Lake Taupo Trout Fishing

Lake Taupo is New Zealand's premier fishing destination and is an internationally renowned trout fishery. Taupo offers superb fishing for large brown and rainbow trout all year, with mainly boat fishing in the summer and fly fishing in the winter.

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Fish type	Both rainbow and brown trout
Situation	New Zealand's largest lake (surface area of 616sq km) is situated in the middle of the North Island on a volcanic plateau 359 metres above sea level. Due to its very cold clean water and abundant food sources it produces huge numbers of well conditioned fish. It is very deep in places (up to 185 metres) but has many areas that provide excellent shoreline fishing. Some of the best areas for shoreline angling are around the many stream mouths where fish will congregate during the warmer months and will migrate to during the winter spawning runs.
Maps and charts	Access map Access map with topography LINZ topographic maps: (260 Map Series, 1:50,000) T18 Kuratau U18 Taupo T19 Tongariro Download Navigation Chart NZ 232 for Lake Taupo from the LINZ website.
Check conditions	Lake level View graphs of: - the current lake level at the Mighty River Power website. - recent rainfall at Turangi at the Genesis Energy website Or phone Mighty River Power's information line on 0800 820 082 for: - the current level of Lake Taupo - the planned outflow from Lake Taupo into the Waikato River Mighty River Power maintains the the lake level within a 1.4 metre range, using the Taupo Gates located just north of Taupo under the State Highway 1 bridge to control the amount of water flowing down the Waikato River. Webcam Lake Taupo webcam updated every two minutes, looking south towards the volcanoes of Tongariro National Park. It is refreshed every couple of minutes between sunrise and sunset (you can press F5 on your computer to refresh the image). Weather forecast View the MetService weather forecast for Taupo.
Harbourmaster's boating brochure	An information brochure is available from the Harbourmaster's Office, by phoning (07) 378-7176, or writing to PO Box 256, Taupo. The brochure includes: a map of the lake showing navigation lights, boat ramps, ski lanes, no-boat-fishing areas information about lights and buoys, including launching ramp etiquette More information about boating on Lake Taupo is available from the Harbourmasters Office webpage.
Coastguard services	Lake Taupo Volunteer Coastguard operates: - a radio service on channel 61 - a dedicated rescue vehicle - education - lake watchers volunteer monitoring service For more information, see the Taupo coastguard website.
DOC pamphlet	For information on how to fish the lake in summer, including rigs and seasonal information, pick up a copy of the brochure "Trolling? Tips for boat fishing on Lake Taupo" from the DOC office in Turangi. Or request a copy by emailing fishinfo@doc.govt.nz
Description	No matter what the time of the year, there can be excellent fishing for fish up to trophy size in Lake Taupo and its tributaries. Winter fishing During the winter months huge numbers of large trout enter all the rivers and make their way upstream to spawn. This is the premier fishing time: the trout that enter the rivers are in prime condition and trophy size fish are regularly caught. The river and stream mouths are popular fishing locations. Fish tend to move up the rivers after a heavy rainfall has caused the rivers to rise (a fresh). As the water drops and clears during the winter months the fishing (using flies only) can be superb. See Lake Taupo tributary and stream mouths for further details. Summer fishing Summer can also offer excellent fishing on Lake Taupo. In early summer the smelting season coincides with the return of spawning fish to the lake and some exciting fishing can be experienced in the shallows of the lake. During the late spring and early summer the trout move into the shallows chasing smelt (a small fish). Large fish can be caught either fishing from the shore or by harling a shallow lure that resembles a smelt along the shoreline.
Fishing etiquette	Shoreline fishing Some of the Lake Taupo stream mouths can be very popular and so it is vital to be aware of the fishing etiquette that applies. Boat fishing If you plan to launch a boat, please see boat ramp etiquette.
Methods	The most popular method for fishing the lake is trolling, including leadline trolling, wire lining, or the use of downriggers to troll at a deeper level. Jigging the dropoffs and fly-fishing around the lake shore and at river mouths are also popular methods (though note that boat fishing is not permitted around many of the points where rivers and streams enter the lake). In the rivers during the summer months there can be good dry fly and nymph fishing, particularly in the early morning and evenings. Similarly, after dark from late summer, large brown trout beginning their spawning migration can be caught using a large wet fly swung downstream into the tail of the bigger pools, or at stream and river mouths.
Fish numbers and size	Lake Taupo contains huge numbers of rainbow and brown trout averaging around 1.4kg though many much larger fish are also within the lake and surrounding rivers. Fish of over 7kg (15 lb) are caught each year.
Access	Lake Taupo is easily accessed with State Higway 1 running the length of the eastern shoreline. On foot A 20-metre public right-of-way extends around most of the lake. See the Lake Taupo access map. By boat A permit is required to use public boat ramps for boat launching. A permit is required to use public boat ramps for boat launching. These are available from most local dairies, service stations and sports shops. See the map and list of boat ramps and please also see boat ramp etiquette.
Recommended lures	Nymphs: Heavily weighted Globugs, Hare and Copper, Pheasant Tails and Halfback at times of change of light or at the mouth of any inflowing water. Dry flies: Daddy Long Legs , Coch-y-Bondu , Cicada patterns and Green Beetle in summer Wet flies: Night time: Black Phantom, Craig's Night Time, Fuzzy Wuzzy, Scotch Poacher or dark Rabbit pattern. Day time: Woolly Bugger, Hamills' Killer, Mrs Simpson, Red Setter, Parson's Glory, Grey Ghost, Taupo Tiger and other smelt patterns or try the smaller patterns such as Invicta, March Brown or Greenwell's Glory during the summer months. Spinners: Small bladed spinners such as Veltic or Mepps or wobblers such as Black and Gold Tobys or Tasmanian Devils or Cobras (in a variety of colours - check with local fishermen what is working well at the time) when trolling.
Tributaries	Some 30 rivers and streams flow into Lake Taupo while the Waikato River is the only outlet. The following eastern tributaries are popular and provide excellent winter fishing: Hinemaiaia River Tauranga-Taupo River Tongariro River Waimarino River Waiatahanui River There is also good fishing at the smaller Lake Taupo tributary and stream mouths.
Regulations
Applicable to	Lake Taupo
Region	Taupo fishery area regulations
Season	All year except for the Taupo Wharf, Taupo boat jetties, and the control gates over the Waikato River at Taupo which are closed.
Methods	Boat fishing, fly fishing and spinner fishing are permitted: - more than 300 metres from stream mouths - less than 300 metres from unmarked stream mouths. Fly fishing only (and no boat fishing ) is permitted less than 300 metres from all marked stream mouths. Theyare marked with a clearly visible white, yellow and black ringed post. Fly fishing and fishing from an anchored boat only are permitted less than 300 metres from: - the Tongariro river mouth - the Tauranga-Taupo river mouth - Te Rae Point (Kuratau Spit) No boat fishing is permitted in the Taupo Boat Harbour (the Waikato River from the outlet to control gates bridge )
Bag limit	3
Size limit (cm)	45cm minimum

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