| Fish type |
Reasonable
numbers of rainbow trout averaging around 0.75 kg |
| Situation |
The Waiwawa River rises in the
Coromandel ranges and flows through the Coromandel State Forest
Park to enter Whitianga Harbour near the township of Coroglen. |
| Maps |
Access
map
Access map with topography
LINZ
topographic maps: 1:50,000 (260
series)
|
| Check conditions |
View the MetService
weather forecast for Thames. |
| F&G pamphlet |
Coromandel
Ranges Trout Fishing access pamphlet |
| Description |
The Waiwawa is a small river
with a well-established population of stocky rainbow trout.
It provides many kilometres off attractive water flowing over
a rock and stone bed anf mostly through regenerating native
forest land. The water is generally clear and the banks are
well covered with a mixture of native and indigenous bush.
It provides good nymph water and during the warmer months
there can be excellent opportunities for the dry fly enthusiast.
The river is easily waded though during the very warmer months
the rocks can become slippery because of an algae cover.
A number of small streams enter the Waiwawa and each provides
opportunities for those who like the challenge of fishing
very small but attractive waters. |
| Access |
Access to the middle reaches
is provided by the Tapu-Coroglen Road. Upstream from where the
Rangihau Stream enters the Waiwawa, a walkway runs along both
banks of the river providing access to the upper reaches. |
| Methods |
All methods are legal but this
water provides excellent dry fly and nymph fishing water. |
| Recommended tackle |
Very light tackle is recommended
on this small water. Floating lines in dull colours of weights
four to six are best. For those wishing to spin fish, very small
lures are required. This is a great river to test your ultra-light
equipment. |
| Recommended lures |
Dry
flies: Parachute Adams during the May fly hatch, Brown
and green beetles and Coch-y-bondhu in late spring and cicada
and cricket patterns from mid-summer.
Nymphs: Small
lightly weighted or unweighted Pheasant Tail, Halfbacks and
Hair and Coppers in sizes 14 to 16.
Wet flies:
Small soft hackled wet flies fished just subsurface especially
during the evening rise can be very effective on warm evenings.
Spinners: Small
bladed spinners preferably in red and gold patterns such as
a Veltic fished through the pools or upstream into the faster
water can be effective during the day when other methods fail. |
| Tributaries |
The main tributary is the Kapowai
river which enters downstream from the Whitianga - Tairua highway
(SH 25A). Other small streams are the Rangihau stream and the
Toranoho stream both of which flow into the middle section of
the river. |
| Regulations |
| Applicable to |
|
| Region |
Auckland/Waikato
regulations |
| Season |
|
| Methods |
|
| Bag limit |
|
| Size limit (cm) |
|
