Auckland/Waikato

These region offer a wide diversity of fishing opportunities with many lake and river fisheries. Seven lakes within one hour of Auckland City; wild trout are abundant in the Mangatawhiri and Mangatangi reservoirs. There is good trout fishing in the Coromandel Ranges with most rivers having easy access and high scenic values.

Further south there are numerous spring-fed trout streams in the South Waikato, and many backcountry fisheries throughout the King Country including the headwaters of the Waipa, Whanganui, Whakapapa, and Awakino Rivers. The Waikato River has an abundant brown trout population, and the hydro-lakes provide excellent lake fishing.

The Northland region has a temperate climate with water temperatures often above the optimum range preferred by trout. As a result freshwater fishing is somewhat limited compared to other regions.

Winter offers the best fishing in Northland when the trout become more active in the cooler water. The region has numerous river and stream fisheries that hold both rainbow and brown trout. Rainbows tend to be the dominant species as they are better able to tolerate the warmer water temperatures.

Many of the streams in the region are heavily wooded along the banks which tends to keep the water cooler in the summer and angler pressure on these streams is low, offering a semi-wilderness experience.