Fishing near Palmerston North, Manawatū-Whanganui

Palmerston North sits at the heart of the Manawatū-Whanganui region, surrounded by a network of productive lowland and hill-country rivers. The Manawatū River runs through the city itself, while the Pohangina, Ōroua, Mangahao, Mākākahi, Mangatainoka and Rangitīkei rivers are all within easy reach. The area is best known for brown and rainbow trout fishing across roughly 170 km of fishable Manawatū River water, with the stretch upstream toward Woodville and Dannevirke rated most highly. Trout density is comparatively high and angler pressure relatively low for New Zealand, with average fish running 3–4 lb and regular chances at fish in the 5–7 lb range.