Hutt River

Te Awa Kairangi / Hutt River is the largest of the Wellington rivers. It drains the southern Tararua Range and runs south through Upper Hutt and Lower Hutt to Wellington Harbour at Petone. It is a brown trout river, open all year, with fish of about 1 kg and a few to 3 kg, and it fishes well even where it runs between city suburbs. With easy access, open banks and riverside parks, it is a good river to learn on, and you can fish an evening rise half an hour from central Wellington.

The river is a mix of pools, rapids and runs, and willows along much of the bank give the fish cover on bright days. It wades easily, but the stones get very slippery in late summer, and in hot spells algae can spoil the fishing. Dry flies and nymphs work best in the morning and evening, and spinners work all day. In the upper river, use weighted stonefly and mayfly nymphs such as a Pheasant Tail, plus caddis patterns. Lower down, use a Hare and Copper. For dries, carry a Royal Wulff, Adams, Blue Dun and Coch-y-Bondhu, beetles in early summer, and cicadas and crickets late in the summer. Small wet flies such as a March Brown, Red Governor or Hardy's Favourite suit the middle and upper river. In the lower river, fish large wet flies and whitebait patterns (Grey Ghost, Yellow Rabbit, Jack Spratt) by day, and dark flies such as Craig's Night-time and Scotch Poacher after dark. Use a black and gold Toby in the wide lower water, and a small Mepps or Veltic in the upper pools and rapids.

The clearest water is in the forested gorge of Kaitoke Regional Park, below the Kaitoke weir. The river above the weir supplies almost half of Wellington's water, and the gorge between Hutt Forks and the weir sits directly above the intake, so do not travel it. The park has entrances off Waterworks Road and at Te Mārua. Below Te Mārua, the river runs through Upper Hutt to Taita Gorge and then through Lower Hutt, with the Hutt River Trail along much of the bank. The Pākuratahi, Mangaroa, Akatarawa and Whakatikei are small tributaries that reward light tackle if the main river is busy or high.