Taranaki Reel Life October 2017

Opening Day brings early success

Anglers who got out early on Opening Day before the rain set in were rewarded with surprisingly good river conditions and some nice trout.

Fly, spin and bait fishing all took fish and the trout were generally in good condition.

Corrin Jansma caught this nice rainbow (top right) in the Patea River at Stratford on Opening Day and the event was also uploaded to Youtube (you'll love the dramatic  music!). Click here.

Angling opportunities abound

Taranaki rivers and streams have for the most part been fishable since the opening of the new season, but so far even the most popular fisheries have received little attention from anglers, perhaps because of the blustery and sometimes drizzly conditions.

While there were plenty of freshes through the rivers in winter and early spring, there were few damaging floods and with rivers now receding steadily from their winter levels.

Rising water temperatures have triggered good hatches of mayfly, stonefly and caddis.

All this means that trout are now in feeding mode and their condition is improving rapidly, so it’s a great time to grab a licence and get out on the water. 

A well-conditioned new season ringplain brown (photo Bart Jansma)

Take a kid trout fishing

There are still places available for the Lake Rotomanu kids’ fish out day on Saturday October 28 at New Plymouth.

The event is being run by the Inglewood Rod, Gun & Recreation Club with children able to fish for 250 good-sized rainbow trout corralled in a holding net.

All fishing gear will be supplied but to reduce waiting times, anglers are asked to book a 15 minute time-slot by visiting or phoning the Taranaki Hunting & Fishing store in Ocean View Parade, Moturoa (06-757 2255).

There is also a kids’ fish-out day at Opunake Lake on Saturday October 28, an event run by the Opunake Surfcasting & Angling Club in conjunction with Elite Farm Solutions, RD1/Farm Source, More FM, 4Square 45 and Collins Sports Centre. 

Another 250 trout will be corralled inside a holding net at the top end of Opunake Lake. The event will run from 9.15am to 1.45pm on the Saturday with all fishing gear supplied.

Again, to reduce waiting times, anglers should book a 15-minute time slot at Collins Sports Centre in Tasman Street Opunake.

The angling club is requesting a gold coin donation of $2 per child, with the proceeds going towards spot prizes for the event.

A third kids’ trout fishing day is being held at the Scout den pool on the Patea River in the heart of Stratford on Saturday December 9.

The booking sheet has just been lodged with the Stratford Information Centre (0800 765 6708) so call in or give them a ring to book your kids a 15-minute fishing spot.

Lakes Rotomanu, Opunake and Ratapiko (Tariki) have all received recent releases of rainbow trout grown at Fish & Game’s Hawera trout hatchery, and they will be good places to take your kids for a fish.

Lakes Rotomanu and Ratapiko, along with other lakes such as Wiritoa and Kohata near Whanganui, also contain good populations of perch, a white-fleshed good-eating species that is easy for kids to catch with a spin or bait fishing rig.

Fish out events are a great way to get kids hooked on trout fishing.

Remember to ‘Check, Clean & Dry’

Please check, clean and dry any clothing, equipment, fishing gear, etc, before moving between waterways to help prevent the spread of didymo and other freshwater pests. While didymo hasn’t been found in the Taranaki Fish & Game Region to date, not all catchments are tested and the only safe option is to act as if the water you’re fishing in has didymo, but the next one you’ll visit, does not. For more information click here.

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