All lakes fishing very well

Over the last couple of weeks we have had some wonderful fishing around the region. All of the lakes have been producing good numbers of fish, with the trout gorging themselves on the large shoals of smelt. Last year we had very high lake levels, but this has allowed the smelt to spawn more often, producing a smorgasbord of food for the very hungry trout.

Lake Rotorua is fishing very well, and we’ve had a good mix of boat anglers doing well trolling the beats around the island to a mixture of rainbows and browns. Some of our customers have started trolling softbaits up on the shallows and are having some superb results.The fly fishers up on the flats are getting some incredible browns stalking the edges; the browns are up in the shallows, ambushing and pushing the smelt into the shallows. Ginger Mick and Jack Sprats are doing the damage, and this form of sight fishing is truly addictive. We have had multiple browns around and just over 10lb caught already.

Every lake is producing good numbers, with the trout gorging themselves on shoals of smelt.

The Ohau Channel is fishing well for the fly fisher, with big rainbows being caught by many, and they are also smashing the smelt along the edges of the channel. These fish are in great condition and the same flies as the main lake are producing the best results.  

The channel is a great place to fish at the two bookends of the day. You can mix things up by starting or ending up here and fishing the big lake when the sun gets up, and targeting the browns hard through the middle of the day when spotting conditions are at their best on the flats. Some of my staff have been softbaiting the entrance to the channel outside the markers and having some great fishing.

Lake Rotoiti is producing some wonderful rainbows; we have had some awesome jigging with fish to 9lb coming to the boat. The top of the lake is fishing well and appears to be producing larger fish, and over the next little while the Westbank should start coming on well. We have had some good reports from Moose but when I last looked other parts of the lake were holding more fish. Typically, Moose and Hauparu come on over the next few weeks, so keep exploring these areas as when they produce they always carry some very large fish. Grey ghost, slimy ghost and the yellow lady have been the most consistent flies and most fish were being found in 22 to 27 metres.

As the spring equinox winds effect the sea conditions over the next few weeks, come across and give the lakes a crack, you can always fish shelter somewhere. The fishing is very good at the moment and often the winds inland are not as bad as they are on the ocean.

Tight lines.

Mike Davis

Rotorua Hunting and Fishing New Zealand

360 Te Ngae Road, Lynmore Junction, Lynmore, Rotorua 3010

07 349 6303

https://www.facebook.com/RotoHF/

www.huntingandfishing.co.nz