Auckland / Waikato News Index> May 2007

Lake Pupuke clear enough to receive a 1000 fat trout

Fish & Game Auckland Waikato released two tanker loads of 500 (2-4lb) rainbow trout into Lake Pupuke in the first two weeks of May.

The first 500 were released for a weekend angling competition run by Trout Unlimited and the North Shore Anglers, which was so successful they decided to release the second 500.

The competition - held to celebrate the lake’s improved water quality as well as get information about fish numbers, size and condition in the lake - attracted anglers from all over the region.

Stocking Lake Pupuke costs Fish & Game approximately $6 for every trout placed in the lake, and so concurrent with the lake becoming a prime urban trout fishing spot is the need to ensure all anglers are licensed.

This month, Fish & Game prosecuted an unlicensed angler at Lake Pupuke, a reminder to all anglers not to fish the lake without a licence.

Lake Pupuke was first stocked with rainbow trout in the 1880s, making it the first lake to be stocked in New Zealand, but as its water quality declined so did its attraction as a trout fishing lake.

Data from the 1990s to today shows significant improvements in the lake’s water clarity. It has less frequent algal blooms, and although it has pest fish species their populations are not out of balance.

The lake’s water clarity is now second only in the Auckland region to Lake Otatoa, a near pristine lake in the South Kaipara Heads.

Grant Barnes, Auckland Regional Council Water Quality, says real improvements began from the late 1960s onwards when all wastewater in the lake’s catchment area was reticulated and diverted away, and they ceased pumping water out of the lake.

“It takes a long time for a lake’s water quality to deteriorate, and a long time for it to significantly improve,” says Barnes.

“We are now seeing numerous lakes in the north island decline in water quality because of decades of point source pollution from wastewater and agricultural inputs in their catchments.

“But if Lake Pupuke’s health is to continue to remain as good as it is then we need to reduce less visible inputs, particularly stormwater and chemicals/nutrients from lawn and garden fertilisers.”

Fish & Game have a variety of trout fishing licences with costs ranging from free to children under 12 years of age on October 2006 to $18.50 for a junior licence, those aged12 to 17, and $92 for a whole season adult licence.

They also sell licences for one to four day fishing periods

Back to Reel Life May 2007