Freshwater Waikato - June 2010

Trout forced downstream by drought

A little rain has fallen, but it’s still not enough to make a lot of difference.

Frosts have been quite isolated too, so there have been no significant Waikato-wide triggers for the trout to start moving up-river to spawn. Having said that, most of the streams close at the end of June for the spawning season, and fish will be on the move this month. Frosts will be widespread.

The fish that live in streams with reasonably consistent water levels are in good condition. The summer has provided them with plenty of food, although those in streams where the levels have been low and the temperatures high are likely to have suffered.

Ben Wilson said in his Fish & Game report for April that fish had been forced to move downstream due to low water levels in some streams, and this has provided easier fishing for anglers who have not had to walk into headwaters to find fish. It has certainly been true of the Mangatutu Stream, where fishing has been better downstream than further up.

The Hydro lakes are worth a visit this month, particularly after dark for those keen enough. On Lake Karapiro, try fishing the mouth of the Little Waipa and the stretch of water up to the road bridge. The Pokaiwhenua Stream enters about a kilometre below the Little Waipa and is also worth a shot. It is better fished further upstream; access is available from the Putaruru-Arapuni Road.
The Ohinemuri will probably be a little quiet this season. Although it was not as low as a couple of years back, it has been affected by the drought and is unlikely to have recovered from the 2008 drought before this year’s hit.

Waihou fishing was excellent for the National Fly Fishing Champs, as reported by Aaron West last month, and it should continue to perform consistently. However, I will leave it alone this month in favour of the Pokaiwhenua and Little Waipa.

The Whanganui River will fish well, too, and fish will be moving up into the headwaters, for those keen enough to take a look.

I expect there will be good fishing in the Waikato River, through Hamilton City and all the way up to the dam at Karapiro.

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