Eastern Reel Life August 2019

As we await the beginning of spring, and the new trout season commencing at the beginning of October, there are a number of locations still open that can provide excellent fishing.

Lake Rerewhakaaitu is one such place, the shorelines around Homestead Arm, at Ashpit Bay in the north and the Domain in the south are all spots worthy of some attention.

A floating line and small glow bug suspended under an indicator or twitching an olive damsel fly nymph along the edge of the weed beds have proven to be a sucessful technique.

Above Right: Isaac Jensen with a solid brown from the Rangitaiki Canal.

Spin fishing is also popular, making Rerewhakaaitu an ideal place for children.

A Mepps black fury or traditional black and gold turbo are both good choices.

Rerewhakaaitu is stocked with 7,500 rainbows annually and the size and condition factor are looking good this season.

The lake also lends itself to trolling, and as spring dawns a Tassie and smelt fly combination from the shallows right out to the 10m mark (deep) will produce fish.

Flaxy Lake and the Rangitaiki canal in the Kaingaroa forest are also providing some great sport for anglers this winter.

Forest access is limited to winter weekends and periods of very low fire risk these days which has resulted in less pressure on the forest fishery.

Permits for the forest fishery can be obtained from Independent Securities Consultants Ltd Rotorua: Tel 07 347 8880.

Access is likely to continue until the end of September.

If you prefer to troll, Lake Rotorua can fish well during the early spring.

The lake features a large number of wild fish, mostly rainbows, but also well-conditioned and hard fighting brown trout.

The area off the Ohau Channel, the Pins in the north and the stream mouths in the northwest at any time are great places to try.

There are a number of boat ramps available and a brochure on Lake Rotorua can be found at the Eastern Fish & Game web pages.

Eastern Region News tippets:

• Children’s fishing days at the Ngongotaha hatchery are fast becoming booked. See the eastern web page for a link to the booking page.
• We are giving a boat fishing ‘how-to’ talk at the rugby clubrooms, Gisborne Point, Lake Rotoiti on Saturday 28^th September, 3.00pm – come along and learn how to be successful on the opening day! Gold coin entry, bar open afterwards. Or contact msherburn@fishandgame.org.nz for more information.
• Spring liberations for the Ngongotaha hatchery commence in September – contact us if you wish to help with fin marking and liberations or simply wish to see a fish release.

Mark Sherburn, Eastern Fish & Game Officer.