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Waimiha River

The Waimiha Stream provides many kilometres of top quality dry fly and nymphing water of rainbow and brown trout.
Fish type Rainbow and brown trout
Situation The Waimiha is a major tributary of the Ongarue River and rises in the Pureora State Forest joining the Ongarue River near the township of Waimiha. It is a major spawning stream for the Wanganui River system.
Maps

Access map
Check conditions View the MetService weather forecast.
Description The Waimiha runs over a stone and gravel bed and provides the angler with wonderful water for dry fly or nymphing. In the upper reaches the water is generally very clear as it runs through native bush. Many people regard this water is one of the top dry-fly fishing waters in the North Island.
Upper reaches

Description

The headwaters of the Waimiha run alongside the Bennydale-Te Kuiti Highway. The river in the section is very small and the blackberry covers both banks for much of the section. It isn't until a crosses SH30 and runs into the Pureora Forest that it reaches a size that will be of interest to anglers. The river in the section is a series of pools and long riffles that flow through native bush. A distance down from SH30 there is a large waterfall followed by a steep forested gorge.

Fish numbers and size

Fish numbers are high and sizes range from 1-2 kg.

Methods

The middle reaches are best suited to fly fishing and provide excellent dry fly fishing and nymphing.

Access

Access to the upper reaches is either via the Bennydale-Te Kuiti Highway (SH30) and walking downstream, or by crossing private farmland (please request permission
first). See the Waimiha River access map.
Middle reaches

Description

The middle reaches of the Waimiha runs across open farmland and provides many kilometres of excellent water ideally suited to both dry fly and nymph. The water is generally very clear so fish can be spotted in the long runs and a deep pools.

Fish numbers and size

Fish numbers in the section are high and mostly in the 1-2 kg range.

Methods

The middle reaches are best suited to fly fishing and provide excellent dry fly fishing and nymphing.

Access

Access is from Waimiha Road across farmland and then fishing upstream. Permission is required from the farmhouse just north of the Waimiha-Ongarue turnoff. See the Waimiha River access map.
Lower reaches

Description

The last few kilometres before the Waimiha joins the Ongarue are of less interest to the angler as they tend to be willow lined and the river more sluggish. Good fish can be found  by those using a spinner. This water is less suited to the fly fisherman.

Fish numbers and size

There are good numbers of fish, some of which can reach impressive sizes.

Methods

The lower reaches are better suited to spinning.

Access

See the Waimiha River access map.
Recommended tackle

Weight 5 rod with a floating lines in the upper reaches.

Light spinning gear for the deep pools and lower section
Recommended lures

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

Dry flies:
Small dry flies (size 14 or 16) in patterns such as Hardie's Favourite, Adams, March Brown and Twilight Beauty work well throughout the year. In summer cicada patterns and in late summer, Lace fly or hopper patterns can be very effective.

Wet flies:
In the upper and middle reaches small wet flies such as Invicta, Greenwell's Glory in sizes 12 to 14 are effective when fished just subsurface when trout are rising.

Spinners: Mepps and Veltic patterns in green or red.
Regulations
Applicable to Waimiha
Region Auckland/Waikato regulations
Season All year
Methods Artificial fly, spinner
Bag limit 2
Size limit (cm) 30cm minimum

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