Reel Life April 2026 - Eastern

April and May mark the start of the true winter spawning runs around the Rotorua district, with the big rainbows of Tarawera, Okataina and Rotoiti heading into the shoreline areas. We are already seeing an impressive number of solid fish in our spawning traps and should expect this to continue for several months into July or even August.   

The on-going wet weather is perfect to stimulate spawning activity, so don’t be shy when it comes to pulling on a raincoat and getting out there. As we always advise, dark, wet nights with a little wind are the best for fishing the Rotorua lake shorelines. Boobies and lumo doll patterns or simple black marabou flies with a touch of colour should be your starting options at night. A good selection of streamers (wet flies) during the day will see your options well covered for the shorelines.

A variety of streamers covers the options at this time of year.   

During the day, use of a nymph suspended a relatively short distance under an indicator has traditionally been very productive at this time of year also. A small glowbug, flashback pheasant tail, hare and copper or copper John will all do the trick.

Boat fishers have found the going tough on our deeper lakes these last couple of weeks as the lakes cool and the thermocline move higher in the water column. Fish are being found between the surface and 20m, with the deeper sections of Rotoiti (more than 25m) being depleted of oxygen which has pushed fish higher.

Lake Rotorua has been performing well to shallow trolling and harling methods. Tassie and smelt fly combos fished around the 3m drop off around Hamurana, Mokoia or the airport are proving to be popular and successful.

The Rotorua tributary streams, especially the Ngongotaha receive a good run of spawning brown trout from April onward. These can be targeted at the river mouth, or further upstream, although the latter can prove to be more challenging, with river resident fish becoming picky and difficult to land.      

Carry Your Licence

Please don’t forget to carry your current season licence. Our ranging staff will be out and about across the region checking licences, bags and having a friendly chat in the process. Having your licence on you will make this process much quicker for you – so you can get back to catching fish!

Insert Image: A routine compliance check made easier  because the angler was carrying his licence

Winter Licences

The winter fishing licence is available from the beginning of April at a much-reduced rate. April marks the beginning of spawning and there’s still lots of boat fishing to be had with some lakes and waters staying open until the end of the season on September 30^th.

Get your chance to enjoy some great fishing at a much reduced licence rate for the remainder of the season.

See here for licence options and to make a purchase.  

Don’t forget to CCD!

The new season is a good time to remind everyone of our need to Check, Clean and Dry gear between waterways. Pest organisms are sadly on the increase and the precious resource we all love is at risk. Please remember to CCD between your fishing trips, follow the instructions of the Regional Councils and MPI.

Datawatch tagged Trout

Tagged trout can now be entered online. Entries go into the draw to win one of 10 free whole-season fishing licences: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QCH5ZR6

Eastern Region Fishing Diaries – All lakes and streams

Fill in your fishing diaries here to help us manage the Eastern Fish & Game region. Participants go in the draw to win a $100 voucher from Kilwell: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QRSD7D3