Images taken today of Lake Taupo suffering severe winter conditions…
Very important news for all Taupo anglers – Moulding DoC’s Management Plan
What excellent feed back from TRM fishos on the Q&A series. A very interesting issue mentioned by several contributors, readers and inmates is the Target Taupo July issue 61 – feature article on “Moulding the Management Plan”. This article by John Webb, DoC’s Community Relations Manager, describes how DoC are reviewing the Taupo fishery to produce a new management plan. It determines how DoC should manage the fishery in the interests of Taupo anglers.
Anglers please note: They are looking for your feedback.
The article concludes by asking you to contribute – quote:
“At the end of the day the Taupo Fishery is managed by the Department of Conservation for Taupo anglers. This is why it is so important that anglers and other interested parties engage in the discussion, debate and ultimately help to mould the management plan.”
This is where you come in… TRM’s inmates have suggested we could help to kick off the “consultation process” and make it more public through TRM’s website. The Target Taupo publication is an excellent newsletter but does not provide for any public discussion through “letters to the editor”. So this is your chance to participate in the future of your fishery. All contributions will be posted on TRM’s web site and only contributors’ initials will be listed to preserve anonymity.
Important issues mentioned by John Webb include increased participation in the fishery to stop the decline in licence sales, how to manage or whether to manipulate a wild fishery i.e. whether there should be research into smelt (I can hear you cheering from here) and what to do at Lake Otamangakau (Lake “O”)? Several fishos have commented their concerns about Lake O – the article acknowledges the management needs to be addressed. This is where TRM’s Q&A series can help. So to kick off this very democratic process we ask for your contribution - before you switch off send us your opinion on Lake O.
(TRM angler Maggie Cadogan with her fine brace of Lake O. trout)
Basically, should it be managed as a “trophy fishery” or not? Options are:
1 Whether to maintain the existing regulations? (same as Lake Taupo with minimum 40 cm and maximum 3 trout per day).
2 Make it catch & release only? (increased numbers to reduce the average size).
3 Introduce a slot control? (i.e. trout above 3 kg must be returned to reduce the volume to fewer bigger trout).
4 Other? Advise your preferred management system for Lake O
Just email TRM with Option 1, 2, 3, or 4 – only 4 will require your elaboration.
(Regular TRM angler Robbie Cadogan releasing another Lake O trout)
Continuing correspondence: Hey Ross, Very interesting stuff. I guess it’s near impossible to tell what is actually best for the fishery. I’ve been fishing the Tongariro for the last few days. Most people had been complaining of very hard fishing (and yes, it was harder than usual) but I moved around quite a bit and got into places that people don’t usually fish and did quite well. I sight fished and landed a nice 7lb brown as well(and yes, it did go back haha). It was funny going down to the road bridge and scoping out where the fish were holding. They were holding fairly close to the RHS, just below where that stick pokes out. All of the locals were trying to cast to the other side of the river where the fish simply weren’t holding! If they had of spent one minute to see where they were holding they would of been slaying it. They were all wondering why they caught nothing as well. I patiently waited until the cold got the better of them all so I could happily fish in that prime spot all by myself. All the best DB