Lake Rotoehu Trout Fishing

Lake Rotoehu is a very scenic, secluded lake providing excellent fly fishing for the large population of hard-fighting rainbow trout.

View maps

Fish type	Rainbow trout
Situation	Lake Rotoehu is a shallow lake surrounded by native trees and wetland vegetation.
Maps	Access map Access map with topography LINZ topographic map: (260 Map Series, 1:50,000) V15 Edgecumbe
F&G pamphlet	Rotorua Lakes access pamphlet >>>
Fish numbers and size	Lake Rotoehu has a very good population of rainbow trout averaging around 1.5kg.
Description	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.
Access	State Highway 30 between Rotorua and Whakatane passes the south west corner of the lake, but the best access is by taking the Pongokawa Valley Road. A boat ramp of sorts can be found at Kennedy Bay and small boats can be launched from several of the beaches.
Methods	Rotoehu is best fished using a small smelt pattern cast from a boat towards the shore or by fishing to sighted fish from the shoreline as they move in to chase the large smelt population. Trolling or harling small lures close to the weed beds can also be very successful. There is limited shoreline fishing.
Recommended tackle	When trolling, it is not necessary to use weighted lines due to the depth of the lake. At most, two or three colours of leadline will get the lure down to the desired depth. When fly fishing, floating lines or very slow sinking lines are needed.
Recommended lures	Nymphs: Dark nymphs in Hare and Copper and Pheasant Tail patterns. Dry flies: During the warmer months when the water is still clear, beetle patterns can work and in late summer cicada patterns. Wet flies / Streamers: Any smelt pattern such as a Parsons' Glory, Grey Ghost, Rabbit pattern or white Dorothy. Spinners: Black Tobys, Silver Tobys, and Rapalas.
Regulations (1)
Applicable to	Lake Rotoehu
Region	Eastern region regulations
Season	All year
Methods	Artificial fly, spinner
Bag limit	Trout: 8
Size limit (cm)	350 mm minimum
Regulations (2)
Applicable to	All springs, streams and their tributaries which flow into or from Lake Rotoehu.
Region	Eastern region regulations
Season	Closed
Methods	None
Bag limit	0
Size limit (cm)	N/A

Top of page