Fishing News index> March 2008

Easter opportunities in Rotorua

While chocolate fish might be on offer for many this Easter, it’s the real thing – fish that is, on the radar of fishers here at the Rotorua lakes. Packed with opportunity the region simply offers the absolute best and most diverse options for anglers of all types. There simply is “something for everyone”.

Recently reports of some super fish from Lake Tarawera have filtered in. Anglers are catching prime Tarawera fish between 2 and 2.5kg on a variety of methods. Shallow trolling with smelt type patterns is working early in the mornings after which most anglers are going to jigging or deep trolling.

Lake Okataina too has been stand-out in a couple of recent local fishing tournaments. The best catches have also been taken on the jig at depths of up to 30m. Lake Rotoiti continues to produce big fish of up to 4kg but the fishing here has been inconsistent with some tough days mixed in.

Brown trout often dominate the Lake Rotorua news and Easter is a prime time to target these monsters. A number of small shoals of browns have recently been sighted cruising the mouths of Lake Rotorua streams. These big fish can be sight-fished on clear still days with bully or Koura patterns fished near the bottom.

If smaller waters are your thing then give somewhere like Lake Ngapouri a try! The fish here are smaller but plentiful and can be targeted from the shore or small boats and kayaks. This is also a wonderful location for children or beginners keen to taste initial success. 

Ngongotaha stream enhancement

During March staff form the Eastern Fish & Game region assisted with a joint community project to clean debris from the Ngongotaha stream. A team in wetsuits and equipped with ropes and hooks removed a truck load of man-made rubbish from the section of stream between SH5 and the village of Ngongotaha. Matt Osborne, officer in charge of access said the debris removed was significant. “The stream will be a better location for all river users as a result. While we were removing rubbish people were fishing and swimming there. It’s an important local resource”
The clean up is part of a bigger project to beautify the Ngongotaha. Several kilometres of the stream above the village have now been cleared and replanted by the volunteer Ngongotaha streamcare group. The Ngongotaha stream provide excellent fishing for brown and rainbow trout throughout the season and is a popular location among anglers. 

New publications online

Fishing and access information for the Eastern Fish & Game region is now available form one location online. Click here to access our publication page including a new instructional 8 page Boat Fishing information brochure. Printed copies are also available by writing to our office or visiting most licence agents in the Eastern region. Additionally, feel free to call our office during working hours for advice or up to date access/angling information.

Eastern Tanker rolls out!

Eastern region are sporting a new truck and fully refurbished tanker unit for fish liberations throughout the North Island. The tanker liberates most of the 100,000 trout raised at the Ngongotaha hatchery yearly with trips as far as Auckland and Wellington regions. The new vehicle’s first run will be to Auckland’s Lake Pupuke in April. Driver and Fish & Game officer, Lloyd Gledhill reported that the new unit provided the reliability necessary to transport live fish. “Our old truck was almost twenty five years old so had literally moved millions of fish. We’d sure had our money’s worth out of it! The new unit really ensures much more transportation security – you can’t mess around when you have live fish on board” 

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