Rotorua Lakes, Rivers and Streams

While fishing for that trophy trout in the Rotorua regions waterways, expect to be awed by Rotorua's crystal clear, spring fed streams.

Whether you're in, on or around the water, Rotorua's stunning scenery offers endless possibilities for relaxation, fun and adventure.

Rotorua's Lakes

Rotorua has 14 lakes whose shapes have been formed and altered by cataclysmic volcanic activity in times past. Many are steeped in Maori legend and history; you'll hear stories of phantom canoes seen gliding in the mist, and of lovers who swam the lakes to secretly meet upon their shores. The lakes are ringed by forest and farmland and most are easily accessible to visitors.

From the boat, harling on Lake Rotorua has probably the highest catch rate of wild trout of anywhere in the world with an average of 3 fish per hour and average weights of 1.5kg and 3kg for Rainbow trout and Brown trout respectively. Around the shorelines, particularly during late summer, Lake Rotorua's stream mouths have fishing that will leave you astounded. Enormous quantities of fish congregate in the cool, clear, oxygenated water. A limit bag and an excess of catch and released fish will leave a smile on your face that will last a lifetime or at least until the next time you do it.

There are 3 lakes regarded as trophy lakes, Tarawera, Rotoiti and Okataina. Jigging and trolling are the most popular methods but at certain times fly fishing excels. Cruise & Fish has a boat permanently moored on Lake Tarawera and can arrange to fish on other lakes such as Lake Rotoiti.

You're likely to find that Rotorua is the easiest place in New Zealand to hook up the best trout of your life.

Aside from the great fishing, the shorelines of the Rotorua Lakes bring other excitements, such as: Lake Tarawera has Hot Water Beach, with several natural hot pools; Lake Rotoiti has some commercial hot pools only accessible by boat; Lake Rotorua's Mokoia Island is a wildlife sanctuary containing plentiful birdlife not found on the mainland.

Rotorua's Streams and Rivers

The stream and river network in the Central North Island is so vast that you often have a dilemma as to which way to go. Just over an hour or a 20 minute flight from Rotorua, the world of opportunity awaits you. Put yourself in the picture and come and explore our part of New Zealand.

Sight fishing best describes the nature of our style of Fly fishing. The water generally is crystal clear, so therefore the best method of fly fishing is to stealthily stalk up the river and spot your fish first before tempting it with a dry fly or nymph. If you were to 'fish the water' you'll spend a lot of time fishing barren water, a bit like fishing dirty or coloured water. The sight fishing style of fly fishing means that the more river that is covered, the more fish that will be found. So be prepared to walk.

The rewards to this effort is that when everything falls into place seeing large fish rise to suck in dry fly or watch your nymph indicator disappear and you are hooked up on the fish of your dreams. The average fish in New Zealand is wary and cunning. They won’t give you too many chances so success comes from understanding how to deceive them and in being able to get the fly in the right place at the right time.

A good day on most of the rivers we fish may see 10 or more fish landed. Most fish will be in the 3-6 lb range with some up to 8-10lbs or even larger. However, flyfishing in an art, how many are landed depends on the skill of you, the fisherman!

About the Fish Stocks

The lakes and rivers in the Rotorua region have good populations of Rainbow Trout. Some of the waterways have large populations of Brown trout while Tiger and Brook Trout can occasionally be found.

Catch and release is practiced by most anglers but the ability to keep a fish is still up to the angler’s discretion in most of our waters.

The local Fish and Game council supplements the fish stocks of most of the Rotorua lakes with fish reared at the Ngongotaha hatchery. These trout include those reared under the "Big Fish Programme" where quality trout from Lake Tarawera are selectively bred to grow big, fast.

Brown Trout were introduced into New Zealand from Europe from the late 1860's. Rainbow Trout were introduced into New Zealand in the early 1880's and are descended from Californian Steel Heads. Although Rainbow Trout are the predominant species around most of the Rotorua region, Brown Trout are more common around most areas of New Zealand.

Our Seasons and what to expect:

October to December

These months offers some great spring and early summer fishing. The Backcountry Rivers throughout the Central North Island open on October 1st after the winter months and the fish are active, hungry, and haven't seen anglers since the end of April for some and June in others. Dry fly can be limited, while nymph fishing yelds best results. On the lakes the smelt are spawning bringing trout into the shallows for some exciting action along the beaches and stream mouths. Lake Tarawera can be the best place to be for this action.

January & February

These are usually our best summer months. Giving you the best of our dry fly fishing and making it the day to remember. Cicada and hoppers are the delicacies and trout just love them!! If you really want to get away, my recommendation is overnight trips into the wilderness. Check out our wilderness helifishing options and our Fly Fishing Helifishing Special or for the many options that this type of fishing can offer, please email us or call. We promise a day to remember!!!!

Stream mouths on Lake Rotorua go ballistic with fish seeking cooler water as the lake warms, making for some awesome fishing. It is not uncommon to catch and release fish all until you are tied in a morning then do it all over again in the evening. These fish average 1.5kg (3.5lb) with surprises up to 5kg plus. These fish are mostly Rainbows with the bigger ones being Browns.

March & April

Dry fly action begins to slow down especially towards April but hatches are still about. You will get some great nymph fishing, fish are in peak condition and ready for spawning, making for some of the biggest fish of the season can be caught.

May to September

Autumn and Winter fishing at its best, Migratory runs start on all tributaries and to the beaches on the lakes. There are some very big trout to be caught but you should expect cooler temperatures but generally very pleasant days (10 - 15c). Expect to see plenty of anglers as temperatures don't deter those chasing trophy fish in full spawning colours. Night fishing on the Rotorua lakes provides some exceptional entertainment.