Monster proves lakes a jewel

Bruce Yorke of Whangarei.

Having a dodgy shoulder led Whangarei fisherman Bruce Yorke to land the largest rainbow trout caught in Northland during a fishing trip to Kai Iwi Lakes.

Mr Yorke landed a 4.32kg, or 9.5 pounds, rainbow trout at Lake Tahora this month, using cooked prawn as bait.

Northland Fish & Game manager Rudi Hoetjes said it was believed to be the largest trout caught in Northland and it was an encouraging sign that the lakes were in good health.

Bruce Yorke, of Whangarei, and the 9.5-pound (4.32kg) rainbow trout he caught at Kai Iwi Lakes.

Mr Yorke said he normally fly-fished for trout, but a shoulder injury meant he could not cast for fly fishing, so he decided to use bait for the first time a few months ago.

"I can't really cast it out with the injury, but using bait is just as hard (as fly fishing). Over the last few weeks I've caught nine or 10 good trout (in Kai Iwi Lakes) so must be doing something right."

Mr Yorke said he smoked the trout, it tasted "beautiful" and had not wanted it on his wall as a trophy.

"Why have it on your wall as a trophy when it tastes delicious? They are beautiful fish and a joy to fish for and I'll be back out again this weekend, hopefully catching more."

Mr Hoetjes said the trout was about 75cm long and just shy of the traditional 10-pound mark which trout anglers around the world regarded as the benchmark of a trophy trout or fish of a lifetime.

Fellow Whangarei angler Peter Allen netted the fish for Mr Yorke when he fought it to the shore. Mr Yorke said he was amazed at the rainbow's size as it came into view.

"When Peter had it in the net it looked like a kingfish," he said.

The catches indicated a positive improvement for the Kai Iwi Lakes fishery, with increasing numbers of large fish being caught in recent years, Mr Hoetjes said.

"Bruce's monster trout is the biggest recorded in Northland since liberations began in the Kai Iwi Lakes 50 years ago. It is a fish to be proud of," Mr Hoetjes said.

The Kai Iwi Lakes suffered from severely reduced lake levels in the early 2000s, but improvements, including the removal of exotic trees close to the water have allowed the environment to improve, providing habitat for native species and trout.

"We have put a lot of hard work and management into improving the Kai Iwi Lakes, including careful consideration of annual stocking rates. Two years ago we believed we turned the corner and that is now demonstrated by the bigger, healthier trout being caught. Kai Iwi Lakes are now truly Northland's trout fishing jewel in the crown," Mr Hoetjes said.