HomeNorthlandNorthland: Where to FishPuketotara Stream

Puketotara Stream

The Puketotara Stream is a small waterway offering good fishing in picturesque surroundings for a good population of rainbow trout.
Fish type Rainbow trout averaging just under 1 kg but with a few larger fish over 2 kg also present in the upper reaches.
Situation The Puketotara Stream rises on the eastern side of the Puketi Forest and flows east to join the Kerikeri River near the centre of the township of Kerikeri.
Maps

Access map

Check conditions View MetService weather forecast.
Description The Puketotara Stream offers several kilometres of fishable water. In places access is difficult although there are many good stretches of fishable water. The water is generally very clear though may appear to be coloured due to the dark rock bed over which it flows. Fish can be spotted in the water. Both spin fishing and fly fishing are productive although in the upper reaches the pools and riffles provide excellent nymph and dry fly fishing. Trout rise readily to take terrestrial insects that fall from the abundant vegetation along the banks. During the summer, water levels can drop.
Access

Upper reaches

There is access to the upper Puketotara Stream next to the SH10 bridge, 200 meters north of the Waimate North Road turn-off. From this point, anglers have access to the true right bank for some 4km upstream.

Lower reaches

A Fish and Game access point is sign-posted at the bridge on Golf View Road, Kerikeri, which leads to the Kerikeri golf club. This gives access to a limited length of fishable water: - 350 metres upstream on the true right bank, and - 200 metres downstream on the true right bank.

Note: By going downstream, the angler can cross the river to gain access to the confluence of the Puketotara with the Kerikeri River. See the Puketotara Stream access map.

Recommended tackle Due to the size of the river it is advisable to use tackle that is as light as possible. Fly rods in weight 5 or lower and spinning rods capable of casting small lures (7g or lighter) are preferred.
Recommended lures

Nymphs:
In the upper and middle reaches, lightly weighted stoneflies and mayfly patterns such as Pheasantail, Halfbacks and Hare and Copper in sizes 14 to 18.

Dry flies:
Popular patterns include Royal Wulff, Adams, Blue Dun, Coch-y-Bondhu, green beetle patterns (during the early summer), and cicada and cricket patterns late in the summer.

Wet flies / Streamers:
Small bully patterns such as Mrs Simpson and Hamill's Killer during the day and dark patterns such as Craig's Night-time and Scotch Poacher during the evening and at night. In the middle and upper reaches use small wee-wets such as March Brown, Greenwell's Glory, Red Governor and Hardies Favourite during the evening rise when fish are often taking emerging insects just subsurface.

Spinners:

Black and gold Tobys and silver Tobys in the lower reaches, and small bladed spinners such as Mepps or Veltic in the middle and upper reaches. As this is a rainbow fishery, brighter colours such as gold and red tend to work well during the day.

Regulations
Applicable to Puketotara Stream
Region Northland regulations
Season Oct 1-Apr
30
Methods Artificial fly, spinner.
Bag limit 2 trout
Size limit (cm) Trout: 300mm minimum

Other fishing waters of the region



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