Fishing Reports

Two lakes have provided great fishing for both land-based and boat anglers when the weather allowed. Lake Rotorua continues to produce good conditioned fish in most cases, though there has been a marked increase in spent fish over the past few weeks.  Brown trout have been caught by anglers trolling two colours of lead in six metres of water, on a regular basis, off the Pins. 

Most browns are between one and a half and thee kg in weight. The snakehead lure is also a great fish catcher off this area, off the Ohau Channel and down past the airport as well.  Rainbows up to 3.5 kg have landed off the Airport.  Anglers have reported good catches in the area between Kawaha Point and the Ngongotaha Stream as well.

From August to the opening of the upper Ngongotaha River in December, hundreds of fish migrate up the Ngongotaha River for spawning.  While many anglers fishing in the village are very successful the river, as accessed from Streamdale Road, also holds many fish at times but is often overlooked. Using the standard nymph fishing technique can be very challenging in the area because of the amount of streamside vegetation, so wet lining is a better option.

Homestead Arm at Lake Rerewhakaiitu is holding good numbers of fish.  Anglers are able to catch them from the jetty as well as fly-fishing from a boat. It seems that many of the fish there are in prime spawning condition and up to two kilos in weight.  Most fish also seem to be feeding on a black water beetle and/or fish eggs so a small red setter/egg pattern or snail pattern will take fish here.

For anglers wanting something a little different chasing sea-run brown trout is a good option. These browns can be found in Tauranga Harbour and most rivers to the South when the whitebait are running.  Flies such as a silver dorothy, grey ghost or silver rabbit, retrieved close to the edge of the river bank, is a successful method and can also result in the occasional kahawai being caught when fishing close to a river mouth.

O'KEEFES FISHING REPORT, By Bert Robinson, 27/8/08