Access map

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The Ngongotaha Stream is a small river flowing over a shingle and stone bed. The water is generally clear though colours up quickly after rain. Despite its small size, during the winter months trout numbers are very high and anglers can often see many large trout in the pools and moving upstream to the spawning beds.

The section of the river downstream from the Ngongotaha Road Bridge provides superb flyfishing during the winter months. Where the Ngongotaha enters Lake Rotorua there is good fishing at most times of the year. During the winter trout will congregate around the mouth before moving upstream. During the summer the trout will often move close to the in-flowing cooler water where the Ngongotaha enter the lake to escape the summer heat. The river mouth is particularly productive early in the morning and at night especially when there is no moon and  it is very dark.

Downstream from the Ngongotaha Road Bridge, the water is open all year. There is access from the Ngongotaha Road Bridge upstream on both sides of the river and on the true right hand side for that section downstream. Access can also be gained from Western Road, Brookdale and Streamdale Streets and the Paradise Valley Road.

This river flows through much privately owned land and anglers should only access the river where there are signed access points. See the Ngongotaha Stream access map.

Nymphs:
During the spawning season each patterns such as a glow bug or a weighted nymph such as a roughly tied Hare and Copper  or Halfback.

Dry flies:
While most of the fishing on the Ngongotaha is done during the spawning runs during the winter, there are some resident fish throughout the year. During the summer try cicada patterns or beetle patterns.

Wet flies:
Green Woolly Buggers, Mrs Simpson, Hamill's Killer  and Red Setter.