Big trout season ahead

Anglers targeting large trout in the Rotorua district will be anticipating the start of the winter “big fish” run as temperatures begin to fall.

Eastern Fish & Game Officer Matt Osborne says at this time of year trout are in prime condition and getting ready to spawn.

“From April onwards anglers will see some excellent fish around the region,” he says. Â

Fish & Game monitors the Rotorua lakes trout fisheries with both summer and winter surveys of anglers to measure their catch. The information is then used to adjust stocking rates if lakes show changes in conditions and how they support trout.Â

“Our summer surveys on Lakes Rotoiti and Okataina have shown that trout growth over the last 12 months has been good on Rotoiti and exceptional on Okataina.Â

“This should lead to some very good fish being taken during the winter shoreline fishing season,” Mr Osborne says.

Fish & Game is also reminding anglers of some changes to the fishing rules that will take effect from April 1.Â

Fishing from a boat between landmarks either side of Ruato Bay, Lake Rotoiti, will be prohibited from April 1 this year.Â

“Anglers have previously targeted trout congregating off the Ruato Bay headlands by either trolling or jigging and there is some concern that this reduces catch rates for shoreline fly fishers in later months,” Mr Osborne says.Â

Eastern Fish & Game has implemented this autumn ‘no-boat fishing’ area and will be monitoring catch rates from Ruato Bay compared to other shoreline fishing sites during the winter.

The fishing season for boats on Lake Rotoiti finishes June 30 so there are plenty of other fishing areas available on the lake from April to June.