| Fish type |
Reasonable numbers of rainbow trout averaging around 0.75 kg |
| Situation |
The Waiwawa River rises in the Coromandel ranges and flows through the Coromandel State Forest Park to enter Whitianga Harbour near the township of Coroglen. |
| Check conditions |
View the MetService weather forecast.
View the river level for the last 7 days. |
| Description |
The Waiwawa is a small river with a well-established population of stocky rainbow trout. It provides many kilometres off attractive water flowing over a rock and stone bed and mostly through regenerating native forest land. The water is generally clear and the banks are well covered with a mixture of native and indigenous bush. It provides good nymph water and during the warmer months there can be excellent opportunities for the dry fly enthusiast. The river is easily waded though during the very warmer months the rocks can become slippery because of an algae cover.A number of small streams enter the Waiwawa and each provides opportunities for those who like the challenge of fishing very small but attractive waters. |
| Access |
Access to the middle reaches is provided by the Tapu-Coroglen Road. Upstream from where the Rangihau Stream enters the Waiwawa, a walkway runs along both banks of the river providing access to the upper reaches. See the Waiwawa river access map. |
| Methods |
All methods are legal but this water provides excellent dry fly and nymph fishing water. |
| Recommended tackle |
Very light tackle is recommended on this small water. Floating lines in dull colours of weights four to six are best. For those wishing to spin fish, very small lures are required. This is a great river to test your ultra-light equipment. |
| Recommended lures |
Dry flies: Parachute Adams during the May fly hatch, Brown and green beetles and Coch-y-bondhu in late spring and cicada and cricket patterns from mid-summer.
Nymphs: Small lightly weighted or unweighted Pheasant Tail, Halfbacks and Hair and Coppers in sizes 14 to 16.
Wet flies: Small soft hackled wet flies fished just subsurface especially during the evening rise can be very effective on warm evenings.
Spinners: Small bladed spinners preferably in red and gold patterns such as a Veltic fished through the pools or upstream into the faster water can be effective during the day when other methods fail.
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| Tributaries |
The main tributary is the Kapowai river which enters downstream from the Whitianga - Tairua highway (SH25A). Other small streams are the Rangihau stream and the Toranoho stream both of which flow into the middle section of the river. |
| Regulations |
| Applicable to |
Waiwawa River |
| Region |
Auckland/Waikato regulations |
| Season |
1 Oct – 30 Jun |
| Methods |
Spinner/artificial fly |
| Bag limit |
5 |
| Size limit (cm) |
30 cm |
