| Fish type |
Rainbow
and brown trout |
| Situation |
The Awakino
River rises in the rugged bush country of the King Country and
flows south via the settlement of Mahoenui from where it runs
alongside State Highway 3 to the Tasman Sea at Awakino. |
| Maps |
Access
map
Access
map with topography
LINZ topographic map: (260 Map Series,
1:50,000)
R17
Awakino
|
| F&G pamphlet |
Waitomo and Kawhia Trout Fishing
access pamphlet >>> |
| River level |
View a graph of the current
river level at the SH3 gorge at the Environment
Waikato web site. |
| Upper reaches |
Description
Despite its relatively easy access, the
Awakino offers an almost wilderness experience in the headwaters
above Mahoenui Bridge. In these upper reaches the river flows
over farmland on the left bank, with native bush to the water's
edge on the right bank. The river in this section flows over
shingle and rock and is a series of easy rapids and long gliding
pools. It provides the angler with easy wading along most
of its length though there are some deep pools in places.
Expect to share your fishing experience with a variety of
native birds and the occasional goat that will come down through
the bush to the waters edge to drink.
Methods
The upper reaches of the Awakino are highly
regarded and are restricted to fly fishing. The river is easily
wadeable and is ideal nymph water. Those wishing to float
a dry fly over likely water can also do very well especially
in the evening when there can be in a spectacular evening
rise. Generally the water is very clear, allowing fishermen
to spot fish in the water.
Fish numbers and size
Although trout numbers are small the fish
can be very large, making for an exciting fishing experience.
Access
Above the Mahoenui Bridge, Gribbon Road
runs alongside the river on the true right bank for several
kilometres and then a DOC walking track follows the river
to its headwaters. To reach the track you need to pass through
the Spellman property, so please contact Mr Spellman for permission.
There are several good camping sites and, at Leitches Clearing
at the end of the track there is a well-maintained hut.
See the access
map
|
| Middle reaches |
Description
In the middle reaches (below the Mahoenui
Bridge on SH3 and upstream from the gorge) the Awakino mostly
loops and meanders across open farmland with long stretches
of slower water bounded by willows and other trees. There
are however many excellent stretches of superb fishing water
with long riffles, rapids and gliding pools. Often the
water has a slight cloudy tinge that after a long dry spell
can become very clear. Fish numbers are very high.
Methods
Long stretches of the section of the river
are willow-lined and only of real interest to those spin fishing. However,
there are some excellent sections providing top-quality nymph
and dry fly water with the added advantage that they are seldom
fished.
Access
There are many points of access to the
Awakino River from SH3 and from Papakauri Road, a side-road
off SH3. Access is often across private land and permission
from the landowner is required.
See the access
map |
| Lower reaches |
Description
The lower reaches as the river flows through
the Awakino Gorge offer the angler some beautiful water. These
waters are more boisterous than other sections of the Awakino
but still relatively easy to fish and they provide excellent
nymphing and dry fly water. It is mostly easy to wade and
holds large numbers of rainbow and brown trout. Below the
gorge the river widens and becomes tidal several kilometres
before re-entering the sea at the small settlement of Awakino.
The final few kilometres before the river enters the Tasman
are tidal and of little interest to the fresh water angler
but there can be excellent fishing for both sea-run trout
and kahawai.
Methods
Excellent nymphing and dry fly water.
Access
The river then follows SH3 down through
the Awakino Gorge till it reaches the Tasman Sea at Awakino
township. You may have to scramble down a bank from the road
to get to the river in some parts. The river is easily wadeable
except for the very tidal area.
See the access
map. |
| Fish numbers and size |
The Awakino holds very good
numbers of fish that average in the 2 - 3lb range |
| Access |
Below the
Mahoenui Bridge the river first meanders across farmland for
several kilometres, much of which can be reached from the
Papakauri Rd. |
| Recommended tackle |
As this is a small river a
weight 5 rod or similar is recommended. Those using spin tackle
should also go as light as possible. |
| Recommended lures |
Nymphs:
During the warmer months the fish tend to be found in the
fast water and so a sunken nymph can be very effective. Patterns
such as a Hare and
Copper, Pheasants
Tail, Halfbacks, Hare's
Ear, Gold
Bead Hare and Copper or anything that has some peacock
herl in it such as a Theo's
Bomber tend to be productive. Sizes 12 to 16 are best.
Wet flies: During
the evening rises it is also worth trying small wets such
as a Greenwell's
Glory and March
Brown work very well when fished subsurface especially
during the evening rise. Sedge
emerger patterns such as an Invicta
can also be very productive. Smaller patterns in sizes 14
or 16 are best. In the tidal reaches streamer flies such as
rabbits, Taupo
Tiger, Grey
Ghost and any other pattern that represents a small fish
or whitebait work well.
Dry flies: In
the summer months from November through to March there can
be a superb dry fly rise in the evening. Small terrestrials
such as Greenwell's
Glory, March
Brown or Adams
or Royal Wulff,
Daddy Longlegs
or Coch-y-Bondhu
can be effective. Green
Beetles are effective in early summer and Cicada
patterns from late summer are very effective.
Spinners:
Below the Mahoenui Bridge the waters are open to spinning
as well as fly fishing. While the faster water fishes the
same as in the headwaters, the spin fisherman will find casting
a spinner such as a Veltic
or Mepps or Toby
into the deeper pools. |
| Tributaries |
The Manganui
Stream is generally fished in the middle reaches where it
flows across farmland.
The Mangaoronga Stream is heavily overgrown
though there is some fishable open water in the headwaters.
|
| Regulations
(1) |
| Applicable to |
Awakino River above Mahoenui
Bridge |
| Region |
Auckland/Waikato
regulations >>> |
| Season |
Oct 1-Jun
30 |
| Methods |
Fly fishing only |
| Bag limit |
2 |
| Size limit (cm) |
30 cm |
| Regulations
(2) |
| Applicable to |
Awakino River below Mahoenui
Bridge |
| Region |
Auckland/Waikato
regulations >>> |
| Season |
Oct 1-Jun
30 |
| Methods |
Artificial fly, spinner |
| Bag limit |
2 |
| Size limit (cm) |
30 cm minimum |