10 Best Fishing Lakes of Rotorua
1. Lake Rotorua
Fish Type: Brown and Rainbow Trout
Lake Rotorua is the largest lake in the Rotorua Lakes district but is also one of the shallowest, being only 25 metres deep at its deepest. At the southern end is the township of Rotorua though most of the lake is surrounded by open pasture land. Being a shallow lake means that the water temperature rises rapidly during the warmer summer months which can result in an algae bloom that drastically reduces water visibility. The problem of this algae bloom is being addressed at present and appears to be declining.
There are a number of tributaries feeding into Lake Rotorua that provide excellent spawning conditions, making this a truly wild fishery. A large number of hatchery-reared trout are released into the lake each year as well, ensuring this lake has one of the highest catch rates of any in the district.
Lake Rotorua fishery provides anglers with excellent fishing throughout the year. While most fish caught trolling or harling from boats, there is excellent shore-based fly fishing and spinning as well.
2. Lake Rotoiti
Fish Type: Brown and Rainbow Trout
Lake Rotoiti is a deep lake formed from a volcanic cone that provides excellent fishing to both the shoreline and the boat angler who wishes to target trophy sized fish. It is third-largest lake in the Rotorua area. As there are limited numbers of spawning tributaries, most fish are hatchery-reared but due to the abundant food source in the lake, fish grow rapidly and can reach impressive sizes.
The northern shoreline is bush clad and often has steep cliffs rising directly out of the water. This section is only suited to boat fishing. The southern shore offers a range of angling opportunities to the fly fisherman who wishes to fish from the shoreline.
3. Lake Tarawera
Fish Type: Brown and Rainbow Trout
Lake Tarawera is a pristine lake surrounded by a ring of hills and dominated by the mass of Mount Tarawera. In 1886 Mount Tarawera erupted, destroying most of the native bush around the lake. Consequently, the lake is now ringed by secondary growth bush and scrub. The water in the lake is deep, very clear and very cold providing excellent trout habitat. Of all North Island regions, the Rotorua lakes are regarded as the closest in New Zealand to having a continental climate with hot, mostly dry summers and cool wetter winters.
As trout have an abundant food source within the lake they grow rapidly and reach some of the most impressive sizes of any trout in New Zealand or indeed the world.
While most of the fishing on this lake is necessarily done with a boat there are also some excellent opportunities for the shore-based angler around the western bays where there is road access. Boats are often used by anglers to reach some of the remote and isolated bays where the fishing can be superb and undisturbed by other anglers. Some favoured spots include the Te Wairoa stream mouth, the Landing, Rangiuru Bay and Waitangi Bay.
4. Lake Okataina
Fish Type: Rainbow Trout
Lake Okataina's clear water provides an abundance of food that ensure the fish reach very impressive sizes. The lake is very deep and has very cold water. There are a number of bays and long arms that reach into long wooded valleys. This is a very beautiful lake to fish and the quality of the fishing in a pristine wilderness setting is very special.
Due to its remoteness and limited shoreline access, most fishing must be done from a boat. A number of small streams feed into the lake, all of which provide excellent fishing opportunities, although again most can only be reached by boat. Where the road ends on the lake shoreline there can be good fishing for the land based angler. Those willing to walk will also be able to move around the lake shore to a few other bays. Fish are easy tosopt as they cruise the shoreline.
5. Lake Rotoma
Fish Type: Rainbow Trout and Tiger Trout
Lake Rotoma is a very deep lake with crystal clear water. The lake is thought to be the result of a major volcanic eruption and is over 240 feet deep in places. Although several small streams do flow into the lake there is no visible outlet for the water. Consequently, all fish caught are hatchery-raised fish and there is the added bonus of being able to catch tiger trout, a sterile cross between a brook trout and brown trout.
There is good road access to the southwestern and southern shoreline to the fly fisherman, although most of the lake is surrounded by bush and open farmland and really only accessible by boat.
6. Lake Rerewhakaaitu
Fish Type: Rainbow Trout
Lake Rerewhakaaitu is a relatively shallow lake and has extensive weed beds around the shoreline. As it is situated on flatland, wind can be a problem at times. Many anglers do like this lake however as it is easy to wade and fish can be spotted as they cruise the shoreline. The lake does hold good numbers of fish and the excellent food source in the lake means that they are aggressive and hard fighting. When fishing this lake polarised sunglasses are essential to ensure that you can spot the fish before they spot you.
7. Lake Rotoehu
Fish Type: Rainbow Trout
Lake Rotoehu is made up of a number of sheltered arms that can only be reached by boat. The water quality in this lake is not great and during the warmer months it often suffers from an algae bloom which makes fishing very difficult. It is therefore best fished during the cooler months when trout can be seen chasing smelt close to shore.
8. Lake Okareka
Fish Type: Rainbow Trout
Lake Okareka is well-sheltered making it fishable except in the most extreme weather conditions. Most of the lake is surrounded by open land and bush. As there are no feeder streams of note the lake is dependent upon stocking for the maintenance of the trout population. As a consequence, numbers of fish are good and the condition of those caught is often superb.
9. Lake Rotomahana
Fish Type: Rainbow Trout
Lake Rotomahana is a very attractive lake surrounded by bush and overlooked by the towering Mount Tarawera. Prior to the eruption of Mount Tarawera in 1886 this lake was famous for being the location of the two silica formations known as the Pink and White Terraces. Even today there is a lot of thermal activity to be seen around this lake. It is the remoteness and high scenic qualities as well as the excellent fishing that make this lake so attractive to the angler today.
10. Lake Tikitapu
Fish Type: Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout
Lake Tikitapu (Blue Lake) is very attractive, having deep clear water. It is surrounded mostly by forest and, being very sheltered, means that it is very popular for all recreation users. It is stocked with both rainbow and brook trout but has no natural spawning rivers or streams entering the lake. The water also has no natural outlet and would appear to drain from a sub-surface aquifer into the nearby Lake Rotokakahi (Green Lake).
Lake Rotokakahi, is privately owned by a sub-tribe of Te Arawa therefore no fishing or boating activity is available to locals or visitors on this lake.
