Fishing News index> May 2008

Shoreline fishing off to a great start

Winter shoreline fly fishing has got off to a cracking start in the district with night fishing especially producing some excellent results.  Early indications of Lake Rotoiti’s shoreline fishing this winter are promising with some great condition fish landed thus far including several exceeding 10 pounds! Lake Tarawera is attracting high numbers of anglers with fish quality continuing to be high. In particular anglers are commenting on the fine condition factor of fish caught from Tarawera. Fish & Game officer Matt Osborne said the improvements seen at October 1st opening day surveys were continuing. “it’s a good trend, the fish seems to have summered well and the trap is producing some really nice fish too”

Lake Okataina has seen little angler pressure to date but those that have ventured over have enjoyed some superb fishing. Fish caught have been a little smaller then those from nearby Rotoiti but high catch rates are being reported.

Winter Creel surveys have started again on Lakes Rotoiti, Okataina and Tarawera. Visiting anglers are reminded that surveys of shoreline fishing are frequently conducted by Fish & Game rangers and will run from the start of May till the end of July 2008. This provides us with important information regarding the health of the fishery and assists in making management decisions such as liberation strategies. These surveys are relatively painless, and involve a few questions as we weigh and measure your catch. Please ensure you carry your fishing licence on you at all times when fishing and we thank you for your co-operation.

Lake edge fly fishing is at it’s best at this time of year 

The Wall

The Ohau Channel diversion wall, which will prevent water from Lake Rotorua entering Lake Rotoiti is almost completed. The project being which is being constructed by Environment Bay of Plenty is a major component in preventing nutrient laded water entering Rotoiti.

Fish & Game are conducting angler creel surveys before, during and after construction to determine any effects the project might have on this important fishery. Both trout and smelt are being monitored as part of the consent process.

Further details of the wall are available online by visiting the EBOP web site.

Construction almost complete

Te Wairoa Trap

The first month of trapping during 2008 has seen 400 trout move through the trap. This is up 285% on the previous year and 200% above 2006 at the same time. This increase is due largely to the amount of rainfall we have experienced already this winter and anglers are reminded to time their efforts with bad weather conditions for the best results. Spikes in the graph below can all be attributed to local rain events with the biggest run (112 fish) occurring on the 6th of May when over 50mm fell.

Rainbow trout have averaged 570mm in length and 2.3kg in weight, with the largest fish so far 680mm and 4.4kg. Approximately 10% of the run has been made up of wild fish.

The biggest and best 5% of the run are selected for use in the Ngongotaha hatcheries breeding program. The rest of the fish are weighted and measured and released above the trap to spawn in the upper reached naturally.

Autumn liberations underway

As we go to press autumn liberations to local lakes are well underway. Lakes Tarawera, Rotoiti, Okataina, Rotoehu, Rotoma, Okareka, Rerewhakaaitu and Tutira (Hawkes Bay region) all receive yearling rainbows from the Ngongotaha hatchery.

These liberations are fin marked Rpad (Right pelvic and adipose) and many carry our data watch tags also. Information on liberation, fin marking and our tagging program is available from the Eastern web site by clicking here. 

Yearling rainbows being readied for liberation

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