HomeTaranakiTaranaki: Where to fishMangawhero River

Mangawhero River

 

The Mangawhero River is a good brown trout fishery in its lower and middle reaches.

Fish type A good stock of brown trout of 1.5kg are regularly caught. Some fish up to 3kg are also present.
Situation The Mangawhero River rises on the southern slopes of Mount Ruapehu in the Tongariro National Park. It flows south through Ohakune to join the Whangaehu River near Kauangaroa after 70km.
Maps

Upper Mangawhero access map

Lower Mangawhero access map

Check conditions

View the river level.

View the rainfall.

View the MetService weather forecast

Upper reaches

Within the National Park, the river is a small, overgrown and swift flowing and not really worth fishing

Access

Access is from the Turoa Skifield road in the Tongariro National Park. See the upper Mangawhero access map.

Middle reaches

Below Ohakune the river winds across farmland for 10 km before entering a gorge. In this section there are pools, riffles and willows growing on the banks, Fish are difficult to spot in the brownish water but blind fishing with dry flies and nymphs is reasonably easy.

Access

Access to the middle reaches is from either Ohakune township, Pakihi Road, SH49, or Old Mangarewa Road. See the upper Mangawhero access map.

Lower reaches

The best fishing in the lower reaches is from half a metre above the spectacular Raukawa Waterfall at Kakatahi for 10km upstream where the river emerges from a gorge. The river bottom consists of mudstone shelves interspersed with rocks and soft silt bottom. Spinning is the preferred method above and below the falls but its worth trying a large attractor dry fly as well.

Access

From Wanganui, drive up the Parapara highway (State Highway 4) towards Kakatahi and the Raukawa Waterfall (about a 45 minute drive). The fishery begins half a metre
above the waterfall. See the lower Mangawhero access map.

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. Caddis patterns in late spring and summer evenings.

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.

Mangawhero Stream The Mangawhero Stream, which is a tributary of the Kaupokonui River  on the Taranaki ringplan, is unrelated to the Mangawhero River.
Regulations (1)
Applicable to Mangawhero River, upstream of SH49 "golf course" Bridge
Region Taranaki region regulations
Season 1 Oct-30 Apr
Methods Artificial fly, spinner, bait
Bag limit Trout: 4
Size limit (cm) None
Regulations (2)
Applicable to Mangawhero River, downstream of SH49"golf course" Bridge
Region Taranaki region regulations
Season 1 Oct-30 Sept
Methods Artificial fly, spinner, bait
Bag limit Trout: 4
Size limit (cm) None

Other fishing waters of the region



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