I've visited Wilson's Dam once and Whau Valley Dam once. Both were very low, muddy and choked with weed. Wilson's had a sign about toxic algae. Uninspiring to say the least.  

Also try nztroutapp.com and nicefish.co.nz

Plenty of trout in the rivers that are all part of the Hikurangi swamp watershed. Most fish are small, but many of the rivers are not big. Small jumping rainbows in pools that have weed banks and sunken timber makes for interesting fishing. There is occasional larger browns too... if you know where to look.

Also lots of catfish in the swamp itself and plenty of big parore in the estuarine reaches of the Hatea river. The latter might be salty estuarine water but it's still very much river fishing.

There are perch, tench, carp and rudd scattered about Northland too, but most are considered pests. Not sure that DOC wants anyone fishing for them.

So yeah, Northland freshwater fishing is a bit limited, but interesting enough when you do find it.

I fish weighted wet flies as it is the best way of dealing with sunken timber. Basically fly first. Weighted wet fly fished on a floating line with leader length adjusted to suit the terrain.

There are plenty of rainbows in the swamp and good numbers in the lower part of the Wairau near whangarei, even in water that can be brown, warm and swampy. Upstream it's more erratic. Sometimes it's good, at other times it can be hard to find the fish. Golden flanked browns hiding in amongst sunken trees are a special challenge.

Head to the Puketi forest if you want good nymphing water. Again, not big fish, but productive runs to slide a nymph down.

Small wooly bugger type flies with saltwater dumbbell eyes Inverted position helps the fly to bump over snags.

Fishb8 wrote: Where are some steams in the Puketi forest? Heading up to Whangaroa early December for sea fishing so might take a 4 wt fly rod for a look.

Cheers for that.Will have a look at that👍

sorry in the whangarei area. Believe their are a few native varieties. Unfortunately Northland has one of the smaller types but still would be great to breed some.

i wouldn't be too vocal about transferring fish and koura and it's illegal.                 

that river looks mint your adventures are very interesting. Thanks for sharing