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Waitangirua Stream Trout Fishing

The Waitangirua Stream is a tributary of the Motu River providing challenging backcountry fishing for a good population of large brown trout.

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Fish type	Brown trout averaging around 2 kg with fish over 4 kg in the upper reaches.
Situation	The Waitangirua Stream joins the Motu River near the small settlement of Motu.
Maps	Access map Access map with topography LINZ topographic map: (260 Map Series, 1:50,000) X16 Motu
Check conditions	View the MetService weather forecast for Whakatane.
Description	The Waitangirua Stream is very remote and challenging to fish. It holds large numbers of big fish especially in the upper reaches. The headwaters flow through native bush and the water is very clear and clean. In the lower reaches just above the confluence with the Motu River, the land is more open but the fish are fewer in number.
Access	Access to the lower reaches is along the Motu Falls Road. To reach the upper reaches requires permission from the landowners and some considerable walking. See the upper Motu access map.
Methods	This is ideal water for nymph and dry fly fishing especially in the upper reaches with the water is very clear allowing anglers to sight fish.
Recommended tackle	Lighter tackle is recommended for the small river as the fish easily spooked in the clear water. Use long tippets in the upper reaches to avoid spooking the trout.
Recommended lures	Nymphs: Hare and Copper, Pheasant Tail, Halfback and caddis patterns in sizes 12 to 16. Some flies may need to be lightly weighted to get down to the fish in the warmer months and in the faster water. Dry flies: Small flies such as Royal Wulff, Kakahi Queen, Twilight Beauty, or Adams or work well throughout the year. Brown and green beetles in early summer and cricket, cicada and lace fly patterns from late summer. Daddy Long Legs (or Crane Flies) are also very effective during the warmer months. Wet flies: Small wet flies such as March Brown, Greenwell's Glory and Invicta are particularly effective especially when trout are rising as these match emerging insects that the trout feed on just subsurface. Spinners: Small bladed spinners such as Veltic or Mepps are best especially when fished upstream into faster water or through the deeper pools and under overhanging vegetation.
Regulations
Applicable to	Waitangirua Stream
Region	Eastern region regulations
Season	Oct 1-Jun 30
Methods	Artificial fly, spinner
Bag limit	Trout: 2
Size limit (cm)	None

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