Trout fishing tourney: Angler reveals tips

Rotorua angler Bevan Lash usually heads to Lake Rotorua for a chance at hooking the biggest brown trout.

But this weekend he will instead be found on Lake Tarawera trying his best to get the catch of the weekend in the Rotorua East Lions Club's 44th International Trout Fishing Tournament.

The tournament gets under way at 5am tomorrow and fishing closes at 3pm Sunday.

Mr Lash is one of about 200 fishermen expected to take to the water with rod and reel and he's been getting his gear ready to make sure he's on his best form.

He first got involved in 1985 and has spent many of the years in between fishing, although he took a break when he had a young family.

"I like to think that one day I'll catch a winning fish," Mr Lash said.

"The journey is not about the wheels but the ride. There's also the fellowship of the people. It's a chance to step away from the normal working day and recharge your batteries.

"Fishing took a back seat but for the past few years there's more time for us."

He said in the past four years he's either caught the heaviest brown trout or his son Julian has.

This year he's switching lakes to Tarawera due to the better quality of fish. He's ordered a drogue for his boat so he can slow down the craft. He said some of the better fish have lately been caught from jigging - mimicking the frantic movements of a baitfish attempting to elude a trout.

"You're always learning and luck does come into it. You've got to have your lines ready but the thing that governs where and how you fish is the weather. It's knowing how to adapt."

He said he was planning on fishing all three days.

Overall tournament prizes include heaviest and best condition rainbow, heaviest brown trout, junior prizes, heaviest rainbow trout caught by a female angler and heaviest rainbow trout caught by an overseas angler.

Registration opens at the Arawa Lounge, Arawa Park Racecourse from 3pm today. Entries are $70 for adults, $35 juniors and $15 for under fives.

Tournament briefing is at 7pm tonight.

Weigh-in times are tomorrow and Saturday noon to 12.30pm and 6.30pm to 7.30pm, Sunday noon to 12.30pm and 3 to 4pm. Results at www.trouttournament.co.nz