Freshwater Waikato - May 2010

Drought declared

A drought was recently declared in the Waikato, and its effects are noticeable in the rivers.

It has been unusual weather, and even though we’ve had a number of cold mornings and winds associated with autumn, no significant rain has fallen. Over the past month the water temperatures have decreased significantly, the fish are becoming more active and they appear to be in good condition.

The Mangatutu and Puniu Streams have been fishing well, with some reasonable fish being landed. Both nymphing and downstream techniques are working.

I failed to make it up to the top of the Waipa River and have not spoken to anyone who has fished above Toa Bridge lately, but I would pick that the Waipa fishing will be good a little further downstream this month. Try between Otorohanga and Toa Bridge, especially after dark in the larger pools. Even further downstream, behind the golf club at Pirongia is likely to perform well too; the brown trout should be moving through as soon as there is a fresh. Many anglers spin successfully for browns, but a streamer fly is a good option when there is casting room. Again, after dark is best.

The Ohinemuri River and its tributary, the Waitawheta, have been fishing very well. Although their flows have been low, their water temperatures have dropped and the fish are more active. Nymphing the pools off Franklin Road is a good option this month and these are easily accessed with the landowners’ permission.

The rivers less affected by the low rainfall are the spring creeks such as the Waihou and Waimakariri between Tirau and Rotorua, as well as the Whanganui, which gets a steady base-flow due to hydro controls in its upper catchment. This is a great time to fish the Whanganui below its confluence with the Whakapapa and as far downstream as the confluence with the Ongarue at Taumarunui.

Both the Waihou and Waimakariri were used for the National Fly Fishing Champs recently, and produced good numbers of fish that were all released after measuring. Eighteen anglers landed 238 trout from the Waimakariri and 394 from the Waihou. During one three-hour session Craig Farrar landed 44 fish.

The key to improved fishing will be rainfall, so get out there at the first sign of any runoff.

- © Fairfax NZ News