mental health survey, and we are looking forward to seeing how it goes.

We are hopeful the results will help us promote trout fishing as an activity that can improve wellbeing and mental health in New Zealand.

It would be great if anglers could encourage their fishing friends and family to fill in the survey. 

 

GWRC Weekly River Bulldozing Schedule

Don't get an unwelcome surprise by Greater Wellington Regional Council's river bulldozing impacting your day on the river.

For information on the weekly activity schedule, click here to see where and when they'll be working.

 

Notice Board

• Moawhango River Flushing Flow dates for 2024 have been confirmed:
  
  • 12-13 Mar, 21:00-02:00
  • 30-01 Apr, 21:00-02:00
• The algal bloom at Lake Ngangana, near Waitara, has now subsided and open to fishing for trout and perch.

If you have any information you'd like to have considered for addition to the notice board, 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.