Media release from Eastern Fish & Game

Fishing a mixed bag - Rotorua Lakes

Fishing a mixed bag - Rotorua Lakes

Trout fishing on the Rotorua lakes is producing mixed results for fishers so far this summer. While some of the lakes are doing well, others seem to need further warm weather patterns to produce results according to Fish & Game Officer Mark Sherburn. “The summer heat always provides opportunities for anglers to target fish in specific locations. We’ve seen improving catch rates at the stream mouths of Lake Rotorua and in the Ngongotaha and Waiteti streams since New Year. Rotorua is a shallow lake so it’s one of the first to be affected by the warmer weather with trout entering or congregating around the cooler in-flows”

One the other hand, deeper lakes like Tarawera, Rotoiti and Okataina seem to be a few weeks behind their normal patterns as they haven’t warmed up to the same temperatures we expect at this time of the year. “There are some nice fish being caught, but not in great numbers at this stage. This will improve as the surface layers become warmer and fish begin to group in the thermocline” Mr Sherburn said. The thermocline is a deeper layer of cooler water where trout prefer to live during the warmer months. Anglers are able to target this location by using deep fishing methods such as downriggers and jigging.

Reports form back country rivers across the Eastern Fish & Game Region have also been promising. Summer provides increased insect activity which is the main food source of river dwelling trout. Additionally low rainfall and clear flows makes spotting trout easier which was one of the key elements to exciting river fishing.

Fish & Game staff have been busy checking licences and surveying anglers over the summer period and reminding anglers to check and clean fishing equipment and boats that move between waterways to prevent the spread of aquatic pests.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

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