Reel Life January 2024

Super Season Continues 

The lower North Island fishing season has been superb so far and we’ve still got the best to come. 

We’ve had reports of great fishing from the Hutt in the south all the way up to the Rangitikei headwaters in the north, with the latter producing some of the best angling in years. 

While it has been a very dry start to the year, a series of brief fronts at time of writing have arrived just in time to freshen up the rivers. 

This will kick the fish feeding back into full swing, particularly as terrestrial bugs start to dominate their diet.  

The cicadas have been going great guns in parts of the region and they should benefit from the recent rainfall which helps the nymphs hatch out.  

Passion vine hoppers have been popping about too over the last few days. Anglers should have a supply of artificials to imitate these insects because when the trout are on them they often won’t look at anything else.  

Good spots to target fish feeding on passion vine hoppers are around overhanging blackberry and tutu bushes.  

Although a little more sporadic, grasshoppers have had a good season in some parts too, making up a veritable smorgasbord of terrestrial bugs for trout to dine out on. 

From now on we’re looking at the best part of the fishing season as trout feed with abandon, so make sure you grab a licence if you haven’t already and get in on the action!

Photo Comp – Be In To Win $300 

Share your trout fishing pics and be in to win!  

Simply 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. 

You don't have to reveal your secret spot, but please include the name of the angler(s), the photographer's details, and the 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 5 pm Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

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

Get The ‘Lowdown’ on Fishing In the Lower North  

We send out a fishing report each Thursday during the season to help you plan your outing for the weekend ahead.  

It contains live weather and river flow information for the main catchments – Hutt, Kapiti Coast, Wairarapa, Manawatu, Rangitikei, Taranaki Ringplain and Waimarino (on the Central Plateau).  

If you are not yet receiving this, flick us an email and we’ll sign you up for the best fishing intel out there!   

You can check out the latest report here.  

Tight Lines 

Hamish Carnachan, Wellington Fish & Game Officer/Communications Officer.