Lower North Island Winter Fishing Recommendations
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Freshwater Fishing
Forum Name: Freshwater Fission
Forum Description: The place to discuss all matters related to freshwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=79931
Printed Date: 03 Jul 2026 at 8:17am
Topic: Lower North Island Winter Fishing Recommendations
Posted By: ringonz
Subject: Lower North Island Winter Fishing Recommendations
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2012 at 4:17pm
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I live in Wellington and I have just started out fly fishing and have only been out once on the Wainuiomata River over a year ago. I have an old #6/7 rod which works ok and just want to get out and do some fishing. I am also not afraid to do some walking as long as it is not a 3 hour walk up a mountain  .Can anyone recommend anywhere in the lower North Island which would be good for a beginner to try? |
Replies:
Posted By: flyfisher
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2012 at 4:20pm
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Hutt River, one of the finest fisheries in NZ within such close proximity to a major city. Fish numbers are well up on previous years. Good fish numbers even through winter if you're focussed and learn to read water. IMO it's somewhat more productive than trekking to the once was famous Tongariro!... the fish are certainly larger.... Keep in mind most streams and rivers are also closed at this time if the year. |
Posted By: Slab
Date Posted: 23 Jun 2012 at 6:02pm
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Ditto on recommending the Hutt... I fluked a couple of impromptu fish in a crazily accessible spot this week after picking up a new mid range Sage Flight. Had a reel in the car, but no waders, so parked up and stood on the stones in ugg boots to test the action of the new stick... very, very impressed with its castability. River had dropped to about 30cumecs after peaking the day before at 150, it looked spot on for a streamer 2nd and 5th casts saw the new stick blooded with a 2lb and 3.5lb brown ... I was only intending to test cast the new wand so needless to say its made a great first impression Rather than a 3 hour walk up a mountain this was a 20min session standing next to my car... The river dosnt always give it up as easy as that but it is outstanding on its day given it flows 10mins from a capital city and meanders through urban areas for most of its fish holding length  . |
Posted By: Mike.Thomas
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2012 at 9:07am
Slab, you were wearing UGG BOOTS!!!!? That fish must have died laughing
All the best.
Mike
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Posted By: flyfisher
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2012 at 9:23am
| Good stuff Matt, the Flight is a fantastic rod for the money - the 6wt is my new central NI rod, gone are the days of 8wts up there, decisions, decisions...... to pop out to the Hutt this afternoon or the harbour for a feed of Tarakihi... it's a bugger of a spot we live in. |
Posted By: Slab
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2012 at 9:48am
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Mike, it is the Hutt River, it's all about blending in to the surroundings... If the fish are really spooky I also wear a mullet wig and Metallica T shirt and then you can sneak right up to them FF thanks on recomending the flight, picked it up for $310 brand new ... Still love my Z - axis but at 3 times the cost you have to wonder . Might see you on the river later today if I'm allOwed out... Drop me a txt if you decide to hit the river and I'll drop in to say gidday. |
Posted By: ringonz
Date Posted: 24 Jun 2012 at 11:52am
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I might pass on adding ugg boots to my fishing gear. Mind you blending into your surroundings seems to be a sensible idea. I take it, as with other shore based fishing, dawn and dusk are the best times to go? Where are good areas to fish in the Hutt river? i.e. Where no fish will laugh at my poor casting technique. |
Posted By: flyfisher
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2012 at 9:11am
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Ringonz, I've always found the Hutt to fish better in the afternoons for some reason, my theory is the water is generally quite cold and the sun warmed water stimulates a bit of nymph/feedingactivity.
I've never done overley well first thing on the Hutt. It can and does on occassion have a very good late afternoon and evening rise, but the fish are very educated... they spend their days dodging stick throwers, dogs, tubers, swimmers, 4WD's and sometimes snorkelers with spear guns!
The hutt is an incredible fishery, I just wish WRC would stop trying to %^&*$@ it up in every way possible!!!
Shoulda gone mud fish'n Slab - the harbour was slow, but I hear the Hutt was fairly full. Ahhhh the joy's of winter fishing... here's a wee clip from late April on the Hutt to whet your appetite for the warmer months and show you just how good it 'can' be.
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Posted By: Slab
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2012 at 9:52am
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Mud fishing is what it was FF.. you didnt miss anything, had a few half hearted casts in the margins but not overly inspiring.
60cumecs is too big I reacon
Off the the Big T to chase little baby trout this weekend.
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Posted By: flyfisher
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2012 at 9:54am
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Better take you're 10wt, those 2lbers will strip all your backing and then some!.... if you get a 3lber, you should consider getting it mounted!
Yip, the Hutt going by the Taita Gorge water meter from the WRC site is marginal from 20 cumecs up IMO.
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Posted By: michael29973
Date Posted: 25 Jun 2012 at 3:55pm
| Went to the hutt this afternoon for a look, was still pretty high and dirty. Spooked one in the shallows, then seen a couple of trout jump out on the other side of the river. I thought that was abit odd and about 5 minutes later i see a seal playing round in the current! Must have been chasing the trout. |