The best fishing you've never heard of'.

'There are two excellent trout fishing rivers near to Woodville, the Manawatu and Mangatainoka rivers as well as the lesser known waters of the Mangahao and the Tiraumea Rivers.

The Manawatu has one of the highest fish populations of any river in New Zealand and has a very high catch rate.  Experienced local anglers regularly land between five and fifteen fish in a days fishing.  North of the gorge through to Dannevirke there is good water that is easy to fish with a wide single riverbed.  There are fish in this stretch of river all year and in good numbers.  The river below the Mangatainoka river junction (just above the state highway two bridge over the Manawatu River) is a large river and suites spinning, bait fishing and fly fishing.  It can be crossed with care between pools.  Above the junction Mangatainoka junction the Manawatu is a medium sized river and a joy to fish whatever the method used.  Fish can be taken on any method with dry fly fishing and nymph fishing being the most successful.  The evening rise in summer can be truly world class.  The fish are a mixture of brown and rainbow trout.  The average fish size over the 2008-2009 season was close to three pounds and in the last two years fish have been in excellent condition with trout up to seven pounds being caught.  Access is simple and there are eighteen public access points between the Manawatu gorge and Dannevirke.

The Mangatainoka River is a medium sized river that has a good population of trout especially in the lower reaches below Pahiatua.   Similar to the Manawatu, the Mangatainoka fish respond to all legal methods and it is possible to catch fish in the evening under the glow of the lights of Tui Brewery.  Access is good and the river tends to be easy to cross between pools.

For access and regulations, see the fish and game website.  Fish and Game produce access pamphlets for both the Upper Manawatu river and the Mangatainoka River that can be found on their website: http://www.fishandgame.org.nz/Site/Regions/Wellington/fishing.aspx.

If you need help to fly fish in the area and want to contact a local guide, contact Manawatu Flyfishing who have been guiding in the district for 14 years and know the rivers and how to catch their wonderful trout.  See www.northislandnzflyfishing.co.nz for more details.'