Taupō Fishery Focus.
By trout anglers for trout anglers.
Issue 37 – October 2024.
Every October Taupō Fishery Focus includes a comment or two about the variety of fishing available at this time of year in the Taupō District. We also highlight how angling pressure reduces because most anglers target newly opened fisheries around the country. This remains true in 2024.
At this time of year Taupō anglers are treated to a mixture of fresh run and recovering trout, offering a feast of opportunity. While maiden fish will respond best to deep nymphs and small streamers, recovering fish will be hungry and often looking to the surface for a snack. Dry dropper combinations become a viable option when the conditions are right and will become more effective as the weather warms. For the latest info, simply pop into one of the Taupō districts many fishing stores, and they will be happy to let you know what methods are working best.
We have seen huge numbers of trout pass through the Waipa fish trap over winter and our drift dive programme reveals a similar story in other rivers throughout the Taupō District. A large proportion of these trout have been a good size, reflecting recent fishery trends. While our Creel Survey suggests there has been a small increase in trout harvesting over winter, the figure still only remains at between 20% and 30%. We ask anglers to be mindful of the importance of harvesting trout within the Lake Taupō catchment. Angler harvest is a critical management tool, helping keep the number of hungry trout in balance with their primary food source (smelt).
If you are looking to take advantage of the variety of fishing on offer, head over to the Taupō online licence store and pick up your fishing licence before you start. You will find a licence option to suit your needs:
www.doc.govt.nz/FishingLicence
Tight lines.
James Barnett
Editor
Winter Creel Survey.
Model and distribution.
Our Creel Surveys were undertaken on the Tongariro, Tauranga-Taupō and Hinemaiaia rivers between May and early October 2024. Survey distribution was based on a stratified random sampling model. The number of scheduled surveys each month was determined by the known angling effort within that particular month. Therefore, more surveys were carried out during busy periods.
Tongariro River.
This update focuses on the Tongariro River, which has been surveyed consistently since 1957. The overall estimated catch rate for the 2024 season was calculated at 0.49 fish per hour (1 legal sized trout every 2 hours & 2 minutes) based upon 501 interviews. This is the fourth highest catch rate calculated for the Tongariro in the last 38 years but consistent with recent years.
Catch rates have generally improved during the last three decades due to more effective fishing methods, combined with a better understanding of the fishery. Figure 1 shows how Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) has changed over the years.
Tongariro River surveys are broken down into three main sections of river: Lower, Middle and Upper. The Lower section covers SH1 downstream to Lake Taupō, the Middle section is upstream from SH1 to the Red Hut Bridge and the Upper section is from the Red Hut upstream to The Fence Pool.
Tables 1, 2 and 3 show where interviews were completed and provides anglers with an insight into the most popular fishing spots.
Tongariro River surveys are broken down into three main sections of river: Lower, Middle and Upper. The Lower section covers SH1 downstream to Lake Taupō, the Middle section is upstream from SH1 to the Red Hut Bridge and the Upper section is from the Red Hut upstream to The Fence Pool.
Tables 1, 2 and 3 show where interviews were completed and provides anglers with an insight into the most popular fishing spots.
Satisfaction.
On average, anglers rated the size and quality of the fish that they caught this season at 7.3 out of 10. The average score has generally remained around 7 since 2019, which mirrors the significant improvement observed in average size, weight and condition over recent years.
Anglers rated their angling success at 6.4 out of 10 which is an improvement over the 5.6 calculated last season but consistent with the average success scores calculated for winters 2019-2021 and correlates well with the catch rates shown in Fig.1
The average angling enjoyment score was 9.2 out of 10. The average score has remained above 9/10 since 2008 which saw poor catch rates and poor fish (Figure 5).
Anglers were also asked if anything detracts or spoils their fishing on the Tongariro River. Almost 63% of anglers asked couldn’t think of anything, while the remainder identified ‘bad manners/poor etiquette’ (8.3%), ‘overcrowding’ (6.9%) and ‘rubbish’ (4.5%).
Methods.
Anglers on the Tongariro River still favoured upstream indicator nymphing techniques with 72.9% of anglers interviewed using this method. This was followed by wetlining on 20%, spey on 3.7% and euro nymphing on 3.5%.
Conclusion.
The size and quality of the trout was very good this year across all the rivers we surveyed, with rainbows ranging between 515-520mm and 1.5-1.6kg, which is on par with recent years.
The percentage of catch-and-release occurring across all three rivers this winter ranged between 70-80%. This is a slight, welcome reduction compared to previous years, indicating that more anglers were taking fish. With significant runs of good-sized fish observed over winter, it is important for Taupō anglers to harvest trout from Lake Taupō this summer. Data is clear, it is critical to keep trout numbers in balance with their main food source (smelt), to maintain a healthy trout population.
Waitahanui bridges upgrade.
Bridges spanning the Waitahanui River form a critical part of the anger track network, allowing anglers access to this productive trout river. Over time the old bridges had become increasingly unstable and in need of replacement. This work is now underway.
Piles are driven into the bank either side of the river, deliberately set back from the watercourse to avoid potential erosion issues. Preconstructed bridge platforms are then helicoptered into place and secured to the piles. Contractors finally come in to construct the deck, balustrades, and access ramps.
Anglers should be prepared to see contractors working on-site for several weeks and should follow all safety instructions. Please don’t use the new bridges until they are finished. The old bridges will remain in place until the new bridges are complete, to maintain access.
Three replacement bridges will be in a similar style to the originals, but with a reduced arch to make access easier. Minor modifications to the track network are required to accommodate the longer bridges and access ramps.
Our Facebook page contains more photos>
Waipa trap updates online.
August and September saw very large numbers of migrating rainbows pass through the Waipa fish trap. In August the figures were quite literally off the charts. Our usual graphs illustrate up to 300 trout per category, but we actually processed 410 rainbow hens and 310 rainbow jacks. The numbers continued to track high in September, with 292 hens and 182 jacks. Data for October has yet to be reviewed but provisional numbers suggest another good month.
The number of migrating brown trout is really tailing off now, with only 3 hens contributing to the data in September. This is entirely expected, given browns tend to start their spawning migration earlier and finish earlier.
If you want to know more about trout migration data captured at the Waipa trap, details are available on our website: Waipa Stream fish trap reports>
Licence matters.
Fishery Rangers report an increase in the number of angers carrying their fishing licence when fishing. This is good news for Rangers and anglers alike, as it saves a significant amount of time. This is particularly the case for anglers. By simply carrying their licence anglers avoid receiving a formal ‘Notice to Produce’.
It is a legal requirement for an angler to carry a valid Taupō fishing licence when fishing in the Taupō District. A ‘Notice to Produce’ is given when an angler does not have their licence with them. It requires the angler to produce evidence of a valid fishing licence within 7 days from the date of the Notice. This evidence can be provided in various ways including via email. It should be noted, the licence must have been valid at the time the Notice was issued.
Data collected during fishery compliance work over winter confirms a growing number of anglers are presenting their licences in a digital format. Depending on the river, 30% to 40% chose to present a pdf version or screenshot of their licence. This is a significant shift towards digital licences – a trend we will continue to monitor.
TFAC Meeting.
The next meeting of the Taupo Fishery Advisory Committee (TFAC) is scheduled for early November.
TFAC plays an important role, acting as a link between the angling community and Taupō Fishing District managers. Committee members meet at least three times a year and actively contribute to management decisions, such as reviewing fishing regulations.
If you have an issue relating to the Taupō fishery that you would like to formally raise and have discussed at a meeting, contact a TFAC committee member or use the link below.
Information about the committee, including contact details can be found online: www.doc.govt.nz/TFAC
Increased boat activity.
Longer days and warmer weather will result in greater boat traffic on lakes within the Taupō Fishing District. More boats bring with them an increased risk of spreading unwanted aquatic pests such as gold clam. We ask all boat anglers to follow the latest Check Clean Dry protocols when moving a vessel between waterways.
Head to MPI’s Biosecurity NZ website for details>