A river search for a missing Hamilton man has been completed without success.

Kerry Morgan, 53, has not been seen since yesterday afternoon when he went for a walk with his dog by the Waikato River.

His clothes and dog were found on the river bank.

Morgan took his dog for a walk along the river path most days, Senior Sergeant Robbie Hermann of Waikato police said.

"He often stops at an area about 100m north of the Wellington St beach and sometimes sits in the shallows of the river while his dog has a swim in the river."

The dog was returned to family members.

Senior sergeant Hermann said a search of a section of the river using a boat has been completed but this failed to find any sign of the missing man.

Police have described him as European, about 1.8m tall and of thin build. His shoulder-length hair is brown and grey.

Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to call Hamilton police on (07) 858 6200.