Rangitaiki River Trout Fishing

Access and topographic maps

Upper Rangitaiki:
Access maps
Access maps with topography

Mid Rangitaiki River/Lake Aniwhenua:
Access maps
Access maps with topography

Lower Rangitaiki River/Lake Matahina:
Access maps
Access maps with topography

LINZ topographic map (260 Map Series, 1:50,000)
U18 Taupo for the headwaters and upper reaches
V17 Murupara for the middle reaches
V16 Tarawera for the middle reaches
V15 Edgecumbe for the lower reaches

Health warning

On 9 November 2007 the Medical Officer of Health issued a health warning advising against any recreational use, including fishing, of the lower Rangitaiki River from State Highway 30 at Te Teko to the river mouth at Thornton. See the Bay of Plenty District Health Board website for more details and updates.

Rainfall, temperature and wind

See the Environment Bay of Plenty website for:

• recent rainfall at Kokomoka near the top of the Rangitaiki catchment
• temperature, wind direction and speed at Edgecumbe near the mouth.

Weather forecast

View the MetService weather forecast for:
- Whakatane
- Rotorua

Rangitaiki River access pamphlet

Kaingaroa Recreational Access pamphlet

From the headwaters to Murupara.

Description

In the upper reaches before the river crosses SH 5, the river is small and generally overgrown and therefore difficult to fish.

Downstream from SH 5 there is 25 kilometres of excellent, very highly regarded water where the river flows through the Kaingaroa Forest and over a shingle and stone bed. The water is generally slow flowing and is usually tinged light brown, making fish difficult to spot. There are some areas of faster water and riffles.

Methods

Although this section provides excellent spinner water most fisherman prefer to use the fly, particulary dry flies and nymphs. Fish in this section rise freely throughout the day and there is also excellent nymph fishing. Over the summer period from October to March, during the caddis and mayfly hatches in particular, the fishing can be very good.

Fish numbers and size

Large numbers of both rainbow and brown trout around 2 kg, with many reaching impressive sizes (up to 5 kg), may be found in the upper reaches.

Access

From SH5, take River Road. Then turn into the Eastern Boundary Road which gives access down to the small settlement of Te Awa.

The stretch from Te Awa camp to the upper limit at Otamatea is largely accessible and has an unsealed road running close by.

See the Upper Rangitaiki access map and access points 26-29 in the list of access points.

Permits

To fish or camp in Kaingaroa Forest, first get a permit from:

Independent Security Consultants
66 Tarewa Rd, Rotorua
Phone: 07 347 8880

You will need to supply your vehicle and fishing licence details.

If you are thinking of fishing the areas that require a forestry permit, it pays to ring Independent Security Consultants first to make sure the area is open, as the fire risk can be high in the summer months.

Fire risk

Camping is permitted only at Te Awa and depending on fire danger. Only gas fires may be used. Anglers must be very mindful of not starting fires during the dry months.

Tributaries

There are several major tributaries along the upper reaches of the Rangitaiki River. These include the Otamatea River, Otangimoana stream, the Wheao River and the Flaxy Lakes.

From Murupara to Lake Matahina.

Description

Here the river is generally deep and powerful, making it more suitable to spin fishing, which has produced some exceptional results. There are good sections suitable for the fly fisherman however, but due to the volume of the water it can be very difficult to wade safely. The trout rise freely and there can be excellent dry fly fishing, particularly on warm evenings though nymph fishing is the most popiular method. Most fishing in this section is centred around Lake Aniwhenua and the tributaries.

Lake Aniwhenua

Probably the most important section of this river is the man-made Lake Aniwhenua which consistently produces large numbers of trophy size fish. See Lake Aniwhenua for more details.

Fish numbers and size

Fish numbers are very high and there are sections in the middle reaches where the trout reach very impressive sizes. This is particularly true of the man-made Lake Aniwhenua where fish over the magical 10 pound (4.5 kg) mark are regularly caught with some fish going over 6kg.

Access

Access can be gained to the Rangitaiki River from Galatea Road which runs between Te Teko (SH 30) and Murupara. Often access is over farmland and permission must be sought from the landowner.

See the Mid Rangitaiki/Lake Aniwhenua access map and list of access points.

Tributaries

A number of small rivers and streams feed into the Rangitaiki River along the middle section. These include the Whirinaki River, the Horomanga River, the Mangamako Stream, the Waihua Stream and the Waikakopu Stream.

Lake Matahina is a deep hydro lake where trolling is the favoured method, with deep trolling in the summer being most productive. Spinning from the shore or at the dam end of the lake is also popular.

Access

Road access is from Galatea Road which runs between Te Teko (SH 30) and Murupara. See the Lower Rangitaiki/Lake Matahina access map and list of access points.

There is a single boat ramp on Lake Matahina (see access point 3 in the list of access points).

From Lake Matahina to the mouth.

Description

The lower reaches of the Rangitaiki river are difficult to fish and are really only suited to spinning either from the banks or by boat. In the tidal area, spinning lures attract good sized trout. Further upstream, the adventurous fisher will find good fishing, but the vegetation becomes heavier and the water powerful and deep as it flows between steep banks.

Fish numbers and size

Fish numbers are lower than in the middle and upper reaches and the fish are generally smaller.

Access

Below Matahina Dam, an angler track leads to productive water.

Galatea Road follows the true right bank for several kilometres below Lake Matahina. There is also good road access to the last few hundred metres before the river enters the sea.

Boat ramps are located at the mouth and at Lake Matahina. See the Lower Rangitaiki/Lake Matahina access map and access points 1-3 in the list of access points.

Nymphs: In the upper reaches small weighted nymphs in the Halfback, Hare and Copper, Rough Nymph and Pheasant Tail variants in sizes 14 - 16 are favoured. Similar patterns for the middle reaches but tied in darker colours and in sizes 12 - 14 are preferred.

Dry flies: During the summer caddis patterns such as Goddards Caddis or Sedge patterns. In early summer in the upper reaches try beetle patterns and Cicada patterns in late summer. Blowfly and Bumble bee patterns can also be effective in the height of summer.

Wet flies: Small wets such as March Brown, Invicta and Greenwell's Glory fished just sub-surface or try a Mrs Simpson or Hammill's Killer.

Spinners: Black Toby, Zed Spinners, Mepps and Veltic patterns

• The Horomanga River is a small river containing large fish.
• The Otamatea River is a challenging clear-water stream best waded.
• Lake Aniwhenua is a man-made lake that is part of the Rangitaiki River.