Freestone · Mixed Sedimentary · Manawatū-Whanganui

Rangitīkei River

Rangitīkei River terrain map
Poor · Rainbow Trout
Hare & Copper Nymph · 12-16
Closed season
Season reopens 1 October. Plenty of other water available now.
Closed — confidence not applicable today.
What moved it
  • Level3.24 mLifting fast
  • Water temp8.1°C
  • ClarityVery colouredColouring up
Today's fly
Hare & Copper Nymph
Hare & Copper Nymph12-16
High-confidence seasonal pick
Conditions on the water
Live gauge
Level
Rising
3.24 m
Lifting fast
Water temp8.1°C
ClarityVery coloured
Weather4°C
WindW 9 km/h
Pressure1012 hPa
Rain · recent0.0 mm
Rain · ahead0.0 mm

Live readings — water temperature is an estimate where the gauge does not record it.

How these readings are sourced

Weather-only: no live gauge wired. Colours after rain off soft papa country — time visits to falling/clearing flow.

Water temperature for Rainbow Trout
Cool — slow
8°C est.ideal 1018°C
0°14°28°
How to fish it · for Rainbow Trout
When
Nymphing can work through most of the day.
Where
Cover mixed depths.
Method
Start with tight-line nymphs and adjust if fish rise or drift higher.
Kit
9 ft #4 rod, floating line, 12 ft tapered leader to 4–5 lb fluoro tippet.
Hatch timeline · todayQuiet day

Hatch predictions

Today's headline hatch shown — see all 3 active hatches hour by hour with Pro.

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Evidence
ModelledModerate confidence

Modelled from regional ecology — no survey or occurrence data for this water yet.

Through the year
0–3 scale · July highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Trout seasonSeason
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
Deleatidium / NZ Mayfly DunHatch
3
3
3
3
2
2
3
3
3
Burrowing Mayfly / Green MayflyHatch
3
2
2
Caddis / SedgeHatch
3
3
3
2
2
3
Cased Caddis / CreeperHatch
3
3
3
2
2
3
3

Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.

Ranked for today
Rainbow Trout fly box
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
  • Wellington Fish & Game region — a Fish & Game licence is required
  • Some upper reaches open later (1 November); check the current Anglers Notice and respect private-land access.
What's coming
Plan ahead
5-day outlook
The full read · show the working · for Rainbow Trout · confidence 65%
How the 0 is built — score × weight = contribution
Temperature67 × 28%18.8
Flow55 × 22%12.1
Clarity45 × 18%8.1
Feeding Time65 × 13%8.5
Pressure80 × 7%5.6
Insect activity34 × 12%4.1
Conditions total= 57
Can you trust it?
Water temperatureair-to-water estimateestimated
Level / flowon-river gaugeobserved
Prey activitymodelled from regional profilemodelled
What would change the calculation
Warmer water — toward the 10–18 °C ideal band — would lift the temperature score.
The dawn and dusk windows score higher than the midday lull.
Directions
Seasons & zones
  • Trout 1 October (lower) / 1 November (some upper reaches)30 April (upper) / year-round or 30 September (some lower reaches)

    Wellington Fish & Game licence required. Legal status: guidance_not_permission — confirm reach opening dates in the current Anglers Notice.

Related guides
Booking & contacts