Last updated November 2026
Wilsons Dam is a water supply reservoir just north of Ruakākā, off State Highway 1 between Prescott Road and Sail Rock Road. Northland Fish & Game stocks it with rainbow trout most years and brown trout every few years, and the fish average just under a kilogram.
You fish from the shore with fly, spinner or bait, and winter is the best time. You need a Fish & Game licence, and the lake has a history of algal blooms, so read the signs before you fish.
At a Glance
- Location
- Off State Highway 1 just north of Ruakākā, via Sail Rock Road or Prescott Road
- Type
- Water supply reservoir for the Bream Bay area, stocked by Fish & Game
- Main species
- Rainbow trout (stocked most years) and brown trout (every few years); average just under 1 kg, up to about 2 kg
- Method
- Fly, spin and bait, from the shore only
- Season
- Open all year; winter is best
- Access
- Car park at the base of the dam wall at the end of Sail Rock Road; two marked access points off Prescott Road
- Licence
- Fish & Game sports fish licence (Northland rules)
- Not allowed
- Boats, float tubes and swimming
- Algae
- Blooms have closed the water to contact in the past: check the signs
- Tides
- None; weather and water temperature move the fish
No tides. Water temperature moves the trout: they feed in the shallows in winter and go deep in hot summer spells.
About Wilsons Dam
Wilsons Dam was built in the early 2000s as a water supply reservoir for the Ruakākā area. It holds about 2.5 million cubic metres and still supplies the Bream Bay area.
For years the Marsden Point refinery also drew water from it, and in the dry summers of 2019 to 2021 the level fell very low. The refinery stopped taking water, and the lake has stayed full since.
That made a difference to the fishing. When the water was low, the weed beds around the shallow edges dried out and died, and with them went much of the insect life the trout feed on. With the lake full again, Fish & Game reports the weed has grown back around the margins and the insects have returned.
There are no streams for trout to breed in, so it is a put-and-take fishery: most of the fish come from Fish & Game releases. From above, the dam wall closes off the northern end, with the reservoir spreading south into several arms. Bush runs down to the western shore and farmland comes down to the east.
How to Fish Wilsons Dam
Where and when
The easiest start is the car park at the base of the dam wall at the end of Sail Rock Road, then a walk to the water’s edge. Two marked access points off Prescott Road reach other parts of the shore, each with a moderate walk.
Winter fishes best, when the water cools and trout move into the shallows to feed. In summer they go deep during hot spells. Spring and autumn are worth fishing early in the morning and late in the evening.
What to catch and what to use
- Rainbow trout: most of the catch. Fish the edges of the weed beds in the evening with a small streamer such as a Mrs Simpson or Woolly Bugger, or a Hare and Copper nymph under a small indicator.
- Brown trout: fewer, from releases every few years. Streamers that look like bullies, mosquito fish or dragonfly larvae, fished around the weed, suit them.
- Nymphs and dries: lightly weighted Pheasant Tail or Hare and Copper nymphs in sizes 14 to 16 in the upper and middle reaches; small Adams or midge patterns on still evenings, and midges on warm winter days.
- Spinning: French-style bladed spinners and small hard-bodied lures work well, as do black and gold or silver Tobys.
- Bait: allowed, but not any part of a fish. A worm under a float is the simple option.
Getting There and Facilities
- Road: Wilsons Dam is off State Highway 1 just north of Ruakākā. Sail Rock Road leads to the dam wall; Prescott Road has the other two access points.
- Parking: a large car park at the base of the dam wall at the end of Sail Rock Road.
- On foot: every access point needs a walk to the water, so travel light.
- Licence and bait: buy a Fish & Game licence online, and get bait and lures in Whangārei or Ruakākā before you go.
- Closer to town: for a stocked lake inside Whangārei city, see our Whau Valley Reservoir fishing guide.
Rules and Safety
Algal blooms
Wilsons Dam has had long-running blooms of potentially toxic algae. In 2017 and again in 2023, Whangārei District Council put up signs telling people not to touch the water or eat fish from the dam. The bloom eased in winter but came back each summer, and trials of extra aeration and a water additive were run to cut it back.
Read the signs at the car park every visit. If a warning is up, or the water looks green, scummy or discoloured, do not keep any fish, keep dogs away from the water, and rinse your gear.
Rules
- Licence: you need a Fish & Game sports fish licence, carried while you fish. Northland rules apply: the dam is open all year to fly, spin and bait fishing. Check the Northland regulations for size and daily limits.
- No boats: no fishing from any boat or flotation device. The council does not allow boating or swimming and warns of a drowning risk.
- Dogs: must be leashed and kept out of the reservoir.
- Waders: felt soles are banned.
Useful Links
Northland Fish & Game: lakes and reservoirs: access points, stocking and methods for Wilsons Dam.
Northland sports fishing regulations: seasons, methods and limits for Northland waters.
Whangārei District Council: dam levels: the current level of Wilsons Dam and the council’s rules for visitors.
Common Questions
Where is Wilsons Dam?
Just north of Ruakākā, off State Highway 1. Park at the base of the dam wall at the end of Sail Rock Road, or use the access points off Prescott Road.
What fish are in Wilsons Dam?
Rainbow and brown trout released by Fish & Game. They average just under a kilogram and reach about 2 kg.
Do I need a licence?
Yes, a Fish & Game sports fish licence, carried while you fish.
Can I eat fish from Wilsons Dam?
Only when there is no algae warning. The council has put up signs in past blooms telling people not to eat fish from the dam, so check the signs at the car park first.
Can I use a kayak or float tube?
No. Fishing from any boat or flotation device is not allowed, and the council does not allow boating or swimming.
When does Wilsons Dam fish best?
Winter, when trout come into the shallows to feed. Early mornings and evenings in spring and autumn are also good.
Can I use bait at Wilsons Dam?
Yes. Bait, spin and fly are all allowed, but bait cannot include any part of a fish.
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