Rotorua
Rotorua is reached easily from Auckland via the Fishing Train or by a short drive or flight. The Rotorua Lake District has eleven large fishable lakes and a variety of fly fishing and trolling opportunities with a short drive of Rotorua City. The entire area was originally covered in evergreen native bush which still exists around the lakes and streams where farm lands and exotic forests have not been developed. The countryside is always green with an average of 52 inches of rain a year and daytime temperatures ranging from 50 degrees F in the winter to 90 degrees F in the summer. The area is on a geothermal belt running between two active volcanoes and boasts natural geysers, mud pools and bathing polls well know for their healing qualities and the treatment of arthritis and aching, weary bodies. Rotorua is well know for its Maori arts, crafts, and cooking (delicious Hangis or luaus) and the Maori Cultural Center is located here. Maori cooking, dancing and singing is highlight of any visit to Rotorua.
The greatest per acre trout population of any lake in New Zealand is found in Lake Rotorua where fighting rainbows average three pounds with five pounders common. Light tackle trolling provides great sport. No bait is permitted. Trout are the only fish in these waters and with no competitions they grow very quickly; an inch a month in their second year. There are several streams feeding lake Rotorua with pure spring water. These are the major spawning tributaries for the trout. Trophy fish lakes include Okataina and Tarawera, where stocked fish grow to 12 pounds in three years with and average of 4.5 pounds. Unlike Rotorua which is open year round, these lakes are closed July through September.
For fly fishermen seeking trophy trout, the streams mouths and lakes themselves offer marvelous sport for very big fish. Your guide knows how to find them and there is an opportunity to catch fish in excess of ten pounds on streamer patters. The 1991 World Fly Fishing Championship were held here. Guides can also fish by 4 wheel drive the rivers that flow out of Urewera National Park such as the Whakantane, Waimana, Whirnaki and Horomanga. This is wilderness and the opportunity of taking large browns and rainbows while surrounded by scenic bush clad hills and listening to the calls of native birds
Accommodations: Accommodations range excellent hotels in the Rotorua to quaint farms and private accommodations as well as small cozy lake-side fishing lodges. Meals range from Polynesian luaus to hearty New Zealand style cooking. See itineraries and lodges.
Season: Year around at Lake Rotorua. Other waters October first through June 30th.
Taupo and Tongariro
Taupo and Tongariro are located on world famous Lake Taupo in the center of the North Island. It is just a short comfortable ride via the Fishing Train with guide transfer or an easy drive or flight from Auckland. Lake Taupo is really a fisherman's paradise Within an easy drive it is possible to fish for big trout in clear waters every day of the year as many areas have no closed season. There are soaring snow capped volcanoes, steaming thermal springs, rolling green pasturelands, vast pine forests, native bush and everywhere there are streams and lakes.
Your guide can take you to spring creeks with rich luxuriant underwater grasses flowing through alpine meadows and forests, or little freestone streams draining bush clad mountains. The back country streams fish best October through April at which time it rarely rains and there is little wind. The Rangitaki and Mohaka Rivers, both less than an hour's drive from Taupo have the highest fish counts of any water in New Zealand. The resident fish tend to be willing risers throughout the day feeding on aquatic and terrestrial insects such as caddis, may fly, cicada, stonefly, hoppers, and beetles. Expect both browns and rainbows in the 3 to 6 pound class.
By far the largest rainbows and brown trout in New Zealand are taken from certain small weedy lakes in the Taupo area. This is the ultimate in still water fly fishing with lunkers of 10 to 15 pound class landed regularly. Certain guides know these secret still water places better than others. If taking truly giant trout from small lakes interest you, please specify when calling.
On Lake Taupo light tackle trolling with streamer flies (called harling), for rainbows averaging 5 pounds, along the drop offs and weed beds offer exciting and productive fishing during the summer months. Streamer fly fishing with shooting heads and sinking lines produce very large rainbows ant the river and stream mouths flowing into the lake. Fresh water smelt and crayfish are the primary diet for fast growth. Lake Taupo and its tributaries are open to fishing all year.
The Tongariro River as well as other major tributary rivers flowing into the lake have excellent New Zealand winter fishing April through September. There are very heavy runs of steelhead rainbows at this time of year. (The original Taupo rainbow stocks came from Northern California steelhead stocks from the Russian River and Sonoma Creek just minutes from Fishing International's headquarters in Santa Rosa). Upstream nymping with weighted nymphs and streamers are a favored methods. Nine foot six to eight weigh fly rods are used both with floating and high density lines depending on the situations. The Taupo tributaries yield incredible numbers of trout sometimes reach 200,000. The lake itself can yield 4 times this many big trout thoughout the year making this fishery incredible to say the least. The diversity of fishing available in the Taupo-Tongariro region can satisfy all anglers from the novice to the expert.
Accommodations: Great lodges such as Tongariro Lodge, Poronui Ranch and Huka Lodge are located in this area with gourmet meals and expert guiding. Fully equipped live-aboard vessels with deluxe staterooms and fine meals fish the remote Western Bays of the lake Farm stays and smaller private lodges such as Angler's Retreat offer comfortable and friendly accommodations with hearty New Zealand family style meals. See itineraries and lodges.
Season: Year around.