Fish & Game is holding a school holiday activity with a difference - getting a close-up look at the release of trout into Lake Tarawera.
Tomorrow, at 3pm, Fish & Game will release 1000 yearling rainbow trout at The Landing and it is inviting families to bring their children along.
Fish & Game officer Mark Sherburn said the release of trout from the live trout truck was always something of a spectacle - especially for those who had not had any exposure to trout fishing.
The autumn release was one of a number of staggered releases set down in an annual programme which aimed to maximise the survival of young trout released in this way, he said.
Mr Sherburn said stocking the lake up with these fish of about 18cm in length benefited boaties as the fish scattered throughout the lake and could be targeted by anglers in boats.
"Two years from now when these fish are 3-year-olds the trout will return to the spot they were released and at that stage, can be caught by shoreline anglers."
Other fish will be trapped as they swim upstream from Lake Tarawera for the Fish & Game hatchery's ongoing breeding programme.
"We record the details of these fish which means we can monitor growth and other trends as part of our management of the fishery," Mr Sherburn said.