Stony River Fishing (Hangatahua River)

The Stony River is a highly-regarded fast flowing medium-sized river, usually providing high-quality flyfishing for both brown and rainbow trout, However during 2006, erosion resulted in many dead rainbow trout.

View maps

Fish type	Both brown and rainbow trout are present, with some (particularly the brown trout) averaging around 1.2 kg. Many fish are much larger. Sea-run brown trout can be caught in the lower reaches late in the season.
Situation	The Stony River is one of the many ring-plain rivers that radiate out from Mount Taranaki (Egmont). It rises high on the slopes of Mount Taranaki and flows westwards to enter the Tasman Sea south of New Plymouth.
Maps	Access map Access map with topography LINZ topographic map: (260 Map Series, 1:50,000) P19 New Plymouth P20 Egmont
F&G pamphlet	Taranaki Ringplain Fisheries access pamphlet
Check conditions	River flow and river level View graphs of recent river flow and river level at the Taranaki Regional Council website. Rainfall View graphs of recent rainfall at the Taranaki Regional Council website. Weather forecast View the MetService weather forecast for New Plymouth.
Description	The Stony River is exposed to some of the heaviest rain in New Zealand and drops steeply over its short course. As a consequence it frequently floods and becomes unfishable. These flash floods can scour the bed and severely reduced the trout population at times. As the bag limit can change, always check the regulations prior to fishing the Stony. As its name suggests, the water flows over a very stony bed. It is very fast water made up of a series of pockets in the middle and upper reaches. The water is generally very clear making sight fishing possible. Although some vegetation grows along the banks, casting is usually quite easy. It is an excellent nymph and dry fly water. Because of the high quality of the water and its value as a fishery, the Stony is protected by a water conservation notice.
Access	The upper reaches reached from the Mangatete and Wirimu Road bridges (off Saunders Road) or from the ends of Saunders or Puniho Roads. The Stony River walkway can be reached from upper Kaihihi Road opposite the rugby club or from the Kaihihi swing bridge. The lower river can be accessed from the Surf Highway (SH45) bridge, or through farmland off upper and lower Kaihihi Road and Brophy Road.
Methods	The Stony River is ideal dry fly and nymph water.
Recommended tackle	The Stony River is best fished with a floating line (weight four to six being ideal). When nymph fishing. some weight is often required to get the fly down to the fish quickly in the short runs of fast moving water.
Recommended lures	Dry flies: Bushy flies such as Humpy or Royal Wulff, and beetle, cricket and cicada patterns can work well in the warmer months. Nymphs: Stonefly and caddis fly nymphs, creepers (Dobsonfly larva) and roughly tied Hare and Coppers. Wet flies: Small wet flies such as Bibio, Greenwell's Glory or Invicta can be effective especially in the evenings.
Regulations
Applicable to	Stony (Hangatahua) River upstream from the SH45 bridge
Region	Taranaki region regulations
Season	1 Oct-30 Sept
Methods	Artificial fly, spinner
Bag limit	Total trout: 2 Brown trout: 1
Size limit (cm)	None

Top of page