Rotorua is set to provide a plentiful backdrop for the 2016 Ray White Clubs New Zealand National Trout Fishing Tournament.
Rotorua Citizens Club will host the three-day annual competition, with anglers travelling from around the country aiming to take home the top prizes.
Fishing will be in four of the local lakes - Rotorua, Rotoiti, Okataina and Tarawera starting on Thursday.
Members from Rotorua Citizens Club, Rotorua Club and the CT Club are taking part and for the first time in the tournament's history non-members are eligible to take part.
"Anybody can catch a fish," said Rotorua Citizens Club member Alan Macfarlane.
"We really hope the community takes this opportunity to take part in such a great sport."
Each day there will be a prize for the heaviest rainbow trout caught in each of the lakes and on the final day seven titles will be up for grabs including heaviest brown trout and best condition factor fish.
WINNING TROUT: Rotorua's Trent Hayman celebrates his prize catch. PHOTO/SUPPLIED.
Rotorua Citizens Club president Colin Elstob said the area provided a "wonderful fishing playground" for competitors and anybody could go home with prizes.
"Rotorua provides some of the best trout fishing in the country and having four different top quality lakes is incredibly unique," he said.
"It will be a brilliant tournament because the setting is so picture perfect and there is plenty of trout to be had.
"It's very hard to predict a winner because there will be some quality acts out there and so much depends on the day.
"In the past we have had many 13 and 14 year olds taking home top prizes so it really is a tournament for all."
Last year it was a Rotorua clean sweep in the final rainbow trout competition with local Citizens Club members Trent Hayman (1st) father Stan (3rd) and Taylor Kingi (2nd).
Registration closes on Wednesday at 8pm for the 2016 Clubs New Zealand National Trout Fishing Tournament - visit www.rotoruacitizensclub.co.nz for more details.
2016 Clubs New Zealand National Trout Fishing Tournament November 3-5
Final night prizes:
1. Heaviest rainbow trout overall 2. 2nd heaviest Rainbow Trout overall 3. 3rd Heaviest Rainbow Trout overall 4. Heaviest Brown Trout 5. Heaviest Trout Caught By a female angler 6. Best condition factor 7. Best smoked fish
*Each day there will be a prize for the heaviest rainbow trout caught in each of the four lakes (Rotorua, Rotoiti, Okataina and Tarawera. The prize will include $100. Weigh in is up until 5pm and 4pm on the last day with an official weighmaster.
