| Fish type | A good stock of brown trout of 1.5kg are regularly caught. Some fish up to 3kg are also present. |
| Situation | The Mangawhero River rises on the southern slopes of Mount Ruapehu in the Tongariro National Park. It flows south through Ohakune to join the Whangaehu River near Kauangaroa after 70km. |
| Maps | Upper Mangawhero access map Lower Mangawhero access map |
| Check conditions | View the river level. View the rainfall. View the MetService weather forecast |
| Upper reaches | Within the National Park, the river is a small, overgrown and swift flowing and not really worth fishing Access Access is from the Turoa Skifield road in the Tongariro National Park. See the upper Mangawhero access map. |
| Middle reaches | Below Ohakune the river winds across farmland for 10 km before entering a gorge. In this section there are pools, riffles and willows growing on the banks, Fish are difficult to spot in the brownish water but blind fishing with dry flies and nymphs is reasonably easy. Access Access to the middle reaches is from either Ohakune township, Pakihi Road, SH49, or Old Mangarewa Road. See the upper Mangawhero access map. |
| Lower reaches | The best fishing in the lower reaches is from half a metre above the spectacular Raukawa Waterfall at Kakatahi for 10km upstream where the river emerges from a gorge. The river bottom consists of mudstone shelves interspersed with rocks and soft silt bottom. Spinning is the preferred method above and below the falls but its worth trying a large attractor dry fly as well. Access From Wanganui, drive up the Parapara highway (State Highway 4) towards Kakatahi and the Raukawa Waterfall (about a 45 minute drive). The fishery begins half a metre
above the waterfall. See the lower Mangawhero access map. |
| Recommended lures | Dry flies: Bushy flies such as Humpy or Royal Wulff, and beetle, cricket and cicada patterns can work well in the warmer months. Caddis patterns in late spring and summer evenings. Nymphs: Stonefly and caddis fly nymphs, creepers (Dobsonfly larva) and roughly tied Hare and Coppers. Wet flies: Small wet flies such as Bibio, Greenwell's Glory or Invicta can be effective especially in the evenings. |
| Mangawhero Stream | The Mangawhero Stream, which is a tributary of the Kaupokonui River on the Taranaki ringplan, is unrelated to the Mangawhero River. |
| Regulations (1) |
| Applicable to | Mangawhero River, upstream of the Raetihi - Ohakune road bridge |
| Region | Taranaki region regulations |
| Season | 1 Oct-30 Apr |
| Methods | Artificial fly, spinner, bait |
| Bag limit | Trout: 2 |
| Size limit (cm) | None |
| Regulations (2) |
| Applicable to | Mangawhero River, downstream of the Raetihi - Ohakune road bridge |
| Region | Taranaki region regulations |
| Season | All year |
| Methods | Artificial fly, spinner, bait |
| Bag limit | Trout: 2 |
| Size limit (cm) | None |
