Fishing Reports

In spite of all the rain and adverse winds over the past week, Lake Rotorua’s surface water temperature has managed to get over the 21 degree mark. The higher water temperature has started to make trout move into the traditional summer fishing spots, though not in any great number.

Most of the fish at Hamurana seem to be recovering fish, certainly they are skinnier than one would expect at this time of the year and are averaging around the 1.2kg mark. Killer pattern flies such as the mrs simpson and black stonefly nymphs seem to be the better choice to present to these fish. The slow sinking rapala ‘brown trout’ has been very effective on the rainbows at Hamurana as it closely resemble the galaxia that inhabit the area on which both brown and rainbow are feeding.

What I found interesting was the number of galaxia that were in the stomach of the one fish that I kept at Hamurara. 12 in all with one solitary smelt and a couple of nymphs. The Awahou mouth has had a few fish move into the river and anglers fishing the lake at the mouth have had more success than in previous weeks.

Early morning on the Waiteti Stream, particularly at the mouth, has been successful for several anglers earlier in the week. Black stone flies and half back variations have worked well. Rainbows have been caught around the 2.5 to 3kg mark.

The Ngongotaha Stream fished well for a day or so between floods and should have plenty of fresh fish to cast to once it clears. Likewise the Utuhina should give anglers plenty of sport as there have been fresh runs up this stream as well. The middle reaches fished best prior to last weekends downpour.

Trolling on Lake Rotorua has been a bit of a challenge, probably as the lake temperature is so high. The Pins and the drop-offs where streams enter the lake should be the more productive spots. Once the wind swings back to the West harling and trolling from Kawaha Point to the Waiteti should be good, providing that the lake temperature stays above 21 degrees.

Those who have depth finders capable of finding the thermocline in the deeper lakes such as Rotoiti, Tarawera and Okataina have done well, though Okataina has been a little slow compared to this time last year. Jigging has also been challenging recently, though the wind change to the East has helped as there are more sheltered areas for drifting, especially on Lake Rotoiti. The easterlies haven’t helped anglers fishing at Rangiuru Bay on Lake Tarawera but a short distance away at Stony Point, catch rates have been a little higher and casting has been a lot easier as one has shelter from the trees along the shore. Another spot to provide a trout or two has been at the Waitangi Stream mouth, both early morning and after dark.

Lake Rerewhakaiitu has also been a challenge with the easterlies of late but is worth fishing from the more sheltered areas.

Cheers Doug Malcolm and Bert

Prepared by Bert Robinson for

Okeefes Fishing specialists

1113 Eruera Street

Rotorua

Ph. 07 346 0178

www.okeefesfishingspecialists.co.nz