Fishing near Masterton, Wellington

Masterton sits in the Wairarapa, flanked by the Ruamāhanga River just kilometres from the town centre and a network of Tararua Range-fed tributaries. The region is known for clear-water brown and rainbow trout fishing across rivers ranging from the broad, pool-laden lower Ruamāhanga to intimate stalking streams like the Waipoua, which flows through Masterton itself. Fishing pressure across the Wairarapa is generally light, and it is common to spend a full day on the water without seeing another angler.