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Rivers

Trout fishing in our region can be viewed as two basic different types; SPRING CREEK and FREESTONE . Although this is an oversimplification, fishing techniques, equipment and overall expectations need to be adjusted according to these two basic categories. Generally, in this district, in spring creek type fisheries, brown trout predominate, and in freestone type fisheries, rainbow trout predominate. In nature, neither type of river exists in it's pure form. All rivers are a combination of these two basic types.

The following comparison between these two types of rivers will lend a basic understanding of the type of habitat you will encounter. Both types of streams are good for fly fishing, but for different reasons. In general, our guided fly fishing takes place mostly in freestone rivers, because this is the prevalent type of river in our district.

A SPRING CREEK, in it's pure form has no rain run-off in it. As the name implies, much, if not most, of the flow comes from spring water, usually emanating from the riverbed itself. As a rule, rain catchments for spring creeks are relatively small, when compared to freestone rivers. Spring creeks are characterized by stable banks and structure, which results from stable flow.
Typical spring creek
Because of the nature of the source flow, fluctuations in river level are relatively minor, when compared to freestone rivers. Spring creeks are most often found in lowland areas, where the water table and modest catchments size support a stable flow. This stable flow promotes lots of niches, every stone, and fallen tree might remain in its resting place for centuries.

Because of the stable nature of the river itself, a spring creek generally has more carrying capacity for mature trout. Another way to put this, is that a spring creek is likely to have more mature trout per kilometer than a freestone river. This is due to two basic aspects of the spring creek, which both relate to stability; 1) more habitat niches exist which allow trout to establish and defend territories and 2) more food due to the lack of 'scouring' during floods which so often ravage the
freestone rivers of our district. Scouring adversely affects the generation of aquatic insect biomass, which is the principle source of food for the rainbows and browns of the district.

One downside of the spring creeks in our district, is that they tend to become choked with willows. This is a problem yet to be successfully confronted in our district, and probably in New Zealand as a whole. Some parts of our best fly fishing streams have become all but unusable, due to willows. Unfortunately, willows are extremely difficult to get rid of. If you chop them down, they just sprout again, and the chopped off branches float downstream and take root to become a new willow tree.

Generally, although some spring creeks are reasonably open, part of the fishing formula includes dealing with the vegetation, which can make casting very challenging. These willows also make playing larger trout difficult, as you can imagine.

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FREESTONE rivers are the opposites of spring creeks. Invariably, these rivers have huge rain catchments in surrounding mountains. As the name implies, the stones in the riverbed are free to move along. Freestone rivers have frequent floods, often of significant size. It is not uncommon to be fishing a small clear freestone river, meandering in a huge riverbed of stones and debris, and to notice driftwood perched 10 meters (30 feet) above you.

When a freestone river rises in stable geology, it generally has a higher carrying capacity than a freestone river which rises in unstable geology. Two principle mountain ranges characterize our district, the Ruahine Range, and the Kaimanawa Range. Rivers rising in the Kaimanawa's generally have a higher carrying capacity than rivers rising in the Ruahine Range, because the geology in the Kaimanawa Range is much more stable. This increased stability results in less gravel and silt entering the rivers when landslips result from earthquakes or heavy rains.

In some freestone rivers, at some times, as few as 3 mature trout per kilometer are found. These rivers still constitute worth while fly fishing, because these trout may average 2 kg (4.5 pounds). Low numbers do however, usually mean more walking between trout.

The Upper Rangitikei is more representative of a good freestone river, with an average of about 25 mature trout per kilometer. Freestone tributaries vary according to the stability of the surrounding terrain. By comparison, some spring creeks in our district might have twice that number.
In our district, freestone rivers outnumber spring creek type rivers, by a substantial margin.
All of our RAFTING/FISHING services take place on freestone rivers, while TRADITIONAL GUIDING services take place on both spring creek and freestone type fisheries. Size and type of river is not directly related to trout size though. Larger trout come from both large and small rivers, of both types.

 
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