Conditions 'fantastic' for Lake Hawea fishing competition

Fish & Game rangers Anthony Marino and Paul van Klink (seated) prepare to weigh and measure fish caught by entrants Brent and Erica Allen, of Lake Hawea, on day two of the Lake Hawea Hotel Fishing Tournament. Photo: Kerrie Waterworth

Records were not broken but anglers described the fishing and conditions on Lake Hawea during the annual two-day Lake Hawea Hotel fishing tournament as "fantastic".

Sixty adults and 15 juniors and children spent Friday and Saturday trying to  catch the biggest and heaviest salmon, brown trout and rainbow trout on each day, as well as across the two days.

Organiser Carolyn Murray said at the Friday weigh-in 80 to 90 fish had been caught by the first four boats. Otago Fish & Game ranger Paul van Klink said "talking to the anglers, they were catching a lot of fish; some of the boats were catching 28 fish a day and obviously putting a lot of them back, so that's phenomenal fishing."

He said the 2.914kg rainbow trout caught by Kerry Poots, of Wanaka, and 2.804kg rainbow trout caught by Warrack McKenzie, of Gore, on the first day were the heaviest he had weighed at any competition in the past three years.

Mr van Klink said Fish & Game was keen to do the weighing and measuring for the tournament as it was a great way to monitor the three fish populations in Lake Hawea.

"The general health of the fish was looking pretty good and averaging a bit heavier than last year, although not as many salmon, but it might be a bit early for them."

He said the average weight of salmon caught was 400g, brown just over 1kg and rainbow trout about 2kg. Ms Murray said the tournament was started in the 1990s "just for the locals" but now attracted entrants from Blenheim, northern Southland, Oamaru and West Otago.

The special prize for the heaviest fish caught by a child was won by Victor Edwards for his 1.79 kg brown trout.

The special prize for the heaviest fish caught by a junior went to  Hannah Hutton for a 2.166 kg rainbow trout and  the special prize for the heaviest fish caught by a woman over the two days was won by Michaela Poots for a 2.244kg rainbow trout.

The  trophy and prize for the heaviest fish caught over two days was won by Kerry Poots, for the 2.914kg rainbow trout  caught on Friday.

kerrie.waterworth@odt.co.nz