| Fish type, number and
size |
Both rainbow
and brown trout. The Ngongotaha holds a small population of
resident fish but is a very important spawning stream with large
numbers of fish entering the stream during the cooler winter
months to spawn. Many of the fish reach trophy size. |
| Situation |
The Ngongotaha rises in the hills to the
west of Lake Rotorua and flows northeast to enter the lake at
the small settlement of Ngongotaha. Despite its small size,
the Ngongotaha is a very important spawning tributary for both
Lake Rotorua and Lake Rotoiti. |
| Maps |
Access
map
Access
map with topography
LINZ
topographic maps: 1:50,000 (260
series)
|
| F&G pamphlet |
Lake Rotorua Fish and Game access pamphlet
>>> |
| Description |
The Ngongotaha Stream
is a small river flowing over a shingle and stone bed. The
water is generally clear though colours up quickly after rain.
Despite its small size, during the winter months trout numbers
are very high and anglers can often see many large trout in
the pools and moving upstream to the spawning beds.
The section of the river downstream from
the Ngongotaha Road Bridge provides superb flyfishing during
the winter months. Where the Ngongotaha enters Lake Rotorua
there is good fishing at most times of the year. During the
winter trout will congregate around the mouth before moving
upstream. During the summer the trout will often move close
to the inflowing cooler water where the Ngognotaha enter the
lake to escape the summer heat. The river mouth is particularly
productive early in the morning and at night especially when
there is no moon and it is very dark. |
| Access |
Downstream from the
Ngongotaha Road Bridge, the water is open all year. There
is access from the Ngongotaha Road Bridge upstream on both
sides of the river and on the true right hand side for that
section downstream. Access can also be gained from Western
Road, Brookdale and Streamdale Streets and the Paradise Valley
Road.
This river flows through much privately
owned land and anglers should only access the river where
there are signed access points. |
| Methods |
Flyfishing the Ngongotaha Stream is most
effective with a weighted nymph or a wet fly. Despite the size
of the river, leaders should be reasonably robust when the spawning
trout are running as many of these will reach double figures
and require some stopping if they are not to be broken off.
|
| Recommended tackle |
Rods capable of casting a weight to 5-7
line and with reasonably robust terminal leaders (preferably
flourocarbon) of approximately 3 m length. As many fish can
be seen easily, the use of a strike indicator is not strictly
necessary. |
| Recommended lures |
Nymphs:
During the spawning season each patterns such as a glow bug
or a weighted nymph such as a roughly tied Hare
and Copper or Halfback.
Dry flies:
While most of the fishing on the Ngongotaha is done during
the spawning runs during the winter, there are some resident
fish throughout the year. During the summer try cicada
patterns or beetle
patterns.
Wet flies:
Green Woolly
Buggers, Mrs
Simpson, Hamill's
Killer and Red
Setter.
|
| Regulations
(1) |
| Applicable to |
Ngongataha Stream below SH5 Bridge |
| Region |
Eastern
region regulations |
| Season |
All year |
| Methods |
Artificial fly, spinner |
| Bag limit |
Trout: 8
Brown trout: 2 |
| Size limit (cm) |
350mm minimum |
| Regulations
(2) |
| Applicable to |
Ngongataha Stream above SH5 Bridge |
| Region |
Eastern
region regulations |
| Season |
1 Dec-30 Jun |
| Methods |
Flyfishing only.
Fishing for trout from an unanchored boat is prohibited. |
| Bag limit |
Trout: 8
Brown trout: 2 |
| Size limit (cm) |
350mm minimum |
| Regulations
(3) |
| Applicable to |
Within a 200m radius of the centre of the
Ngongataha Stream mouth in Lake Rotorua |
| Region |
Eastern
region regulations |
| Season |
All year |
| Methods |
Artificial fly, spinner.
Fishing for trout from an unanchored boat is prohibited |
| Bag limit |
Trout: 8
Brown trout: 2 |
| Size limit (cm) |
350mm minimum |
