Horomanga River Trout Fishing

Access map
Access map with topography

LINZ topographic map: (260 Map Series, 1:50,000)

W17 Urewera for the headwaters and upper reaches

V17 Murupara

Weather forecast

View the MetService weather forecast for:
- Whakatane
- Rotorua

The headwaters are lined with native bush while there are a few patches of scrub along the banks further downstream.

Some deep stable pools in the upper and middle reaches hold a few good-sized resident fish which can be sight-fished.

Between April and June a spawning run of large fish enters the river from Lake Aniwhenua, and some late spawners are still there when the fishing season opens in October.

Access

Upper reaches: From the south side of the Troutbeck Road bridge follow the gravel road upstream. A track then runs alongside the river and further upstream are two DOC huts where you can stay or camp overnight.

Middle reaches: Access to the middle reaches is from the Troutbeck Road bridge.

See the Horomanga River access map and list of access points.

The lower reaches cross farm land  and are shingly and relatively unstable. Some small resident rainbow trout are present.

Access

Access to the lower reaches of the Horomanga is from Galatea Road which crosses the bridge. See the Horomanga River access map and list of access points.

Nymphs: Small weighted nymphs such as Hare and Copper, Pheasant Tail, Hare's Ear and Half Back. Also egg patterns such as Muppit and Globug especailly late in the season when some fish may be moving upstream to spawn.

Dry flies: Use Adams, Kakahi Queen, Caddis, Humpy, Royal Wulff throughout the day. During summer try cicada and cricket and hopper patterns and in late summer, lace fly patterns.

Wet flies: Small wet flies such as Invicta, March Brown, Greenwell's Glory, Grouse and Claret and Mallard work well particularly in the evening when fish are taking emerger patterns just subsurface. When fishing deeper try Hamill's Killer, Mrs Simpson Wooly Bugger or Red Setter.

Spinners: Small bladed spinners such as Veltic or Mepps fished upstream and retrieved near the river bed just faster than the current works best.