Thank you to DOC. COMPULSORY STUDY for all Taupo/Turangi anglers:
Fishery report
October 2015
Waipa fish trap
A total of 506 rainbows were trapped in the Waipa Stream fish trap (a tributary of the Tongariro River near Rangipo) during October. Despite an early peak in August of 476 rainbows and a drop to 260 rainbows in September, the run of rainbows in October is the highest monthly total so far this year (Figure 1).
The relatively wet months of June, July and August encouraged higher numbers of rainbow trout into the Waipa Stream than expected with almost 900 mm of rain being recorded over these three months alone. The run of rainbow trout dropped off during September with 96 mm of rain recorded before some late rain during October encouraged another solid run of rainbow trout into the system.
During more recent years, approximately 70% of the annual rainbow trout run has occurred between September and Christmas and so November should see another solid pulse of rainbows enter the Waipa Stream.
Figure 1. Monthly totals of rainbow and brown trout trapped in the Waipa Stream fish trap between March and October 2015 and monthly rainfall recorded at the trap site
The rainbows trapped during October averaged 488 mm and 1.28 kg (2.8 lb) with an average condition factor of 39.4. The heaviest rainbow trout weighed this month was a maiden hen measuring 560 mm and weighing 2.2 kg (4.84 lb).
The lone brown trout trapped during October was a maiden hen measuring 610 mm and weighing 2.7 kg (5.94 lb) and signals the end of the brown trout run for this year.
Overall, a total of 569 browns have been trapped during 2015 along with 1560 rainbows although these counts have yet to be adjusted to account for trout missed during several flood events.
Tongariro River
A total of 935 angler interviews on the Tongariro River between April and October produced an overall estimated catch rate of 0.42 fish per hour (1 legal trout every 2 hours and 23 minutes) for anglers fishing for more than 15 minutes. This is up on the 0.29 fish per hour (1 legal sized fish every 3.5 hours) based on over 800 angler interviews conducted between May and October last year (Figure 2). The catch rate for this winter is the second highest on record behind the peak of 0.48 fish per hour (1 legal sized trout every 2 hours 5 minutes) estimated during the winter of 2013.
Figure 2. Estimated catch rates for the Tongariro River since 1985
Anglers fishing the Tongariro River this winter rated the fish that they were catching at 7.4 out of 10, their angling success at 6.6/10 and their angling enjoyment at 9.5/10. Overall, 68% of anglers couldn’t cite anything that detracted from their angling enjoyment this winter. The main detraction mentioned by anglers this winter was “bad manners and etiquette” with almost 10% (Table 1).
A total of 170 rainbows were weighed and measured by the rangers during angler interviews on the Tongariro River. These rainbows averaged 506 mm and 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) with an overall condition factor of 42. The heaviest rainbow weighed was a jack measuring 580 mm and weighing 2.4 kg (5.28lb) caught nymphing at the SH1 bridge pool during late June. Table 2 shows the top five most popular pools in terms of the number of fish weighed during the scheduled river surveys.
Rainbows caught during the winter of 2014 averaged 487 mm and 1.36 kg (3 lb) with an average condition factor of 42 and so it is encouraging to see an improvement during the winter of 2015.
The four browns weighed and measured by staff on the Tongariro River this winter averaged 638 mm and 3.13 kg (6.9 lb) with an average condition factor of 43.1. The heaviest brown weighed was a hen measuring 680 mm and weighing 3.95 kg (8.7 kg) caught nymphing during mid June at the Kamahi Pool.
Table 1.Top 5 detractions for Tongariro River anglers during the winter of 2015
Detraction | Percentage of anglers |
---|---|
Bad manners/etiquette | 9.6 |
Inexperience | 3.6 |
Overcrowding | 5.6 |
Rubbish | 4 |
Snags / losing gear | 1.8 |
Table 2. Top 5 Tongariro pools for trout measured and weighed during the winter angler surveys in 2015.
Pool name | Number of trout | Percentage of all trout surveyed |
---|---|---|
Bain | 10 | 5.9% |
Boulder Reach | 8 | 4.7% |
SH1 Bridge | 83 | 48.8% |
Fence | 7 | 4.1% |
Reed | 14 | 8.2% |
Tauranga Taupo
A total of 226 angler interviews on the Tauranga Taupo River this winter produced an overall estimated catch rate of 0.66 fish per hour (1 legal sized trout every 1 hour and 30 minutes) based on data where anglers had been fishing for at least 15 minutes. This is up considerably on last year when the catch rate was estimated at 0.29 fish per hour based on 200 angler interviews and is just below the peak of 0.7 fish per hour estimated for winter 2013 (Figure 3).
Figure 3. Estimated catch rates for the Tauranga Taupo River since 2000
Overall, Tongariro Taupo anglers rated the trout that they were catching at 7.6/10, their angling success at 7/10 and their angling enjoyment at 9.6/10. Approximately 78% of anglers interviewed said that nothing spoiled their fishing on the Tauranga Taupo River. The main detractions given were “overcrowding”, “bad manners” and “rubbish” (Table 3).
Table 3.Top 5 detractions for Tauranga Taupo River anglers during the winter of 2015
Detraction | Percentage of anglers |
---|---|
Bad manners/etiquette | 3.4 |
Inexperience | 1 |
Overcrowding | 4.3 |
Rubbish | 3.4 |
Snags / losing gear | 2.4 |
During the scheduled surveys, rangers measured and weighed a total of 61 rainbow trout on the Tongariro Taupo River this winter. These rainbows averaged 504 mm and 1.52 kg (3.3 lb) with an overall condition factor of 43.2. The heaviest rainbow weighed was a jack measuring 550 mm and weighing 2.4 kg (5.3 lb) caught nymphing between the main car park and Maniapoto’s Bend during late August.
According to the survey data, the majority of the trout were caught in the section of river from the main car park up to Maniapoto’s Bend (68.9%). This was followed by the stretch from Maniapotu’s Bend to Kereru Lodge (26.2%) and then Kereru Lodge to the rangers (3.3%). The section downstream of the main car park only accounted for 1.6% of all trout weighed and measured this winter.
Hinemaiaia River
A total of 375 angler interviews on the Hinemaiaia River has produced an overall estimated catch rate of 0.83 fish per hour (1 legal sized trout every 1 hour and 12 minutes) based on anglers fishing for at least 15 minutes. This is up on the 0.66 fish per hour (1 legal fish every 1.5 hours) estimated for last winter. The Hinemaiaia River certainly was the pick of the rivers this winter and due to the good runs of trout throughout the season it was certainly popular with anglers.
Czech nymphing was practised by 14% of anglers interviewed this winter with upstream nymphing still the preferred method used by 84% of all Hinemaiaia anglers. Wet lining accounted for the remaining 2%.
Hinemaiaia anglers rated the trout that they were catching this winter at 7.6/10, their angling success at 7.1/10 and their angling enjoyment at 9.7/10. Table 4 shows the detractions cited by Hinemaiaia anglers this winter while 68% said that nothing spoiled their fishing.
Table 4. Top 4 detractions for Hinemaiaia River anglers during the winter of 2015
Detraction | Percentage of anglers |
---|---|
Bad manners/etiquette | 4 |
Overcrowding | 6 |
Rubbish | 6 |
Snags / losing gear | 6 |
A total of 93 rainbow trout were measured and weighed by rangers during the angler surveys this winter. These rainbows averaged 508 mm and 1.6 kg (3.5 lb) with an overall condition factor of 43.8. The heaviest trout weighed this winter during surveys on the Hinemaiaia was a jack measuring 570 mm and weighing 3 kg (6.6 lb) caught nymphing in May. Just over half of the trout measured by the rangers were caught upstream of the SH1 road bridge.
Waitahanui River
Just over 100 angler interviews on the Waitahanui River this winter produced an overall estimated catch rate of 0.24 fish per hour (1 legal sized trout every 4 hours and 6 minutes) for anglers fishing for more than 15 minutes.
Waitahanui anglers rated the fish that they were catching at 7.2/10, their catch rate at 6.2/10 and their angling enjoyment at 9.6/10. Two thirds of anglers fishing the Waitahanui River couldn’t cite anything that spoiled their fishing this winter while the main detractions are listed in Table 5 below.
Table 5.Top 5 detractions for Waitahanui River anglers during the winter of 2015
Detraction | Percentage of anglers |
---|---|
Bad manners/etiquette | 4 |
Inexperience | 2.9 |
Overcrowding | 4.8 |
Rubbish | 5.7 |
Snags / losing gear | 4.8 |
The ten rainbows measured during the angler surveys averaged 522 mm and 1.9 kg (4.2 lb). The heaviest fish weighed was a jack measuring 650 mm and 2.7 kg caught nymphing in the straight during late June.
Lake Otamangakau
The rangers interviewed 19 anglers braving the cold southerly winds at Lake Otamangakau on opening day. During the survey, these anglers caught and kept 5 rainbows, released 17 trout that were legal sized and released a further 14 undersized trout. The rainbows kept by anglers averaged 523 mm and 1.5 kg (3.3 lb) with an overall condition factor of 40. The heaviest fish weighed was a jack measuring 660 mm and weighing 2.3 kg (5 lb).
Anglers rated the fish caught on opening day at 6.3 out of 10, their catch rate at 6.7/10 and their angling enjoyment at 10/10. Fishing on this lake should improve towards Christmas once the conditions improve and insect life increases.
Lake Taupo
Just over 60 interviews of anglers fishing on Lake Taupo since Labour weekend provided the Rangers with 8 rainbows to measure. These maiden fish averaged 453 mm and 1.18 kg (2.6 lb) with an average condition factor of 45.8. The heaviest trout was a hen measuring 510 mm and weighing 1.56 kg (3.4 lb) caught deep trolling at the southern end of Lake Taupo.
Deep trolling with lead lines was the most popular method with 51% of anglers fishing this way followed by shallow trolling (19%), jigging (16%) and downriggers (14%). Although still early days, lead lines and downriggers have produced the most trout during the lake surveys.
At this time of year, a lot of trout are still spawning in the rivers and those that remain in the lake will still largely be in the top 20 metres of water. Harling during the early morning or late evening can be very productive at this time of year and early mornings can be the calmest time of the day. Browns should start to show up in places such as Stump Bay during November and can be caught harling around the weed beds. Deeper methods such as jigging will be more productive once the lake warms up and the fish move deeper.
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