Fishing Reports

The Rotorua Citizens Club hosted the Clubs New Zealand Trout Fishing Tournament over the past weekend and such was the success of the event plans have been confirmed for Rotorua to host the competition for the following two years.

Anglers from around the country competed for a combined prize pool valued at over $20000. One hundred and twenty five trout were weighed in over the three day competition with the heaviest trout overall weighing 3.26 kilos which was caught by Bill Curtice from the South Wairarapa Club whilst fishing on Lake Rotorua. The best condition factor prize also came from Lake Rotorua with Ray Katting weighing in a fish with a condition factor of 63. The Ladies prize for the heaviest trout was taken by Mariana Rist with a fish from Rotoiti weighing 2.1 kilos.

The next event on the competition calendar is the Rotorua International Trout Tournament. The competition will begin with the briefing on Thursday night at the Arawa Park Function Centre with fishing beginning at 5am on Friday November 16th and closing at 3pm on Sunday the 18th. This event is run annually by the Rotorua East Lions Club and all money raised will be benefiting the Rotorua Lakes Volunteer Coastguard.

All waters in the Rotorua district except for Lake Aniwhenua, Flaxy and any wild river fishery can be fished in this competition. Again this year Lake Rotoiti will take the majority of the angling pressure from those anglers looking to secure a trophy rainbow to take out the major honours. Over the last fortnight Lake Rotorua and Tarawera have continued to surprise many angles and either of these two lakes could easily produce the winning fish in this tournament.

Fishing at the Ohau Channel has slowed although the fish being taken, both Rainbows and Browns are still in amazing condition.

The Ohau Channel is not the only location where good fish are being taken on the fly. The Waiteti stream has come to life over the last week with Dwayne Davies successfully landing a four and a half kilo Rainbow hen. The water temperature in the lake is continuing to rise so both Awahou and Hamurana will be worth a look in the near future. The Ngongotaha stream continues to consistently produce good numbers of fish for most anglers with the Prince nymph and numerous egg patterns working well in the stream. The small smelt patterns, particularly the Grey Ghost, are also being fairly productive at present.