taranaki
Notable Waters: Waingongoro and Manganuioteao Rivers
Taranaki offers a wide diversity of fishing experiences on
pleasant streams and lakes that have virtually no angling
pressure. Drive around the two ring roads that encircle Mt
Taranaki (also known as Mt Egmont) and you are free to choose
between forty small streams tumbling down the slopes and across
the fertile plains. These ring plain clear water streams are
great for sighting large brown trout in the upper reaches.
The Stony River is the pride and joy of local anglers, holding
both brown and rainbow trout that often weigh 2 kg. or more. The
Stony holds around 2-3 fish per pool in the meandering sections,
but outsmarting these wily denizens is quite a challenge. The
Waingongoro is also high in the popularity stakes, boasting up to
20 takeable trout per kilometre in the upper reaches. Below
Eltham the river is stained with tannin, but it still supports
the most productive rainbow trout fishery on the ring plain.
Wanganui fisheries include picturesque Virginia Lake, which is
reserved for young people learning the sport of angling, and
three lakes south of the city, which contain trout and perch.
These are Lakes Wiritoa and Kohata with a good stock of perch,
and Lake Namunamu, which holds good conditioned rainbows up to 2
kg.
The real angling gems of Taranaki region are wilderness rivers
rising in Tongariro National Park. The Whanganui River offers
wonderful trout fishing in its upper reaches, along with large
sea-run trout and the occasional salmon near the mouth. The
Manganuioteao supports an important national fishery for brown
and rainbow trout, which average 1.5 kg. and the Mangawhero and
Retaruke rivers are also significant waterways. These two are
best fished in summer when the flow rates are lower and the water
is clear. Both rainbows and browns averaging 1-2 kg. are present
with larger fish often taken.
Taranaki region has a trout hatchery in Hawera producing rainbow
fingerlings from ova received from the hatchery at Ngongotaha
near Rotorua. The fish are released into the Waingongoro River
and also lakes that dont have self-sustaining populations.
Guided trout fishing tours can be arranged in New Plymouth and
Wanganui.
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