Anglers hit the lakes at first light for opening day

Matt Gatenby, 16, (front) with Steve Gatenby, Jason Hingston, 17, and Ryan Neves, 17. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

As the sun rose on Lake Tarawera the silhouette of about 200 boats danced across the water.

It was a pretty sight for the keen anglers out on Saturday, raring to go after three months of resting the lakes.

It was the first time in five years the opening fell on a Saturday, making the day a family affair.

The night before revellers gathered at The Landing at Lake Tarawera where haggis and whisky shots were served in a time-honoured tradition.

Many spent the night on the water, to be ready to fish at first light.

A large crowd watched as the traditional pipe band marched down to the lake front.

Keen angler Steve Gatenby said opening day was one he had marked on the calendar each year.

"It was a good day, everyone got at least one fish - we had 12 in the end. The boys caught a lot more than me.

"The opening day is the best day of the season, it was quite special seeing 200-odd boats out on the water at the change of light."

Mr Gatenby said it seemed like there were more anglers out this year, compared with previous years.

"I think that mainly came down to it falling on a weekend. It's not always easy trying to take time off work and being a weekend makes it a bit more family orientated."

Fish & Game officer Matt Osborne said Saturday was a pretty good start to the season.

Matt Gatenby, 16, (front) with Steve Gatenby, Jason Hingston, 17, and Ryan Neves, 17. PHOTO/BEN FRASER

"We were lucky that the weather held out for the morning at least. I was down at Tarawera and there was about one catch per angler which isn't the best season start but it's pretty good.

"We noticed the fish we were seeing were in better condition than they were last year, which was a good improvement."

Mr Osborne said he had heard positive feedback about the fish at Rotoiti and the Ohau Channel.

Anglers also had the allure of catching a green-tagged fish to keep them going.

The Fish for Gold promotion centres on 30 green-tagged fish which have been put, ten apiece, into lakes Tarawera, Rotoiti and Okataina.

Numbers on the tags correspond to prizes contained in sealed and numbered envelopes and one of them contains the grand prize of $10,000. The promotion runs until October 9.

Rotorua angler Mark Preece said he and his companions were deep trolling in the white cliffs area of Lake Tarawera when they hooked a green-tag fish.

"It wasn't huge so we weren't overly excited - but excitement levels went up when we saw the green tag. "

He said he was hoping it was the $10,000 fish.

Fish & Game Eastern Region manager Andy Garrick, who had shuttled between different lakes, said there had been some scattered showers but nothing major and virtually all anglers were happy with the day.

"There has been a good turnout with many folk spending the whole day on the lake."