| Fish type |
Rainbow and
brown trout averaging around 1 kg though with many larger fish
present, particularly late in the season. |
| Situation |
The Ohinemuri River rises in the ranges
north of Waihi and flows inland west from Waihi through the
spectacular Karangahake Gorge to join the Waihou River near
the township of Paeroa. |
| Maps |
Access
map
Access
map with topography
LINZ topographic map: (260 Map Series,
1:50,000)
T13
Paeroa |
| F&G pamphlet |
Coromandel
Ranges Trout Fishing access pamphlet |
| Description |
The Ohinemuri is a
small, very attractive river to fish. It holds good stocks
of both brown and rainbow trout with some of the brown trout
that are caught late in the season reaching very good sizes.
Despite its relatively short length, it offers a great variety
of fishing and is suitable for all fishing methods. As roads
run along most of the river, access to all the sections is
generally not a problem. It has some excellent small tributaries
which also provide top-quality fishing for those who like
the challenge of fishing small streams.
The Mackaytown reserve has easy access:
see news
article in the Hauraki Herald. |
| Upper reaches |
Above the Karangahake Gorge the Ohinemuri
is a small river ideally suited to dry fly and nymph fishing.
Through this section the water flows over a shingle and stone
bed with good bankside vegetation allowing good cover for the
fish. Fish numbers are high, with the average size of the fish
being just under 1 kg. The water is generally very clear especially
during the summer when the water levels can also get very low.
This section of the river is easily wadeable. |
| Middle reaches |
The section through the Karangahake Gorge
is the most popular and productive section of the river. The
water is a mixture of long deep pools and boisterous rapids
as the river surges between large boulders and steep banks.
The section is difficult to wade in places but it does hold
good fish numbers. It offers a mixture of good dry fly, nymph,
wet fly and spinning water. Some of the pools in the section
are very deep and can hold good numbers of fish, particularly
in the warm summer months. |
| Lower reaches |
Below the Karangahake Gorge the river widens
as it flows over open farmland. The banks are often willow lined
making this section best suited to spinning or using a downstream
wet fly. A large number of fish, usually of larger sizes, enter
this section late in the season. Many sections are easily wadeable. |
| Access |
See the Ohinemuri access
map. |
| Methods |
The Ohinemuri River is suitable for all
methods of fishing although the upper reaches are best fished
to the fly while the lower reaches are best fished with a spinner
or a downstream wet fly. |
| Recommended tackle |
For the upper reaches, very light rods of
around 4 to 5 weight and around 8 foot 6 in length. For the
middle and lower reaches slightly longer rods of between 5 to
7 weight are suitable. Spinning rods capable of casting lures
around 5 to 7g are best. |
| Recommended lures |
Nymphs:
Small weighted nymphs in sizes 14 to 18 in patterns such as
Hare and
Copper, Halfback,
Pheasants
Tail and Stonefly
fish well throughout the season. During the summer, unweighted
midge patterns
work well in early evening.
Dry flies:
During the summer the Ohinemuri offers superb dry fly fishing.
Sedge
and caddis
patterns work well throughout the summer, with beetle
patterns working very well in early summer and cicada
and cricket
patterns from late summer to autumn.
Wet flies/ Streamers:
In the lower reaches try Hamill's
Killer, Mrs
Simpson or a small winged wet fly such as a Dad's
Favourite, March
Brown or Greenwell's
Glory.
Spinners: Small
bladed spinners such as Veltic
or Mepps work
well or try a black
and gold Toby. |
| Tributaries |
The major tributary is the Waitawheta River,
which is an excellent backcountry fishery. The Waitekauri, Waimata,
Ruahorehore, Walmsley and Mataura Streams all hold good stocks
of fish despite their relatively small sizes. |
| Regulations
(1) |
| Applicable to |
Ohinemuri below Victoria St Bridge |
| Region |
Auckland/Waikato
regulations >>> |
| Season |
All year |
| Methods |
Artificial fly, spinner, bait. |
| Bag limit |
5 |
| Size limit (cm) |
30cm minimum |
| Regulations
(2) |
| Applicable to |
Ohinemuri above Victoria St Bridge |
| Region |
Auckland/Waikato
regulations >>> |
| Season |
Oct 1-Jun 30 |
| Methods |
Artificial fly, spinner |
| Bag limit |
5 |
| Size limit (cm) |
30cm minimum |
