Eastern Reel Life September 2019

The new season opening is now just days away, anglers are being reminded that a little preparation and planning goes a long way toward the day being enjoyable and hassle free.

If you haven’t already, book the outboard in for a service, tie up a few extra hare and coppers and, of course, don’t forget to get your new season fishing licence!

As if you needed an excuse to come and fish one of Rotorua’s great trout lakes, we are again running our Fish for Gold promotion where one lucky angler could bag $10,000 or an outboard motor!

Above Right: Opening day action on the Rotorua lakes from last year.

The tagged trout promotion sees thirty specially tagged fish in lakes Rotoiti, Tarawera and Okataina (10 apiece).

Each tag carries a special number and the numbers correspond with a pre-sealed numbered envelope.

If you get right numbered tag you can win $10K or an outboard.

If you don’t win the big one, the other envelopes contain $200 tackle prizes.

Entry is online CLICK HERE and it’s free - all you need is a current 2019/20 fishing licence.

Most of the fish caught on the Rotorua lakes over opening will be two years of age and have been in the lakes for one year.

This is because they make up the largest group of catchable sized fish available in the lakes and roughly 70% of fish in the lakes are released from the Ngongotaha hatchery.

We expect the two-year-old fish (right pelvic clipped) released in spring (September 2018) at Lake Tarawera to be 512mm, Lake Rotoiti to be 499mm and Lake Okataina to be around 515mm.

The traditional opening ceremony at Lake Tarawera Landing will, we are assured, be going ahead again this year.

The pipe band at Tarawera get the season underway

Anglers gather at this iconic location on the evening before opening to catch-up with old fishing buddies, take on the atmosphere and enjoy a moving highland bagpipe band and ‘blessing of the boats’.

The event kicks off from about 5 pm and is highly recommended.

Eastern region back country anglers are licking their lips over the season start too as the weather has been steady all winter.

This is likely to result in good fish numbers and stable stream beds which will produce valuable insect populations.

Indications are that there are plenty of fish around, including a high number of young brown trout.

Eastern Region news tips:

• Spring liberations to the Rotorua lakes are well underway. Additional releases will occur into Tarawera, Okataina and Rotoiti in October.
• Anglers are remined of the importance to check, clean and dry especially when moving between waterways
• Enter the Fish for Gold tagged trout promotion HERE
• 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.

Tight Lines.

Mark Sherburn, Eastern Fish & Game Officer