Central North Island - Freshwater

fishing report

January 16, 2022

Supplied by

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What a summer the great lake is having this year. The fishing has been nothing short of outstanding and holidaymakers have some of the best fishing the lake has had for a number of years with light winds, hot sunny days and trout of excellent size and quality in good numbers. Jigging has been the go to method as you would expect at this time of year with a good thermocline at 30-40 meters indicating the depth you need to be at.

***Gary Lyttle (@garylyttleflyfishing) with a lovely rainbow***

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Pat Swift and Kilwell smelt sets are all you need and set these up with 1.5oz sinkers you are ready to go.

All parts of the lake have been performing well with no area producing any better than others however this week and seen an increase in winds as the cyclone has got closer.

This in effect dictates where you can fish due to the need to be as wind free as possible for your jigging.

The long term forecast as this blip disappears is for much of the same so back to long hot days with little wind. There is still a lot of good jigging in front of us.

Harling really has tapered off due to the warm weather and holiday boat pressure but if you are keen to get on the water by 5am there can be some good action.

Trolling and downrigging at 120ft has produced some spectacular fish with the old favourites such as black toby and yellow/white, traffic light and spotty gold Tasmanian devils working well.

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The local fly fishing has also been in fire.

Cicadas are now singing louder and louder as we head towards February.

Most rivers are firing on the big terrestrials but the Tongariro once again has been the local go to with some good size browns smashing the dries.

Good numbers of browns are now entering the system and you can find them fairly well distributed throughout all reaches of our local rivers.

The evening rise is going well with the larger browns coming out to play as it gets dark.

River mouths have also been seeing some good action throughout the day and into the night as trout congregate in the cooler waters.

Back country river reports have all been very positive with most of them recording good cicada action with many of them just starting to respond to big dry fly patterns.

One of the downsides of the continued lack of rain is going to be low water with some of the upper reaches and back country tributaries already very skinny.

The lakes are also warming up very quickly.

Lake Otamangakau has already reached the critical 21 degree mark and DOC is asking people to consider this before fishing.

The remainder of the summer you have to say is looking good especially if the cicadas keep coming.

We are well overdue for a big cicada year so fingers are crossed.

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Tight lines to all

The team at Fly & Gun Hunting and Fishing Taupo

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Report provided by Hunting & Fishing Taupo

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Get into your Lake Taupo fishing this summer with Fly & Gun Hunting & Fishing Taupo.

We all hunt and fish locally so come in and say hello and get the good oil!!