Fishing News index> April 2008

Tarawera trapping.

Fine and dry weather during the early part of April resulted in very few fish running into the Te Wairoa fish trap located at Lake Tarawera. However, the weather changed mid April and the promise of some excellent fishing at this iconic location became a reality for anglers willing to brave wet cold conditions. Up to 2000 large adult fish migrate into the Te Wairoa every winter, briefly being available to anglers at the mouth of the stream before entering the streams “no fishing” sanctuary. 

Fish and Game officer, Mark Sherburn commented on the prospects: “We’ve only had a handful of fish thru at this stage but things look promising. We’ve had several fish over 65cm – mostly three year olds, so anglers are getting excited about what might be out there this season. It’s still relatively warm, and there’s quite a lot of surface feeding activity too so initially smelt patterns would seem a good choice”

The Te Wairoa stream mouth is open until June 30th. It is fly fishing only and all male trout have to be returned there.

 Matt Osborne and Lloyd Gledhill install the Te Wairoa trap, April 1.

Rangitaiki River Access
 
Recent work alongside the Rangitaiki River in the Kaingaroa Forest has improved angler access tracks. The upstream track at the rafters entrance point at the end of Ngahuinga Rd has been mulched for 1 kilometer to maintain good vehicle access.

Timberlands Management have provided funding for the work which was also carried out along Whaeo West Rd, which allows anglers to access the Whaeo River just above the Old Rangitaiki Confluence (20km from Murupara). This area was previously inaccessible due to gorse and broom taking over the track. Pine branches have also been pruned above vehicle height.

The latter area (2.5km vehicle track) requires extensive waratah placement to guide anglers to it. It also needs further access track work to open up fishing water, but holds high numbers of trout (observed during recent drift diving surveys). Both areas will receive a follow up spray to suppress pampas, gorse and broom regrowth and enhance fishing opportunities.

New access maps to the Kaingaroa Forest have kindly been provided by Timberlands. Click here to view our access pamphlets page. 

 Mulching on the Rangitaiki

Night fishing the Big Three

For many central North island anglers the month of May signifies the time to don warm winter woolies and dig out the neoprene waders. Classic cold, wet winter conditions are actually ideal for night fishing the Rotorua lakes – in fact, the colder and wetter the better! The districts ‘big three’ as they are sometimes called, Lakes, Tarawera, Okataina and Rotoiti are probably your best chance at a trophy rainbow.

If you’ve never fished at night before, then here are a few tips to get you started:

• Get there before it gets dark to stake out a pozzie and get your bearings
• The best locations are where the hatchery fish are liberated. (as they will return to that location when ready to spawn) Click here for details of our liberation points.
• Use strong tackle. The fish will be big and hard fighting!
• Be patient. It can seem like a long wait between fish – but it’s usually worth it.

Night fishing can produce beauties like this Rotoiti ten pounder

Ngongotaha Trap-run

The trapping year was run from March 1st 2007 through 29th February 2008. A total of 10 nights were sampled as per previous years except for the months July and August when flooding and subsequent flood debris made the trap inoperable.

The main Brown trout run has occurred during December 2006 and February-March- April 2007. Brown Trout averaged similar lengths to previous years. Weight was 300g below the last 3 years but equal to the long term average.

Rainbow trout in the Ngongotaha stream traveling in an upstream direction have been bigger and heavier this year averaging 40mm and 200g above the previous 7 years totals.

Big brown trout from the Ngongotaha – this prime fish was over 70cm long.

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