Hinemaiaia River

The Hinemaiaia is a small river that runs into the eastern side of Lake Taupō at Hatepe. It drains a lake that is part of a hydro scheme, so its flow is steady and stays clear even after long rain, when the bigger rivers are high. The valley is regenerating native bush, with community pest control bringing the birds back. It fishes well for large spawning rainbows in winter and gives pleasant dry-fly fishing in summer. It is fly fishing only below the dams, under DOC's Taupō licence.

It is small, but it is full of snags, so accurate casting pays and big fish are hard to hold. Many anglers use an 8 weight in early winter when the larger rainbows run, even though the river would suit lighter gear. Nymphing is the usual method, and a wet fly can reach fish in places a nymph cannot. In a good season the run rainbows average over 50 cm and 1.7 kg, and most anglers fish between the State Highway 1 bridge and the Cliff Pool.

Car parks link to tracks along the river. The mouth and lower river are off State Highway 1 at Hatepe, and the upper river is reached by the access road to the Hinemaiaia dam. Above a sign about halfway between the highway bridge and the lower (HB) dam, the river opens only from 1 December to 31 May, and fishing stops 300 m below the powerhouse. The flow is steady, but the dam can spill and send a surge down after prolonged heavy rain. The banks are high in places, with steep steps.