Access map

View the river level and rainfall for the last 7 days.

Upstream from the township of Te Kuiti, the Mangaokewa provides many kilometres of interesting water for both the spin fisherman and the fly fisherman. Those venturing into the upper reaches generally have more success when either nymphing  or fishing the dry fly.

These middle and upper reaches flow over a gravel and rock bed and through a mixture of bushland and open farmland. It always carries some colour making fish difficult
to spot in its waters. The water is a mixture of long riffles, rapids and deep pools and holds a very good population of mostly rainbow trout. Late in the season there can be a run of larger fish as they move up the river to spawn.

Approximately 5 km upstream along the Te Kuiti-Bennydale road a small side road leads to the Mangaokewa Scenic Reserve, an open area often used by picnickers. While
good fishing can be found at this section, it is best to use it as a place to park the car and then walk either upstream or downstream from there. As fish are difficult to spot, this water needs to be fished blind. It is excellent nymph and dry fly water however with fish rising freely especially in the warmer months or during overcast conditions.

The river quickly discolours after rain and can become unfishable for a time. However, the headwaters clear reasonably quickly.

Access

The best access is from the Mangaokewa Scenic Reserve, about 4 km south of Te Kuiti on SH30 (the Te Kuiti to Bennydale road). A track then follows the river upstream.

The headwaters are remote and permission from their landowners is often required. Alternatively, you can walk along the river bank and access the fishing that way. See the Mangaokewa Stream.

Weight 5 (or even lighter) rod with a floating line in the upper reaches.

Light spinning gear for the deep pools and lower section capable of casting small weights of 7 grams or less.

Nymphs:
Small weighted or unweighted nymphs such as Hare and Copper, Halfbacks, Pheasant Tails and Theo's Bombers in sizes 12 to 16 work well.

Dry flies:
Small dry flies (size 14 or 16) in patterns such as Hardie's Favourite, Greenwell 's Glory, March Brown and Twilight Beauty work well throughout the year. In early summer try brown and green beetles and in summer cicada patterns and Daddy-Long - Legs and in late summer, Lace fly patterns can be very effective.

Wet flies:
In the upper and middle reaches small wet flies such as March Brown, Dads Favourite, Invicta, Greenwell's Glory in sizes 14 to 16 are  effective when fished just subsurface when trout are rising.

Spinners: Mepps and Veltic patterns in gold and  red during the day and darker colours such as green and black late in the evening. A small Toby can be effective in the lower reaches.

Other waters in the area include the Waipa, the Mangaotaki, the Waimiha, the Ongarue and the Awakino.