Bert Robinson: Water levels make for tough fishing

On warm spring days fish can be seen taking insects, including bees and wasps, so there is the opportunity for a spot of dry fly fishing at times. Photo/File

The significant amount of rain that fell during just one 24-hour period last week was truly impressive - some 81mm according to official reports and while it is just a drop in the bucket compared to what fell during a similar period of time in Houston Texas, it certainly has left its mark on the region.

Lake Rotorua rose 160mm and will take some time to lose all of the extra water as the outlet - the Ohau Channel - can only allow so much through it.

At the moment there is the equivalent of 28 bath tubs of water per second flowing over the weir.

Our aquifers are full and the ground sodden so any more rain will increase the possibility of more slips and subsidences around our waterways.

The large amount of water in a short period of time will also have changed many, if not all of the streams in our region by collapsing banks and, in some cases, changing their course so we are likely to see a very different stream when we visit them after opening on October 1.

There have been significant changes to the three main feeder streams entering Lake Rotorua but with them not opening until December 1 there is a bit of time for them to settle down and stabilise.

Overall fishing has been tough though there are still fish coming into spawn at a few places around our lakes.

Some large rainbows have been seen and hooked below the control gates at Okere Falls and there is fresh sign that there is still some spawning happening there.

With the gates wide open and less traffic on the water the fish are spread out over the pool, rather than being concentrated so it is a matter of covering every bit of water available.

Bead-head rabbit flies, woolly buggers and green orbit flies have caught well throughout the upper Kaituna River with similar results downstream of Trout Pool Rd.

The arrival of whitebait in the lower river will increase the availability of both brown and rainbow trout as well kahawai that follow these baitfish upstream.

Lake Rerewhakaaitu is still producing fish, especially by harling.

At this time of the year there is usually an abundance of recovering and maiden fish available out in the lake as well as enough fish still coming into spawn to keep anglers happy.

On warm spring days fish can be seen taking insects, including bees and wasps, so there is the opportunity for a spot of dry fly fishing at times.

Hopefully the extra wet winter and predicted wet spring will reduce the number of wasps around this lake as they were very high in number the previous couple of years.

The last thing you need, while stalking fish, is to walk into a nest, as I have done several times over the years.

It is not a pleasant experience but as long as there is deep-ish water around it is best to take a very quick swim as soon as possible.