Media release from Eastern Fish & Game

Anglers urged to hide away on Rotorua lakes and target trout, especially if the weather blows up

Holidaymakers heading for the Bay of Plenty this weekend can still get some great fishing in if north-westerlies blow up as forecast – by targeting trout on the Rotorua lakes.

“Come and get your trout gear out and find some sheltered spots – or take this opportunity if you’re new to freshwater sports fishing, to give it a go,” urges Eastern Fish & Game manager Rob Pitkethley.

He says that if the wind is north-westerly, then it’s usually gusty and there are plenty of sheltered spots on all the lakes to tuck yourself out of the wind – and fish happily.”

Mr Pitkethley says the northern sides of lakes Rotoiti and Tarawera offer some great deep trolling and jigging areas, and there are plenty of sheltered arms on Lake Rotoehu that fish well at this time of the year for shallow trolling. 

Lake Rotorua also has some very productive spring trolling runs in the northern side – off the Ohau Channel entrance and west to Wilsons Bay, “great places to hook into fish.”

Eastern Fish & Game staff say any new visitors to the region, if they aren’t already aware of it, should appreciate that the Rotorua lakes offer a “wealth” of first-class fishing.

The new fishing season for Rotorua’s key lakes Tarawera, Okataina, and Rotoiti, began on October 1 and got off to an excellent start with fine and clear weather and light winds, and most anglers managed to land some nice fish, some approaching the 4kg mark.

Fish & Game Officer Mark Sherburn says that “there’s over a dozen lakes and many places to go – but opening did show Rotoiti and Okataina with a bit of an edge.”

Catch rates on Rotoiti were better than last year’s opening, and showed the lake is improving.  The size of fish was up, with the biggest weighed in by Fish & Game on 3kg.

On Okataina, the catch rate was much improved from last year’s opening day and the biggest fish weighed 3.7kg.

Mr Sherburn says that on Lake Tarawera, catch rates were a little bit down on last opening however some nice fish were still landed, the largest at 3.5kg.

The Ohau Channel which links lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti has also fished better than it has for the last three seasons, with reports of lots of smelt, that trout love to feed on.

President of the local Oak Angler’s Club Gary Coker says that in his opinion it’s a “bumper year.”

Since the October 1 opening he had only missed about four nights fishing the Ohau Channel, catching a total of 87 fish, “about 75 percent of them in nice condition.”

Gary Coker says he has also been trolling on Lake Rotoiti and caught fish. 

He says the season is shaping up brilliantly and adds: “If you put the hours in, the fish are there.” One friend had already caught a 5.5kg (12 lb) brown trout, and another mate an even larger 5.6kg fish which measured 67cm.

In the central North Island American visitor fishing Flaxy Lake in Kaingaroa Forest had a “really good day,” catching seven fish ranging from about 1.5kg to 2kg (a forestry access permit is needed to fish the area).  

Further afield, Lake Waikaremoana is shaping up to provide some good fishing over spring and summer. Reports of fat rainbows caught trolling have come in, and Fish & Game staff have recently seen good fish numbers in the spawning streams. The Mokau and Hopuruahine Streams open to fishing on December 1. The Aniwaniwa Stream below the falls is open all year.

Fish & Game has reminded holidaymakers that the family licence is great value and allows holders to fish the rest of the season. Information on licences, access and promotions can be found on the Eastern Fish & Game’s website pages :

http://eastern.fishandgame.org.nz/eastern-fishing-locations-access

ENDS

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