Despite a much lower river level than previous years, we have run another successful trout contest in 2026, with an increased prize pool shared out of over $7,000!
We had 31 major prizes to give out, plus spot prizes for everyone and 2 raffles.
We had 74 entries comprising 39 adults and 35 Juniors under 17, one of our best (numbers wise) in years.
Highlights this year would have to be the brown trout (2.400 kg) caught by Dylan Farrar on the second day, and the 1.05 kg rainbow trout caught by Anton Hutchinson on the second day as well, which secured him 3 prizes!
Other highlights include our second year of photo section entries. (see all the entries on our Facebook page)
Our successful 2nd year of the catch and release section gives a good picture of the trout returned during the competition. We supplied free measure mats and the trout were photographed on these prior to quick release. This is a chance to give spent or smaller fish a chance to recover, and will be a big part of the contest in future as we move to lower daily limits and catch and release increases.
The prize giving was held at Taupiri Tavern on Sunday 11th October in the garden bar, with free barbecue provided by new owner owner Jagdev Singh. We had also had free entertainment (provided by Taupiri Tavern) in the form of Garry Spain at the Friday night weigh-in.
Before the prizegiving we were addressed by Raymond from the WRC Biosecurity team, who gave us some great advice on the precautions needed to stop the spread of freshwater clams from our affected area.
The following sponsors made the competition possible, so please support them…we had some great donations and publicity help this year that made a huge difference!
WAIKATO HUNTING AND FISHING
WDC- HUNTLY COMMUNITY BOARD
MR ANONYMOUS
HUNTLY GUN CLUB
HUNTLY ROTARY CLUB
WAIKATO RIVERCARE
Huntly Lions Club
Mike Lynch Contracting
Scott Fraser- H&F
Composite Developments
Nulook Joinery
Kim & Doug Brooks
WRC Biosecurity
Taupiri Tavern
Kotare Ecotech
Waikato Times
Chatter News
NZ Herald
Cambridge Hunting & Fishing
Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game
Results for the 2026 competition;
Juniors (36 entries, 5 fish weighed, – 3 Rainbows & 2 Browns)
1st heaviest trout– Anton Hutchinson 1050 g Rainbow – $250 Rod and reel combo with extras, (Donated by Waikato District Council)
2nd heaviest trout– Joseph Warbrick 796 g Brown- $150 Rod and reel combo(Donated by Waikato Rivercare)
3rd heaviest trout– Charlie Wright -770 g Rainbow, $100 Lure box set (Donated by Kim & Doug Brooks)
Best condition factor trout- Casey Mancer, 44.34 condition factor brown, $250 4 pce rod combo with braid, (Donated by Waikato District Council).
Heaviest Rainbow trout– Anton Hutchinson 1050 g, $100 Outrax rod and reel combo, (Donated by Huntly Gun Club).
Adults (39 entries, 16 trout weighed)
1st heaviest brown trout– Dylan Farrar (Huntly) 2.400 kg- $600 Canal spin rod combo prize (donated by Mr Anonymous)
(Dylan also signed the large wall –hanging carved trout annual trophy displayed at Taupiri Tavern)
2nd heaviest brown trout– Jim Reti 2.130 kg $250 Rod & reel combo plus jigs (Donated by Huntly Rotary Club)
3rd heaviest brown trout– Beau Lindop 2.045 kg $100- Essential lure pack(donated by Nulook Joinery)
Heaviest rainbow trout– Nick Jones 604 g $200- Fillet kit, tackle kit, sawdust etc(Sponsored by Hunting & Fishing).
Best condition factor brown trout adults section– Dylan Farrar, 52.82 condition factor. $560 Microbait Rod and reel combo, (donated by Waikato District Council.) Mike Lynch was close with a 49.47 trout, and Dylan with another at 49.37.
Kotare Ecotech Best Condition Factor overall trophy– Presented for the thirteenth time, the stunning trophy donated by Kotare Ecotech (John Charteris)was also won by Dylan Farrar, 52.82 condition factor.
Women’s Heaviest trout- Tracey Farrar (Huntly) 1.426 kg- $200 4 pce rod and reel combo, donated by Waikato Rivercare.
Daily Heaviest trout– $100 prize package per day-sponsored by Hunting & Fishing (Ocean Angler lure kits)
1st day- Dylan Farrar- 1.795 kg
2nd Day- Dylan Farrar- 2.400 kg
3rd Day- Blake Baverstock-1.704 kg
Last day- Nick Jones 1.042 kg
Team Section
The 4 person teams section drew 8 entries, team fish had to have a condition factor of 36 or above, so some fish were excluded from the “bag”.
The prizes are for the best average condition factor of the total fish caught per team, minimum bag was set at 3 fish again this year. 4 teams qualified with the minimum of 3 fish.
Team Section 1st – The Troutlaws (Blake Baverstock & Team- Richard, Shay, & Nick) Average condition factor 45.80, (4 fish weighed)- 4 x $100 Essential lure packs from Hunting & Fishing. (One donated by Huntly Gun Club).
Team Section 2nd- “Dirty Hookers” (Dylan, Beau, Taine & Jay) 4 fish average 45.66 were very close behind.
4 x $50 prizes consisting of Headlamps and lure kits. Sponsored by Hunting & Fishing (with one donated by Waikato Rivercare.)
Overall average weight trout for the whole competition– $350 prize of a 4 pce spin combo with braid, (sponsored by Waikato Hunting & Fishing)- weight was 1.166 kg (higher than last year) and nearest was Anton Hutchinson with his rainbow of 1.050 kg. Congratulations!
Catch & Release Section– 27 trout released and recorded (average length 46.33cm)
Average length trout– Dylan Farrar, 46cm closest- $200 Rod & reel combo(Sponsored by Waikato Hunting & Fishing) He donated this as an extra Junior entry prize, see below.
2nd longest length trout- Jay Wickens, 57 cm- $210 Strikeforce rod combo (Sponsored by Waikato Hunting & Fishing)
Longest length trout– Shay Robertson, 58 cm- $370 Streamflight rod combo(Sponsored by Waikato Hunting & Fishing)
Adults grand entry draw– this was open to all adult entries regardless of success, and was a $360 Divergex rod combo combo (Donated by Huntly Gun Club).
It was drawn live and won by Johnny Higgins, contestant 61. Well done!
Junior entry draw prize– this went to Kiwa Morley, contestant 42, a $150 tackle kit and cap (Donated by Huntly Lions Club).
2nd Junior entry draw prize– The rod combo (donated by Dylan Farrar) was drawn and won by Marlee- Rae Hunt, contestant 28
The remaining $1700 of spot prizes from Hunting & Fishing, Mike Lynch, Scott Fraser, Kilwell, WRC Biosecurity plus Composite Developments were then distributed to all contestants present.
Thanks to Andrew Brown for the photos taken at our prizegiving and judging the photo comp.
Much appreciation to all the sponsors, contestants and families, for making it such a wonderful competition.
Don’t stop fishing, plenty of action on the river from now till early December (don’t forget you need the new season licence now), then it will fire up again about April/May.
Full results and some pics will be posted on our website page,https://crossrhodesband.com/waikato-river-trout-contest
Lower Waikato Trout Contest Team 2026, Mike Lynch, John Charteris, Steven, Tracey & Dylan Farrar
