Reel Life November 2025 - Eastern

Warming Conditions Bring Opportunity

Although it’s currently chucking it down here in Rotorua, the weather is generally on the improve, and we are seeing water temperatures gradually rise throughout the region. With this ‘summering’ comes increased fish-catching activity and the potential to enjoy some great sport.

All of the Rotorua lakes are firing, and we are receiving reports of good catches of healthy, fat fish. Rotoiti, Tarawera and Okataina, the region’s big lakes, continue to produce the quality of fish we saw last season. Many of the 2+ year old hatchery fish are tipping the scales at well over 2.5kg and this promises great things for summer and the winter of 2026.

Image above: Ryan Sherburn, with a little help from his grandad, enjoying an evening on one of the Rotorua lakes.

Surface temps on the Rotorua lakes are currently sitting at around 17 or 18 degrees and this sees rainbows spread nicely throughout the water column. A scan of the fish finder shows fish spread nicely from the surface all the way to the bottom in 30 or 40m of water. This means all methods, from surface casting smelt flies to jigging and softbaiting, or deep trolling will produce good fish.

Fish at depth can be targeted by jigging and trolling while fish smashing smelt on the surface can be caught with spinning or fly fishing gear. Jigging has been working well around the 25m mark and softbaiting is a good option when the fish are being picky, following flies and nibbling at tails. If you like to troll, this is a great time of year to shallow troll with mono rigs, a Tassie and a smelt fly, or take off the Tassie and just troll a fly. The absolute best time of day to do this is the first couple of hours of light and it can be very exciting fishing.    

By mid December, expect change in water temperatures when we’ll see the first signs of a thermocline forming, usually about the 15m mark. Fish will continue to be found at all depths, but feeding fish will begin to school-up and target smelt between 15 and 20m. December is one of the very best months to catch fish around the Rotorua lakes, so plan your pre-xmas weekend trip now!

Good fish are to be had at depth

If you are new to boat angling, and want to learn more about this stuff, consider booking a spot in our Boat Fishing How-to, on Saturday, January 10^th 2026. It’s a beginner's guide to learning about things like the thermocline, smelt and trout behavior, all of the methods of catching fish on lakes, tips on targeting fish, lure selection, fish finders, rigging your gear and even boning and smoking your catch. It’s free, but spots are limited. Get more information and book by clicking here.

The Boat Fishing for Trout How-to will be held in January 2026

Gold Clam found in Taranaki

An incursion of the invasive Gold Clam (Corbicula) has been discovered at Lake Rotomanu, Taranaki Region. This is a stark reminder to us all about the need to ensure we clean our boating and fishing equipment between catchments. Details of how to do this can be done is shown on the MPI website here.   

Whio and chicks

It’s not uncommon at this time of year to bump into Whio with young on our rivers and streams of the region, which can be a real treat. If they have chicks, give them plenty of space and try not to disturb them.

Whio and chicks are often seen at this time of year.

New Access Mapping System

 A new online mapping system has just been adopted by the Eastern Fish & Game Region (and several other regions). It is still in development, but is already a useful tool for finding fishing locations and the regulations that apply to that spot. The filter tool (top right of screen) enables users to focus on the access or fishing style they are interested in.

Select here to view

Tutorial videos for the new fishing access map online now

To help anglers understand all the features of our new fishing access map (available online at https://fishandgameaccessmap.org/) we have created three videos that go through some of the key features. We hope the new access map makes it easier to understand the regulations and plan your next fishing trip.

Click below to view the videos on our Facebook page.

Select on the images below to view the video.

 

 

Don’t forget to CCD!

The new season is a good time to remind everyone of our need to Check, Clean and Dry gear between waterways. Pest organisms are sadly on the increase and the precious resource we all love is at risk. Please remember to CCD between your fishing trips, follow the instructions of the Regional Councils and MPI.

Datawatch tagged Trout

Tagged trout can now be entered online. Entries go into the draw to win one of 10 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