Fishing News index> August 2008

Old faithful provides winter fall back
Lake Rotorua is providing winter fishers with excellent angling currently. While the regions main and iconic waters, Rotoiti, Tarawera and Okataina are closed over the winter, Rotorua remains open year round and usually fishes well throughout the seasons. Trolling runs at Mokoia Island, the Pins and off the Ohau are producing great catches of large browns and rainbows. Popular lure colours include the Tassie #46 brown trout and #78 yellow attractor fished at between 3 and 4 meters. Expect shallow trolling specifically for browns to improve as the spring weather improves into September and October. 

The extended period of rain has swollen normally productive tributaries streams however when water levels clear these fisheries will produce good runs of exceptional rainbows. 
 

A Lake Rotorua tributary stream

Wall completed
The Lake Rotoiti diversion wall, an apparent ‘must have’ to improve water quality in the lake is finally complete. The final pile was driven home into bedrock at the end of May and the wall closed off shortly afterwards.

The wall’s purpose is to divert 100% of the water flow from Lake Rotorua directly into the Kaituna river thus saving Rotoiti from between 70 to 80% of its normal nutrient intake. Effects on the fishery are largely unknown but are being closely monitored. The boat ramp at the Ohau delta is expected to be open in time for the new season and we will endeavor to keep you informed of events via Reel Life so check back here next month for an update. 


The almost complete wall – what effect will it have?

Spring liberations for Rotorua lakes
Annual spring liberations of yearling rainbow trout ex the Ngongotaha hatchery are planned for the second week of September. Almost 40,000 trout are released at pre determined points throughout the region including all of the main lakes.

Prior to their journey to the lake each fish needs to be fin marked and groups of 500 are tagged as part of the Eastern region datawatch program. Contact Mark Sherburn mailto:<msherburn@erfgc.co.nz> during the early part of September for information about specific liberation points and times. 
 

Fish being marked and tagged ready for liberation

Tarawera Trap summary
The fish trap at the Te Wairoa stream, Lake Tarawera, runs between April and the end of August yearly to collect brood fish for the hatchery breeding program and to monitor the Lake Tarawera fishery. This season has seen almost 1400 fish run into the trap, about average for a season. One hundred and fifty of the best fish were selected for use in the hatchery breeding program and will produce all of the liberations for the 2009 season. 

 Fish trap, Lake Tarawera


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