Where to fish on opening day? Lake Tarawera is high on many people’s lists and should fish well although the two year old fish may be slightly smaller than usual after relatively poor growth last summer. Lake Rotoiti looks like being a real bolter this year. A major increase in fish liberated (27,000 in 2000!) has been matched by increased growth rates which points to a great opening. Okataina provided the highest catch rates for opening day 2000 and all signs point to a successful start this year. Anglers seeking a little more peace and solitude should try some of the smaller lakes such as Rotoehu or Tutira or head off the tarseal for Waikaremoana. Prospects for the rivers also look good. A neutral El Nino - La Nina climate pattern promises fewer extreme weather events to interfere with angling, with the warmer weather and absence of flooding promoting good early season fishing. All of the major rivers look good at this stage with the Rangitaiki, Whirinaki and Tukituki as good a place to be as any come 1 October. Lake Rotorua has shown consistent improvement since the low in 1997 which followed the winter foam causing algal bloom. This improvement should continue and an excellent season is forecast. The summer fishing is expected to be particularly good. Average catch rates on some stream mouths were as high as 1 fish per hour last year and this is expected to continue. Brown trout averaging 3.2kg add to the attraction. Whether you are out on one of Rotorua’s Lakes at daybreak, walking into a remote location or fishing one of the many small streams a rewarding experience awaits you. Fish and Game wishes you all the best for a successful season. Anglers fishing Lake Tutira can expect to find tagged trout among their catch this season. The Datawatch tagging programme in Tutira is now well underway and tagged trout should be well and truly of a catchable size. 500 tagged yearling trout are released into the lake each year to monitor growth and harvest. Returning the information from these tagged trout is vital to the success of the programme. Anglers who return details, including the length of the trout and the date caught, along with their own details will go into an annual draw to win a complimentary season fishing licence.

 

From The Fishing Website

Report type: Freshwater

Report date: 19 September 01

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