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Listen to correct maori pronunciation of this lake name
Area: 7878ha
Mean depth: 11m
Rotorua is a large shallow lake with safe wading at all streams mouths.
With high summer temperatures, calm weather and occasional algae blooms, the trout are forced to congregate in large numbers at cold water stream mouths from December to the end of February. The predominant species of fish found in Lake Rotorua are rainbow and brown trout, and small amounts of brook trout in places.
The general patterns of flies and nymphs are used on Lake Rotorua. These are the killer patterns, Pukeko night flies, streamer and smelt patterns and the home-tied specials. In general, if you think the fly will work, use it. Sizes are generally from four to eight, better small than too big.
Lines used depend on conditions, but as a rule, where the water is up to a metre deep, use a floating line. A sink tip or slow sinking line can be used where the water is deeper, or current may stop the fly sinking.
Although fish are taken through the winter, the most productive period is when the lake water temperatures are highest. From March onwards the fish disperse throughout the lake. From April onwards, large numbers of fish run the main spawning streams of the Utuhina, Ngongotaha and Waiteti. They rarely hold at the mouths of the streams.
Generally fishing is better when there is no moon, and a breeze to provide cover. With so many good fishing places around Lake Rotorua a daylight visit to familiarise yourself with the surroundings is a good idea.
Lake Rotorua is fed by many streams and rivers. The Utuhina River, a fishable water-way less than two minutes drive from the CBD, is loaded with brown trout.
The Utuhina River
The stream enters the lake at Ohinemutu and access is from Arataua Street. The mouth may be fly fished either wading or from an anchored boat. Care should be exercised because of sunken logs and boulders. The stream takes a lot of pressure after the opening in December.
The upper reaches above Pukehangi Road bridge are permanently closed. Both the stream and mouth hold good populations of brown trout.
The Waiowhiro and Waikuta mouths
The Waiowhiro is also known as the Fairy Springs Creek. Access is from Aquarius Drive. The Waikuta is accessible from Parawai Road at Ngongotaha. Neither stream will take many rods, usually two or three. Where possible it is advisable to keep out of the water and use a floating line. Winds need to be from the west or southeast. Season is best from March through to November.
The Ngonogotaha Stream
Access to the mouth of the Ngongotaha stream is from Beaumonts Road or Taui Street along the beach. Of the major stream mouths, the Ngongotaha stream fishes all year round although during the hotter months when the fish are drawn away to the Awahou and Hamurana streams.
Generally night fishing is best, but under favourable conditions the mouth can be fished in daylight with reasonable success. The water around the mouth is shallow, although there are a few snags, which will eat your fly. The short stretch of stream just inside the mouth can provide good fishing during daylight.
The mouth is best when there is an offshore wind from the northwest to southwest, which pushes the stream water out into the lake.
The Ngongotaha is the main spawning stream for Rotorua and to a limited extent for Lake Rotoiti. The stream opens on the December, 1st. Access is available through private property from Valley Road. Please ask for access before entering a property.
Early in the season there are a lot of spent fish, but later on in autumn good fish coming up for spawning can be taken.
The northern shore of Lake Rotorua is easily accessed by Hamurana Road, which runs from Ngongotaha around the top of the lake and joins up with SH30 leading to Tauranga. This road provides an awesome scenic drive, with many lake and stream access points.
The Waiteti Stream
Access to the mouth is from Arnold or Operiana Street. Like the Ngongotaha, where the stream enters the lake is shallow and wading up to 200m from the mouth is possible.
Wind direction influences the fishing with a westerly pushing the flow into the lake. Either fishing, wading, or from an anchoured boat near the pegs marking some rocks about 200m from the mouth, can produce some good fish, generally from December onwards.
The Waitete Stream holds good fish but access is through private property and permission is not always easy to obtain.
The Awahou Stream
Probably the most productive area of the lake. Access to the mouth is down Gloucester Road, just past Taniwha Springs. Drive slowly on the metal road and respect residents' rights.
The Awahou usually starts fishing from November onwards but comes on during January and February, depending on the weather. Wind is best from north to west.
Generally there are three kinds of fishermen, the waders, the boat-based fly fishermen and, out beyond the 300m mark, the trollers, all of whom take fish. Night fishing is considered to be the most rewarding for larger fish. The usual Rotorua flies apply.
The Awahou is a popular spot when it's on, so parking is at a premium. Boat launching is not recommended.
Hamurana Springs
Hamurana Springs is an extremely cold stream entering the lake onto shallow flats. There is no fishing upstream of the road bridge. Access and parking is adjacent to stream mouth.
Wading is possible for 200m around the mouth. This is an area which can fish well during the day, but, is possibly better from 1pm to 6pm with the wind from the north-west to north-east. Usually a floating line is used but a sinking line is sometimes needed to take the fly down below the warm layer of water. Good night fishing.
Should weed be present when wading, fish the clear patches between clumps of weed. Best fishing from November to March.
Favourite areas (depending on wind conditions and season) are Kawaha Point, Sulphur Point, Hinemoa Point, Airport straight, Whakatane turn off, Ohau Channel, The Pegs, Ngongotaha-Waiteti.
Misson Bay
Mission Bay is just around from the Ohau Channel. This is a large flat area, which can be safely waded. There is no stream entering the lake in the bay. It can be fished from November to March with an offshore wind, usually north to east when the brown beetle are flying.
The Waiohewa Stream
The stream enters the lake at the Te Ngae junction (the Whakatane turn off) and access is through private property. South-east to east winds are best and good fishing is provided for a small number of rods from March through to November. The water around the stream mouth is very shallow with lots of snags.
Holden's Bay - (Waingaehe)
This is a small stream entering the lake through the Holden's Bay Reserve. Because of the shallow water, summer daytime fishing is impossible. Wading is safe but it is better to keep out of the water. South to east winds are likely to produce a few fish each night or early morning. Night feeding fish come right up to the lip and take more readily in disturbed water. Keep well back from the lip. Usual flies apply here.
The Kaituna River provides the only easily accessible good dry fly and nymph fishing in close proximity to Rotorua city. It is also Rotorua's most popular rafting and sledging river.
Kaituna River
This pleasant stretch of water provides the only easily accessible good dry fly and nymph fishing in close proximity to Rotorua city. In addition, the Trout Pool will fish reasonably well to a sunken fly. Spinning is also legal and is much practised by junior anglers.
The ideal time is at change of light and during the first hour of darkness. During summer months there is a good hatch, but prior to change of light a nymph can be fished successfully in some of the small reaches above the Trout Pool.
The river contains amazing numbers of small sized trout of nice condition, but larger specimens can sometimes test the light tackle, which is needed in this water.
Access is left off the main Rotorua-Tauranga highway at Okere Falls and the road allows the angler to easily fish the reaches from Okere to the Trout Pool and for a distance beyond. There are other pools further downstream but they require a much longer walk across open country.
The Kaituna is open for winter fishing from July 1 onwards below the control gates at Okere.
The Ohau Channel
The Ohau Channel flows from Lake Rotorua into Lake Rotoiti. It is the main spawning route for migrating fish to spawning streams flowing into Lake Rotorua.
Trout spawn in the channel itself providing good fishing from May to June and again in October and November. The channel is closed during July, August and September.
Two large migrations of smelt occur. Adults run into Lake Rotorua from October till May. Juveniles migrate from December till April. They are a tremendous attraction to trout and smelt flies will work well after dark.
Westerly winds can cause the channel to become discoloured but it clears quickly. This is heavy slow flowing water and a fast sinking line is best, however a floater, long trace and nymph fishing has become popular.
No fishing is permitted from an anchored boat within 200m from the channel entrance or within 300m of the landmark poles at the end of the channel.
No spinning or baitcasting is permitted in the channel or within 200m of the entrance or 300m of the exit.
Access is a problem on this waterway, the majority of margins being privately owned but access can be gained from Takinga Street off SH33 at Mourea and from a large reserve directly upstream from the main road bridge.
Trophy brown trout are frequently caught in the channel during the smelt migrations, many at the lake entrance.
The Delta
The Rotoiti end of the channel is known as The Delta. Access is from SH33. Wading is tricky with a medium deep boat channel to negotiate to reach the shallow Delta area. Extreme care must be taken at the deep lip edge and it is better to stand well back for safety purposes and because trout are often caught cruising the lip edge. Anglers are warned not to fish The Delta when the channel is discoloured.
The Delta, although rarely consistent, is capable of producing good fish throughout the year. However it fishes best in May and June as trout congregate to run up the channel.
A fast sinking line and slow retrieve is the preferred method but a floater will work if fish are actively smelting. The Delta is rarely fished after dark for safety reasons.
Fishing from an anchored boat has been extended to 300 metres. No anchored boat fishing is permitted in the channel.
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