Keen anglers braved the wet conditions to celebrate the opening of the new trout fishing season at the weekend.
Blue skies were in short supply for boaties heading out on Lakes Rotoiti, Okataina and Tarawera for the opening day on Saturday.
Eastern Fish & Game said in a statement that catch rates were on a par with previous opening weekends on most lakes, while Lake Okataina produced high fish numbers.
Fish & Game's Matt Osborne said the fish measured from Lake Tarawera were outstanding.
"With what we've seen to date, the size and condition of the young hatchery Tarawera 2-year-old fish were better than last season by a good measure. Okataina and Rotoiti's fish were only very slightly lighter than last year but Rotoiti's fish were a little longer."