Hinemaiaia Runs Slowing
Trout Spawning in Shallows
The Hinemaiaia Stream at Hatepe Village has a well deserved reputation for being one of the better early season rivers for fresh run rainbow trout. Especially in recent years this has meant insane amounts of anglers trying to fit into limited space, such that avoiding other anglers becomes more important to your success than finding and deceiving a few trout!
Having said this though it seems like being first on the water although often very helpful, is not perhaps as vital as some rivers because in low barometer conditions the fish sometimes seem to keep moving through during the day. A pool or run that may have been empty earlier can often have fresh undisturbed fish later in the day.
This year the Hinemaiaia has once again been the gift that keeps on giving. It now appears though that the runs here are slowing and most trout in the river are well into spawning. Its a great place to take people and especially kids who have never seen trout spawning, as its easy to get up close and watch them procreating in the shallows. While some of these may be tempted they tend to be rather flighty and preoccupied, and are often best left alone… it almost seems wrong to interrupt!
