Eastern Reel Life December 2019

Although we are technically in summer, we’ve had a full range of ‘spring-like’ weather patterns here in the Eastern Fish & Game region over the last couple of weeks.

A heatwave has been followed up with a big dose of rain, wind and some rather chilly temperatures.

As we approach the festive season and the weather gets back to ‘normal’, anglers can expect more typical fishing opportunities in the region.

Lake Rotorua’s surface temperature currently sits about 20 degrees which is driving browns and rainbows into the cool refuge of the stream mouths.

This pattern is right on cue for the time of year and we expect it to be a bumper season at the Hamurana, Awahou, Waiteti and Ngongotaha stream mouths.

Anglers are already picking up some nice specimens as shown here by Stephen Flint’s double-digit brown from Hamurana early one evening (above right).

A thermocline on the regions deep lakes has been developing slowly over that last few weeks and currently sits between 10 and 15 meters from the surface.

Smelt schools can be seen building here and larger trout are often found just below them ready to ambush from below.

Lake Rotoiti continues to produce some excellently conditioned fish, as does a much improved Tarawera and Okataina.

High country rivers and streams received a well needed fresh this week with levels and temperatures becoming a concern.

Boat fish how-to talk

We are providing a how-to boat fishing talk and demonstration on Saturday, January 4^th, 2020 at Stoney Point Lake Tarawera commencing at 10.00am.

The talk is simple, non-technical information to help you catch more trout!

It’s free to attend and you don’t need to book, plus there will be spot prizes.

See here for more detail: https://fishandgame.org.nz/eastern/news/boat-fishing-how-to/ or contact msherburn@fishandgame.org.nz for information.

Check, clean, drain and dry!

With the holidays fast approaching this is a good time to remind anglers of the importance of doing our bit to prevent the spread of pest species.

Catfish are in Lakes Rotoiti and Rotorua and it’s critical we prevent them from entering other waterways in the region.

If you are boating on any of the lakes, carefully check your boat and trailer including the anchor and anchor well for signs of fish, eggs or weed fragments.

Clean off any obvious foreign materials, drain any water and dry before entering another waterway.

The lakes are ours to look after!

Tagged trout

Datawatch tagged trout can now be entered online.

Entries go into the draw to win one of 20 free whole season fishing licences.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QCH5ZR6

Eastern Region Fishing Diaries – All lakes and streams

Fill in your fishing diaries here to help us manage the Eastern Fish & Game region. Participants go in the draw to win a $100 voucher from Kilwell:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QRSD7D3

Tight Lines

Mark Sherburn, Eastern region Fish & Game Officer.