Lake Tarawera Trout Spot

Lake Tarawera is a very deep and clear lake, famous for its strain of hatchery reared, huge rainbow trout.

The Lake has many fishing possies – one great spot to try for a large rainbow is the deep point off Kotukutuku Bay, where jigging is a popular passtime. This trout spot is best approached with the sounder, and then targeted with quick drops and a fast jigging then pause action. Trout here might be full of koura so try a slow jig with a drift if this is the case. The jig hits the mud and replicates the small kouras, kicking up mud. Hungry big rainbows cannot resist.

The Lake Tarawera rainbows are big fish and play hard on the right gear. I prefer to use a baitcaster loaded with 8lb braid.

The other method of great success here, is to look for the spots in Tarawera where the shelves drop off. You can harl a deep fly around the drops where the trout escape the warmer water during the day. Lead cores will get the lure fly down deep to the 30m odd where the rainbow trout congregate.

Boat launching is at ‘the landing’ andat boat shed bay.

Also very popular is wading and flyfishing the margins of Tarawera, and casting from anchored boats at night.

At Tarawera, wild trout over 65cm must be relased. You can take hatchery trout of any size. The trout here have a nice orange pink flesh and rival a salmon in taste and presentation.

Trout tarawera trout