Troutfishing boom at threatened lake

Holidaymakers may be complaining about the changeable weather, but the colder than normal conditions are favouring anglers.

Eastern Region Fish and Game says the colder weather has kept algal blooms in Lake Rotoiti away and created excellent fishing conditions, with trout staying closer to the surface rather than heading deeper to find cooler water.

The cold prevents algal blooms from growing as much as they would in warmer conditions. High winds can keep the water choppy, making it unsettled, and the algae get less chance to bloom.

Fish and Game senior fisheries officer Rob Pitkethley said that although the wind conditions might persuade anglers to stay onshore, the chances of good fishing for summer were looking up.

Early morning fishing would still bring the best results, he said.

Mr Pitkethley said Lake Rotoiti had continued to fish extremely well when conditions allowed anglers on the water.

"Rotoiti has been the stand-out lake in the central North Island, producing large numbers of fish. Not only have catch rates been the highest for years, but the fish are in superb condition with most two-year-old fish now over 2kg.

"While Rotoiti has been the best lake to date, we expect the others will pick up as the temperatures rise. A lack of smelt has affected Tarawera and Rotorua and the fish are a bit leaner than they would otherwise be at this time. Both waters should pick up as the weather settles."

Mr Pitkethley said Lake Okataina should be prominent in anglers' plans for the summer.

"We reduced the 58cm minimum limit to 55m this year, as we found that despite high catch rates being recorded most fish were less than 58cm and needed to be returned. The 55cm limit should allow anglers to keep a lot more fish while still providing protection for young fish."

Mr Pitkethley said many out-of-town anglers were expected in Rotorua for the holidays, with Rotoiti and Tarawera taking out the top spots for the most popular lakes.

Fish and Game hoped to work with Fisheries Ministry staff from Taupo to implement regular monitoring of trout numbers.

Mr Pitkethley said anglers should also watch carefully for tagged fish and return the tags, with the size of the fish and the location and date it was caught. The tags are implanted just below the dorsal fin and can be easily overlooked, particularly if the fish is large.

The tagging programme has been expanded this year to include large brown trout.

"Some excellent fish have been caught recently," Mr Pitkethley said.