Whau Valley Reservoir Fishing: Trout Access and Rules, Whangārei

Last updated October 2026

Whau Valley Reservoir, the lake behind Whau Valley Dam, holds Whangārei’s main water supply and is the closest trout fishing to the city, a few minutes up Whau Valley Road. Northland Fish & Game stocks it every year with rainbow trout, and a few brown trout are in there too.

You fish from the shore by the car park and along the dam wall, with fly, spinner or bait. It is open all year, and you need a Fish & Game licence.

At a Glance

Location

End of the dam access road off Whau Valley Road, on the edge of Whangārei city

Main species

Rainbow trout (stocked yearly, about 1 kg on average); some brown trout

Method

Fly, spin and bait, from the shore only

Season

Open all year

Where to stand

The grassy area by the car park and the dam wall

Licence

Fish & Game sports fish licence (Northland rules)

Suits

Beginners and families; Fish & Game runs learn-to-fish days here

Not allowed

Boats, float tubes and swimming

Dogs

On a lead and out of the water (kiwi live in the area)

Tides

None; the level rises and falls with the city’s water use

What Makes It Worth the Trip

Whau Valley Dam holds about 1.87 million cubic metres of water and feeds the Whau Valley Water Treatment Plant, which supplies Whangārei city. Its catchment is native bush in Pukenui Forest, and the council manages it under the reserve management plan for Pukenui Forest, Ngahere o Pukenui.

It is a put-and-take trout fishery. Fish & Game releases rainbow trout every year, and stocks brown trout from time to time, most recently early in 2025.

Browns from earlier releases have also kept going on their own, breeding in the small forest streams that run into the lake. Rainbows average about a kilogram, and some big browns have been caught, mostly in winter.

From above, the dam is a long earth embankment with a rock-faced side to the water. The access road runs down the grassy back of the dam to a loop car park at its southern end, right on the shore. Past the car park the lake splits into arms lined with bush.

Northland Fish & Game calls Whau Valley its most accessible trout fishery, and it holds its trout fishing and tuition days here. It is a good first lake for a young angler: short walk, room to cast and stocked fish.

How to Fish Whau Valley Reservoir

Where to stand

Most people fish from the car park side and the dam wall. Fish & Game rates the grassy area beside the car park as the best spot.

Rough tracks lead further along the shore, and when the lake is drawn down for the city’s supply, more of the edge can be fished. Trout cruise the margins, so cast along the edge as well as straight out.

What to catch and what to use

• Rainbow trout: the main catch, released every year. Small streamers such as a Mrs Simpson or Hamill’s Killer on a floating line, worked along the edges, are Fish & Game’s suggestion.
• Brown trout: fewer, but some are large. Try evenings and winter, with bully or kōura (freshwater crayfish) patterns, or a black fly after dark.
• Nymphs: Hare and Copper, Pheasant Tail or a small Halfback under an indicator.
• Spinning: soft baits, bibbed minnows, or a black Toby, Veltic or Mepps.
• Bait: a worm or prawn under a float. Bait is allowed for everyone here, and it is the easy way to get children a fish.

Tackle

Keep it light: a 4 to 6 weight fly rod, or a spinning rod that casts lures of 5 to 10 g. A landing net helps, especially if you fish from the rock of the dam wall.

Getting There and Facilities

• Road: Whau Valley Road runs off State Highway 1, about five minutes from the city centre. Follow the dam access road down to the car park at the end.
• Parking: a gravel loop car park at the southern end of the dam, beside the water.
• Licence: buy a Fish & Game licence online before you go. Carry it while you fish.
• Bait and tackle: pick up worms, prawns and lures in Whangārei on the way.

Rules and Safety

• Rules: Northland Fish & Game rules apply. The reservoir is open all year for fly, spin and bait fishing. A ranger can ask to see your licence. Check the Northland regulations for the size and daily limits.
• No boats: you may not fish from any boat or flotation device, and the council does not allow boating or swimming. It is a drinking water supply with a drowning risk.
• Gear rules: felt-soled waders and boots are banned in all Fish & Game regions.
• Dogs: keep dogs on a lead and out of the water. Young kiwi have been released in the area.
• The dam wall: the water side of the wall is faced with rock and slopes straight down into the lake. Keep children back from it, and fish from the grass if you have them with you.
• Closures: the access road has been shut before, for tree felling and for ground movement near the road. If the gate is closed, contact Northland Fish & Game for another spot.

Find Out More

Whau Valley Reservoir: Common Questions

Can you fish at Whau Valley Dam?
Yes. The council allows fishing from the shore with a Fish & Game licence. Boating and swimming are not allowed.

What fish are in Whau Valley Reservoir?
Rainbow trout, stocked every year and averaging about a kilogram, and a smaller number of brown trout, some of them large.

Do I need a licence?
Yes, a Fish & Game sports fish licence. You can buy one online. Carry it while you fish.

Can I use bait?
Yes. Fly, spin and bait fishing are all allowed. A worm or prawn under a float works well.

Where is the best place to fish?
The grassy area beside the car park, and the dam wall. More of the shore opens up when the lake level is down.

Is Whau Valley good for kids?
Yes. It is close to town, the car park is right by the water, and the trout are stocked. Keep children off the rock face of the dam wall.

Can I bring my dog?
Yes, on a lead, but keep it out of the water. Kiwi have been released in the area.

When is the best time to fish?
It is open all year. Low light early and late in the day usually fishes best, and winter is when the bigger browns tend to show.

Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.