Start of trout fishing season to bring busy Rotorua lakes

Willemina Krebs caught this fish on Lake Tarawera on opening day 2017. Photo / Supplied

Fish & Game is expecting Lakes Tarawera and Rotoiti to be teeming with fishermen and women on Monday morning.

On Monday at 5am Lakes Rotoiti, Tarawera and Okataina will re-open to anglers after being closed and rested over winter.

Fish & Game officer Matt Osborne said Tarawera and Rotoiti were usually the busiest on opening and most trout caught over opening would be 2-year-old fish.

He said those were the most abundant group above the minimum size of 35cm.

"The older 3 and 4-year-old fish have spawned during winter and are either still in the spawning streams or have migrated back in the lakes to recover," he said.

"Some of the older fish have recovered adequately while others will be longer and a little slabby.

"These 2-year-olds will average around 50cm on Tarawera and 52cm on Rotoiti and Okataina given differences in recent lake growing conditions.

Kevin Bach, 12 (left) with his father David Bach and Gary Coker (centre) fishing the Ohau Channel. Photo / Supplied

"Hatchery-released 2-year olds can easily be identified by them having had their left pelvic fin removed. They were released during 2017 as yearlings."

Osborne said there had been a record run of fish through the trap on Lake Tarawera which was used to source the best fish for breeding, and that indicated there would be plenty of fish.

Drift dives carried out, where staff count fish in the Tarawera Outlet, also point to high fish numbers in Tarawera, he said.

Fish & Game's 2018 Fish for Gold promotion also starts on Monday and runs for two weeks.

Thirty rainbow trout, marked with specially numbered orange tags have been released into Tarawera, Rotoiti and Okataina in the lead up to the opening.

Each of the tags corresponds to a prize, with one worth $10,000 and another a Yamaha 2HP outboard motor valued at $945.

Fish for Gold is free to enter. Anglers just need to have a 2018-19 Fish & Game sports fishing licence and register online prior to opening day.

Where and how to fish
- Purchase a day or a season licence either online at fishandgame.org.nz or retail outlets like Hunting and Fishing. Day licence $21, season licence $130.
- There are 10 different licence categories in total.
- When taking a boat out of the water check it and other equipment for aquatic pests.
- For more tips and information visit the website or call (07) 357 5501.
- Lake Rotoiti is popular during opening but becomes quieter later in the season. Fish can be targeted by trolling, harling, and spin of fly fishing around stream mouths and drop offs.
- Lake Tarawera is one of the largest lakes and is considered by many to produce the best eating fish. Festivities begin the evening before opening. Early season shallow trolling or harling works well.
- Lake Rotorua is fished mainly by trolling or spin and fly fishing at stream mouths.
- Lake Okataina lends itself to trolling, jigging, and the use of downriggers. Shore-based fishing is limited.
- There are 13 lakes open to fishing in the Rotorua district.
Source: Fish & Game