Freshwater Hawkes Bay - May 2010

Fishing good, but rain required

Rivers have been producing some excellent-conditioned fish, but with low autumn rainfall, rivers are well below their normal levels.

Some success has been had around the Lake Waikaremoana river mouths, with the Hopuruahine scoring tops. One angler fishing there landed four lovely-conditioned browns, while his wife caught two rainbows, all on green Woolly Buggers. Trollers have experienced a frustrating month, with fish being hooked and lost. The best trolling area has been the margins of Stump Bay.

The Ruakituri River is low and the fish are spooky. There are very few browns around the edges for obvious reasons, but one angler took three nice ones off the tributary with the Waipaoa Stream. Fishing has been good for rainbows in the gorge above the Cemetery Block. Best nymphs have been a silver-bead Hare and Copper or Halfback. The Goose Walk has also fished well, mainly in the evening’s fading light. The Bull Paddock lived up to its reputation when one angler made a very hurried exit, pursued by an angus bull.

The Mohaka River still has a good flow, but the fish seem to be mainly in the rough water. However, there have been some autumn rises in the pools’ tails. Hot spots have been the Horseshoe Bend below Glenfalls, while Pakatutu has suffered from angling pressure. The angler willing to walk the extra mile reaps the benefits, as demonstrated by the excellent fishing enjoyed in the lower reaches of the Waipunga and above the Te Hoe.

I understand that some really good conditioned rainbows have been taken from Lake Tutira. Although I have not fished this lake for some time, the hot spots were around the hard at the picnic area, the mouth of the Tutira Stream, and the old mouth of Sandy Creek, blocked off in the seventies.

The Tukituki River could do with a good flush to get rid of the last of the summer weed. There are plenty of fish in the river, but I advise anglers to fish the upper reaches between Patongata and Waipawa, where there is less angler pressure. Several good browns have been taken below the Tukipo.

Not much to report from the Tutaekuri River, but some juvenile rainbows have been giving anglers good sport above the Mangone.

- © Fairfax NZ News