'Encouraging fish numbers' raise lake expectations

Bjarni Hilmarsson, 13, shows off his catch at last seasons opening day on Lake Tarawera. Photo/Ben Fraser

It's just over a month until the opening day, and if early spawning numbers on Lake Tarawera are anything to go by the lake could be in for some top-notch fishing, say Fish & Game.

More than 1000 trout have passed through the Te Wairoa trap on Lake Tarawera so far this spawning season, leaving Fish & Game staff optimistic about the upcoming season.

Fish & Game officer Matt Osborne said it pointed to "encouraging fish numbers" in Lake Tarawera this season - which should translate into some "solid catches".

More positive signs came from a recent drift dive at the Tarawera outlet in which a total of 757 large fish were spotted, well ahead of the count taken in August last year.

The number of trout spawning at the Tarawera outlet got off to a slower start this year, but built steadily as winter progressed.

That meant plenty of trout should be available for anglers in coming years, Mr Osborne said.

Meanwhile, with only weeks to go before opening day on October 1, Fish & Game officer Mark Sherburn said anglers should remember there was still good fishing to be had on lakes that didn't close over winter, such as Rotoma and Rotoehu.

Two to four colours of lead line and a Tassie Devil lure trolled along a drop-off at a slow speed would usually do the trick at this time of year, he said.

He said staff would soon be starting their spring programme of releasing nearly 40,000 fish into the Rotorua lakes.

Further east, at Lake Waikaremoana, an intensive spawning and fisheries monitoring programme has also indicated positive trends, and some "impressive fish numbers".

Licences for the coming season are now on sale.

There are now nine different licence options available, from the premium whole season licence covering New Zealand, to a nine-day Long Break licence and One Day licence for a
single day's fishing.