When to fish ... all year round!
For trophy wild rainbows we have a high country lake with
two small spawning streams. This lake produces some magnificent fish and is open
from the 1st of October until the end of May. The predominant method for
catching these fish is nymphing although other techniques and variations are
used. We have some secret patterns that are particularly effective but the
angler must be skilled as the large wild rainbows and browns here will often
drag the line though the weed of the lake bed and bust you off, particularly
with the small size nymphs often used. See
Summer
Lakes for further details.The back country opens basically on the 1st of October and there is excellent fishing to be had mainly employing nymphing.
From December onwards dry-fly fishing is our main objective if the weather allows and really peaks around February and March.
Nymphing the back-country with odd good dry fly days from March onwards produces some of the best fishing as the fish will often be congregated at the heads of the pools and this time of the year has for the guide writing this actually produced the most productive days. Fishing the back country can continues until the end of June. See Summer Fishing for further details.
From June until the 1st of October is Taupo tributary time, with the Tongariro River, Tauranga-Taupo river, Hinemaia and Waitahanui being the rivers to fish. At this time of the year these rivers provide some spectacular steelhead fishing (steelhead is the name given to a rainbow trout that basically is born in a river and grows up in an ocean or lake before returning to the river to spawn). The best time for fishing is a day or so after heavy rain that causes a mini flood (fresh). The fish congregate at the deltas (the river confluences with the lake) and when they taste fresh water they run as far as nature says they need to in order for the offspring to have a greater chance of survival. See Winter Fishing for further details.
In all, the central North Island offers some of if not the greatest wild trout fly fishing in New Zealand, and we look forward to sharing it with you.