Be a Happy Hunter Gatherer this Xmas

Media release from Eastern Fish & Game

Be a Happy Hunter Gatherer this Xmas

The Rotorua lakes are all set to serve up one New Zealand’s more unique Christmas holidays – where the whole family can share in some of the hunter-gatherer excitement that trout fishing provides.

That’s according to Eastern Region Fish & Game Officer Matt Osborne. There’s something quite simple and satisfyingly elemental about going out together and catching something wild to eat, he says.

“If you’ve ever been in a boat when one of the younger family members hooks a nice trout and reels it in, you’ll have seen the pure joy that freshwater sport fishing can unlock.

“Without getting too analytical, it’s probably feeding some deeply buried hunter instincts that we still retain in spite of our urban lives.”

Matt Osborne says that as we head into the New Year, some of the deeper lakes are the places to go using methods like jigging. The deeper water provides far more comfortable temperatures for the trout who take refuge there. Lakes Tarawera, Rotoiti and Okataina all fit the bill, he adds.

The fish are also chasing smelt who go deep as the water warms through the day to congregate around the 25 metre mark, he says.

Anglers should be fishing actively in the early mornings and evenings to get the best results from trout behaviour at this time of the year. “As temperatures climb towards the middle of summer, this becomes even more important, ” Matt says.

At dawn, before the top layers of water have warmed up, shallow fishing methods like harling (shallow trolling) work well. Later on in the day as the fish dive deep into cooler water jigging and deep trolling work better.

There are also shoreline fly and spin fishing opportunities at a number of Rotorua lakes including Tarawera, as trout chase smelt into the shallows – mainly in the early morning or late evening.

Matt Osborne says as lake temperatures get even warmer brown trout starting heading up the streams for the cooler water. Fish & Game has seen this in the number of big browns coming out of their Ngongotaha Stream fish trap – 40 to 50 fish a night.

As summer progresses, rainbow trout start gathering at stream mouths in search of cooler water flows. “From about the middle of January a large number of rainbows gather at the Awahou and Hamurana stream mouths – two of the coldest flows into the lake.”

Freshwater angling is a great family activity – both fishing actively and as a spectator sharing in the fun, Matt says, as another family member hooks and reels in a fish. Then there’s the ‘apres fishing’ rituals of smoking fish or preparing and eating them some other way.

We try and point out at this time of the year to holidaymakers that a family licence represents great value for the spend involved. Parents or caregivers and up to four children or grandchildren can fish together on a single licence. “The principle licence holder can still go off and fish on their own at any stage with a family licence.”

ENDS