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September 2013 Taranaki/Manawatu Farming Lifestyles
‘Fingers crossed’ for top fishing in Taranaki rivers Taranaki Fish & Game is tipping a ‘reversal’ of the normal hard going — and some very favourable conditions when the new fishing season opens on October 1, 2013. Field officer Allen Stancliff says that early season trout fishing can often be tough with rivers high from spring rainfall and difficult to cross, leaving anglers forced to target the short lulls between freshes, or retreat to the lakes. “But this year, a drought followed by a relatively dry winter has ensured river flows are already tracking towards their summer levels.”
2013/14 SportS FiShing SeaSon Starts on 1 oct 2013 ends on 30 Sep 2014 Everyone who fishes for sports fish must have a licence. Licences are now available across the region and online at www.fishhandgame.org.nz. Be sure to pick up your free North Island Sports Fishing Regulation Guide to ensure you comply with the season rules. For more information on sports fishing and licence options contact Fish and Game NZ Taranaki Region on 06 345 4908.
Mr Stancliff says the warmer than normal conditions have also meant plenty of aquatic insect activity, including prolific hatches of midge and caddis in the lower reaches, and some good mayfly hatches in the headwaters. Instead of battling flood conditions, trout have been able to spend plenty of time feeding to regain the condition lost spawning. Mr Stancliff says that “the lack of major floods so far, fingers crossed, bodes well for the survival of this year’s juvenile trout, and for the fishing in three years’ time when they reach maturity.” He adds that the only downside from these benign conditions is that middle and lower reaches of streams have a build-up of algae that can make for slippery wading conditions. “Hopefully we’ll see a good fresh before October 1 to flush out the river beds.”
Taranaki lakes and the river reaches open to winter fishing have produced some great fish in recent months, which shows that the fishery is in good heart coming into the new season. Taranaki anglers rate their fishing highly — in a recent survey 70% of anglers rated their 20122013 season in Taranaki waters as either ‘good’ or ‘excellent’. Tarn Mack-McEwen with a chunky river brown from last season Mr Stancliff says that if the current weather Taranaki Region 2013–2014 kids trout fishing events patterns continue, river Number conditions should be “very Release Site Town Date Released favourable” for the coming months, and another Saturday 19th Lake Rotomanu New Plymouth 250 October 2013 productive season is a good bet. Saturday 19th Opunake Lake Opunake 200 October 2013 Taranaki Fish & Game Saturday 19th says that locals who want Lake Wiritoa Wanganui 250 October 2013 to introduce their kids to Patea River Scout Saturday 15th trout fishing, are urged to Stratford 550 Den Pool February 2014 attend one of the ‘fish out’ days planned for October. Fish & Game released rainbows into only $7. At the end of each event, the a netted-off area of a lake or river, and nets are removed and the remaining trout issues an authority that allows children are available for any angler who holds a to fish for free (covers trout and perch). fishing licence to target. Whole season licences are free to More information: Allen Stancliff, Fish kids who are under 12 on October 1, and & Game officer, Taranaki Region Tel 06 cost $24 for 12-17 year-olds. Day (24hr) 757 9676, 027 263 9152, astancliff@ fishing licences for this age group are fishandgame.org.nz.