Top Ten Fishing spots
TAUPO | Rangitaiki River System
The Rangitaiki River is approx 1 hour from Rotorua. It rises in the South behind Taupo flowing East through approx 35kms of private forestry. The venue of the World 1991 Fly Championships the upper reaches is predominately slow winding through close overhanging scrub edges. Along this course it is joined by other rivers, all very good fisheries. The centre reaches the river tumbles over bedrock and through close bushy gorges. The chosen method of fishing this river is dry fly with a weighted nymph dropper. The Whaeo hydro canal forms a section of this Rangitaiki river system, (another venue for the 1991 World Fly Fishing Championships), provides excellent fishing, especially for the evening rise. The Flaxy lake system also flows in the Rangitaiki river midway along the Whaeo canal. The manmade Flaxy lakes provide excellent clear water sight fishing (especially when all other rivers are dirty) for large numbers of shoreline cruising trout, but at times can be extremely frustrating to find exactly what they are taking. The section of the Rangitaiki River that flows through private forestry land requires an entry permit. Conditions of this permit are currently under review. Access information can be obtained by contacting Eastern Region Fish and Game.
ROTORUA | Waiteti Stream
Awahou stream is located midway between the Ngongotaha stream and the Awahou stream approx 12 minutes from Rotorua city. Much like the Ngongotaha the Waiteti holds fish throughout the year with the greatest numbers throughout the Winter months. Access is available from where the Waiteti flows into Lake Rotorua through up into Waiteti’s mid reaches. Careful upstream wading and sight fishing is the predominant method of fishing this small stream using small dry flies with a dropper nymph throughout the summer months, and a lightly weighted nymphs through the Winter season.
ROTORUA | Winter Lake edge fly fishing
Winter lake edge fly fishing the Rotorua’s six trophy lakes is extremely popular from May through to the end of June, (the end of the season) but many locations remain open for the entire year. All winter lake edge is accessed by road, or a very short distance from it, within a 40 minute drive from Rotorua, with many locations closer. Most fly fishing is during the hours of darkness using lumo style flies when the trout move in closer to shore and are less cautious. Numerous trout have been caught reaching into the double digits. These trout can really test the anglers tackle. Sight fishing is also very popular during the day using bright style streamer flies on a slow sinking line.
TAUPO | Spring creeks
Within a 45 minute drive of Rotorua numerous free stone spring creeks can be found, far too many to list here. Easily accessible from the road many of these spring creeks flow very clear throughout the year in all but the very worst weather conditions. Most of these creeks hold larger numbers of Rainbow and Brown trout in the 1-2kg weight range. The preferred method of fishing is a small dry fly, or a very lightly weighted nymph.
MOHAKA | Mohaka River
Located approx 2 hours drive South East of Rotorua the Mohaka, like the Waioweka is a wild river holding large numbers of Rainbow and Brown trout. This is a large river, but with caution can be crossed in selected places (river conditions taken into consideration). With a stony freestone base the central Mohaka comprises mainly of deep pools, long glides running through turbulent rapids. Summer cicada or large dry fly fishing throughout the mid to late summer months can be dynamite, as can dry fly fishing the foam lines during the later afternoon into evenings. When the dry fly fishing is less productive, running a tandem weighted nymph through the pools can work extremely well. Most regions of the central lower Mohaka can be accessed by 2WD vehicle along gravel roads.
TAUPO | Tongariro River
Arguably the Tongariro would have be New Zealand’s most famous fishing river, brought to the attention of the worlds fly fishermen by Zane Grey in his 1927 book “NZ a Fishing Eldorado”. Like the Mohaka the Tongariro is a freestone river rising from the foothills of the Kaimanawa ranges, and the snowfields of Ruapehu. The Tongariro can be fished all year round, but the prime time is late Winter/ Spring. The preferred methods during the Winter months is using bright streamer type flies on a fast sinking line fished downstream, or fishing heavy tandem tungsten nymphs cast upstream on a floating line, the prime time to fish the Tongariro is when the river is clearing after rain. The river fishes well to dry flies and nymphs during the summer, especially into the evening. The Tongariro is less than two hours drive from Rotorua, and it would be wise to purchase a Taupo licence on the way through, as the Taupo fishery is administered by the Dept of Conservation, unlike the rest of NZ which comes under NZ Fish and Game regulations.
WIOWEKA | Waioweka River
For the more adventurous angler who wishes to travel further a-field, the Waioweka River, approx 1.50 drive from Rotorua offers the fly fisherman all he/she could want in a river, beauty, fish, and in most sections, easily wadable water. This river flows along a gorge adjacent to State Highway (2) between Opotiki and Gisborne. Although appearing difficult to access from the road, Fish and Game have provided an extremely well documented pamphlet on access points. It’s strongly suggested for the fisherman would wishes to reap all that this magnificent river has to offer that they source this information. The upper reaches beside SH(2) the river forks with the right fork continuing up (as the Waioweka) into the bush country beside a gravel road, with the left fork continuing as the Opato, another excellent fishery, both easily accessed from the road.
WHIRINAKI | Whirinaki River
The Whirinaki River Rises out of the Eastern ranges about a 45 minute drive from Rotorua. This river epitomizes everything an angler wishes for in a back country river, solitude, technical water, and abundant fish. This river has four distinct characters. The upper reaches are bush lined, winding through ravines, and rocky outcrops before slowing up to meander through old hawthorn bush lined edges and in places, unkempt farmland. This part of the river is easily accessed from adjacent gravel roads. The central mountainous reaches are more rugged, with deep pools, rapids, and long glides. This section of the River is able to accessed from a road bridge approx 50 minutes from Rotorua. The lower easily wadable shingle reaches of the river winds through farmland amidst overhanging willows, easily accessed from adjacent roads.
ROTORUA | Awahou
Awahou stream mouth flowing into Lake Rotorua is recognised as a top Rotorua fly fishing location during the hot summer months. Located on the North Western shore of Lake Rotorua, only a 15 minute drive from Central Rotorua, Awahou stream mouth provides for easy access to exciting and rewarding fly fishing. Cold stream water flowing into Lake Rotorua encourages trout into shallow water within easy reach of the shoreline angler. Shallow wading around the sandy edges of the lake will reward the angler sight fishing for the larger Brownies.
ROTORUA | Ngongotaha Stream
Less than a 10 minute drive from Rotorua city and very easily accessed, the Ngongotaha stream would undoubtedly be one of New Zealand’s most under estimated trout fisheries. The Ngongotaha is the prime spawning stream for Lake Rotorua and Rotoiti, consequently it holds large numbers of resident Rainbow and Brown trout throughout the year. The Ngongotaha can be technical to fish, as there is considerable undergrowth along the margins, but for the dedicated angler who puts in the time to learn the stream the rewards can be huge. A 12lb+ tippet is highly recommended.