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Ohau River Trout Fishing

The lower reaches of the Ohau River offer reasonable fishing especially during late summer evening rises, while there is some sight fishing in the middle reaches.

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Fish type	Brown trout averaging around 1 kg. A few larger estuarine or sea run trout enter the lower reaches.
Situation	The Ohau River rises in the Tararua Ranges and flows west to enter the sea on the Kapiti Coast south of Levin.
Maps	Access map Access map with topography LINZ topographic maps to refer to (260 Map Series, 1:50,000): S25 Levin
F&G pamphlet	Kapiti Coast access pamphlet >>>
Description	Upper reaches: The upper reaches within the Tararua Conservation Park offers only patchy fishing Middle reaches: The middle reaches are unstable but worth a try sight fishing with a small dry fly or nymph. Lower reaches: Below SH1 the river is slower and deeper with well-developed pools and shallow ripply runs, and there is often a good evening rise in late summer. However a number of factors including flooding and gravel extraction, have had a detrimental effect on the fishing The river is easy to cross, wading is safe, but the willow growth along the banks can make casting difficult. The recommended methods are blind nymph fishing and spinning.
Access	Access is from SH1, either onto SH57, or in the lower reaches onto other side roads. See the Ohau River access map and the list of access points.
Recommended lures	Nymphs: Dry flies: Wet flies: Spinners:
Tributaries	The Makaretu and Makahika streams can hold fish early in the season. Access is from Gladstone, east of Levin.
Regulations
Applicable to	Ohau River
Region	Wellington region regulations
Season	All year
Methods	Artificial fly, spinner, bait
Bag limit	No limit
Size limit (cm)	None

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