Lakes should have top fishing

Excellent trout fishing is expected on all Rotorua lakes for Labour Weekend - if forecasted north-westerly winds arrive for anglers, fishery officers say.

"Come and get your trout gear out and find some sheltered spots - or take this opportunity if you're new to freshwater sports fishing to give it a go," urged Eastern Fish and Game manager Rob Pitkethley.

"If the wind is north-westerly, then it's usually gusty and there are plenty of sheltered spots on all the lakes to tuck yourself out of the wind - and fish happily," he said.

The northern sides of lakes Rotoiti and Tarawera offered great deep trolling and jigging areas. There are also plenty of sheltered arms on Lake Rotoehu that fish well at this time of the year for shallow trolling.

Lake Rotorua had some very productive spring trolling runs in the northern side, off the Ohau Channel entrance and west to Wilsons Bay.

"These are great places to hook into fish."

New visitors to the region - if they aren't already aware of it - should appreciate that Rotorua lakes offered a "wealth" of first-class fishing, he said.

The new fishing season on lakes Tarawera, Okataina and Rotoiti began on October 1 and had an excellent start with fine, clear weather and light winds.

Most anglers managed to land some nice fish approaching the 4kg mark. Fish and Game officer Mark Sherburn said lakes Rotoiti and Okataina had an edge at opening day.

Catch rates on Rotoiti were better than last year's opening and showed the lake was improving, he said.

The size of fish was up, with the biggest weighed in at 3kg.

On Okataina the catch rate was much improved from last year's opening day and the biggest fish weighed 3.7kg.

On Lake Tarawera catch rates were a little bit down on last opening however some nice fish were still landed, the largest at 3.5kg.

The Ohau Channel, which linked Lake's Rotorua and Rotoiti, also fished better than it has for the last three seasons with reports of lots of smelt which trout love to feed on.

Rotorua's Oak Angler's Club president Gary Coker said the current season was a "bumper year." He had only missed four nights fishing the Ohau Channel - catching a total of 87 fish - since opening day.

"About 75 per cent of them were in nice condition."

He had also caught fish trolling on Lake Rotoiti. "The season is shaping up brilliantly.

"If you put the hours in, the fish are there. A friend had caught a 5.5kg (12lb) brown trout, and another a larger 5.6kg fish, which measured 67cm while a North American angler caught seven fish on Flaxy Lake, in Kaingaroa Forest, ranging from 1.5kg to 2kg."

Mr Coker said a forestry access permit was needed to fish the area.

At Lake Waikaremoana good fishing was expected over spring and summer with reports of fat rainbows caught trolling.

Fish and Game staff had seen good fish numbers in the spawning streams - Mokau, and Hopuruahine - which will open to fishing on December 1.

The Aniwaniwa Stream, below the falls, was open all year.

An Eastern Fish and Game family licence was great value for holidaymakers and allowed holders to fish the rest of the season.

Information on licences, access and promotions can be found on the Eastern Fish & Game's website pages.