Anglers are urged to stay clear of any monitoring buoys on the lake to avoid snagging anchor lines and causing damage to their monitoring capabilities. This picturesque lake of around 178ha has very easy access, is pleasant to fish, and is generally quite productive. The lake is stocked with top quality fish from Lake Tarawera in Rotorua, that grow quickly during the summer and provide excellent sport.

The lake contains a number of tagged fish, and to enter the draw for a free licence contact Fish & Game or select here to send in details of your catch. This  information helps us manage the fishery.

State Highway 2 runs alongside the western side of the lake which is located about 40 minutes north of Napier. There is an access track at the northern end of the lake and a causeway at the southern end between Tutira and Waikopiro which both provide parking and great shore-based fishing. The lake can also be readily accessed along the western shoreline from a number of signposted points off the highway.

When trolling the lake from a rowboat or kayak, spinners such as toby’s and Z spinners in copper, silver or yellow and green finishes all work well. When fly fishing, flies such as Hamill’s killer, red setter, Mrs Simpson and Parson’s Glory are effective along with nymph patterns such as pheasant tail, hare and copper and glo bugs.

Aside from the fishing, the lake offers a great spot for a picnic, family day out or casual cruise on the lake, although motorised boats are prohibited to ensure against any spread of the noxious aquatic weed Hydrilla.

Tutira Monitoring Buoy

As part of the eradication plan of Hydrilla from Lake Tutira, organisations including the Hawke’s Bay Regional Council and NIWA, have placed a monitoring buoy in the lake to monitor any changes in the lake over time.

The buoy is moored above one of the deeper holes (42m) for a long term study of the lake. It measures dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll, water temperature and turbidity. The data is automatically updated to this website and you can check it h​ere.