Waiwhakaiho River Trout Fishing

Brown trout predominate, averaging 1.2 - 1.5 kg but with some growing to over 2kg. There are good numbers of brown trout in self-sustaining wild populations.

Access map
Access map with topography

LINZ topographic map: (260 Map Series, 1:50,000)
P19 New Plymouth

The Waiwhakaiho River is subject to rapid rises in river level when  there is heavy rainfall on the mountain.

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 North Egmont.

Weather forecast

View the MetService weather forecast for New Plymouth.

The Waiwhakaiko is best fished in its upper reaches, or in the lower river below the outlet of Mangorei power station. The lower river fishes well in the mornings before the power station discharge begins.

Access to the upper river is through farmland off Alfred or Egmont Roads, with bridge crossings at upper Lepper Road and SH3 (Egmont Village).

Access to the lower river is from Devon Road (SH3) and Rimu Street, Merrilands Domain and William Street, which are all off Mangorei Road. At Rimu Street, head right at the fork in the road and walk along the gravel track at the end of the road. The pool at the end of the gravel track marks the upstream limit for all year fishing.

Fly, bait and spin fishing will all take fish, with spinners being popular in the larger pools.

Large brown trout in the upper reaches are best targeted with a dry fly during the evening rise.

Early season live bait fishing with creeper (Dobsonfly larva) or worm is effective. Live bait fishing is also popular during and after freshes.

Nymphs: Dobsonfly and other creeper patterns

Dry flies: Use small flies (size 14-16)

Wet flies:

Spinners: Tobys. veltics and z-spinners

Bait: Creeper (Dobsonfly larva), worm