Central North Island - Freshwater

fishing report

March 10, 2026

Supplied by

I Love Fly Fishing

I Love Fly Fishing

A summary of the last two week's fishing reports from Brian Willson in Turangi. Find the promo-code at the bottom of the report.

Note: If map is showing it is created by LINZ / New Zealand Hydrographic Authority and made available by Creative Commons 3.0. Maps should not be used for navigation

“A big rainbow is a fish of the heavy water… he is a fighter, a leaper, a plunger, a fish that never knows when he is beaten, a fish that will take you down into the white water and break your heart or your tackle, or both.” — Roderick Haig-Brown, A River Never Sleeps

A summary of the last two week's fishing reports from Brian Willson in Turangi. Find the promo-code at the bottom of the report.

Turangi Fishing Report 6^th March 2026

Key Highlights:

Blustery southerly winds dominated the week with a noticeable temperature drop
Thursday was an exception — light winds, 21°C, perfect fishing conditions
Tongariro Delta: Excellent action with fish preparing for early spawning run; typical on/off pattern where everyone hooks up when fish are active
Hinemaiaia River: Lower fish numbers than winter, but dry fly is working well
Tauranga Taupo mouth: Still producing on smelt flies; mixed fish condition (many recovering, some superb)
Whanganui & Whakapapa Rivers: Tough fishing but rewarding — tough-fighting strain

Safety Warning:

Brian and three Australian clients were caught by a sudden water release below Piriaka Power Station
Water rose dramatically within minutes — had to exit clients quickly
Tip: Use a protruding rock as a visual gauge; if it starts disappearing, get out
Brian advocates for better real-time alert systems for hydro releases

See Brian’s full 6^th of March report on I Love Fishing at https://iloveflyfishing.kiwi/turangi-fishing-report-5-march-2026/

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Turangi Fishing Report 26 February 2026

Intro: Severe weather hit the Central North Island hard, closing SH1 between Hunterville and Waiouru due to fallen trees and slips. Large pines and gum trees were flattened throughout the Hunterville and Mangaweka areas. More settled conditions have returned in recent days.

Key Highlights:

More settled weather in the last few days
Fishing fairly tough, but patient anglers rewarded
Judge's Pool: Lou (Perth client) lost a large brownie on a woolly bugger — hook straightened. Pouring rain, they were the only anglers on the river.

Outlook: Forecast doesn't look too bad, some rain expected. Brian guiding Australians for about 10 days starting this weekend — expects much to report next week.

See Brian’s full 26^th of February full report on I Love Fishing at https://iloveflyfishing.kiwi/turangi-fishing-report-26-february-2026/

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Previous reports

February 21, 2026

Turangi fishing reports from guide Brian Willson - dry fly season approaching on the Tongariro, plus an exclusive 15% discount promo code from I Love Fly Fishing

April 3, 2024

The great lake is yielding quality catches, with jigging currently favoured by anglers and cooler weather bringing trolling back into play.

March 4, 2024

Anglers adapting to fluctuating thermoclines and increased boat traffic, finding success in deeper waters and looking forward to a more consistent March as fish put on condition for winter.

December 29, 2023

The holiday season brings excellent fishing in Taupo, with successful early morning harling, prolific fly fishing due to rising temperatures and abundant fly life, and great catches in local rivers and backcountry, all while anticipation grows for a full cicada season.

December 1, 2023

Fishing on the great lake has been excellent this month, with a variety of well-conditioned fish, particularly effective jigging results, successful early morning harling in shallower waters, and promising fly fishing in local rivers and backcountry, all amidst a backdrop of fluctuating weather and anticipation for a lively summer season.

November 11, 2023

Fishing on the great lake has kicked off impressively this month, with well-conditioned fish and effective methods like jigging and harling, while fly fishing is gaining momentum and backcountry rivers show remarkable early-season fish condition, setting the stage for a potentially exciting cicada season.

October 20, 2023

A sunny weekend with steady fishing on the lake, early-season maiden fish in great condition, and a shift towards summer fly fishing tactics.

October 9, 2023

Fishing on the great lake has been reasonably consistent throughout the winter. The advent of some warmer spring weather will signal the return of a lot of post spawned fish looking to regain condition after the winter spawning runs.

September 4, 2023

The great lake continued to produce good fishing pretty much throughout this winter, and activity will likely start to ramp up even further as we head into spring.

August 4, 2023

We’re going into August now, and the fishing on the Taupo tributaries has been good, but not quite the repeat of the last couple of years of exceptional fishing that we enjoyed so much.