Fisheries & Seasons
Central Fisheries
Lake Taupo Fishery
The Lake Taupo fishery is one of the world’s premier wild rainbow trout fisheries and is a much-underrated brown trout fishery.
The Tongariro River fishing offers fishing throughout the seasons. The river is famous for prolific spawning runs of rainbow trout during the autumn/winter and in the summer, offers sight fishing for trophy-size brown trout. Rainbow trout range in size from 2-6lb+ and brown trout mostly from 4-10lb+
There are many smaller Taupo winter fly fishing streams on the eastern side of Lake Taupo that are superb winter Rainbow trout fisheries, and in the summer offer stream mouth fishing either wading or from a boat.
A Taupo-Tongariro region full-day trip is the best option or if you want two very different experiences, you could also consider a wilderness day trip.
Backcountry Wilderness
During the warmer months from Spring to Autumn, there is – within 45-90mins from Taupo or Turangi – phenomenal fly fishing amongst world-class scenery.
The relatively accessible backcountry fishery comes alive with feeding fish that can be targeted nymphing and in the warmer months, with dry fly and dropper fishing. The cicada ‘hatch’ from January-February can offer some sensational dry fly fishing on during the summer season on the Tongariro River and the backcountry rivers.
The high country lakes of the Tongariro National Park region offer still water fishing for trophy-size Rainbow and Brown trout that can often exceed 10lb+.
All destinations can be reached as day trips from Taupo or included in a multi-day regional Central North Island road trip staying where you are fishing. All trips can be tailored to the experience and mobility of anglers.
Fishing Seasons
Spring | September-November
1 October is the opening date for most waters that have been closed since the autumn, backcountry and local Taupo headwater fisheries, and the lakes of the Tongariro National Park.
Early spring is often a great time to target the smaller tributary streams of some of the major river systems before water levels fall, and the trout retreat to the middle reaches during November and December. Great opportunities for nymph fishing on 4-6 weight gear.
At the beginning of the season, there will still be opportunities for fresh run spawning fish in the Lake Taupo tributaries nymphing, downstream Skagit style fishing, or on the warmer evenings, dry fly mayfly hatches.
Later in the spring, there are runs of spawning Brown trout beginning, and as shallow lakes begin to warm there are abundant opportunities for trophy-size Rainbow and Brown trout either stalking the shallows or ‘loch’ style fishing.
Summer | December-February
Early summer right before the annual NZ summer holiday period the rivers are often a little less crowded and insect life has become much more prolific. Backcountry fishing in the middle and lower reaches of rivers come into its own for nymph and under the right conditions, dry fly fishing.
By January-February the larger terrestrials are on the wing and can present wonderful opportunities for dry fly fishing with larger bugs. The traditional dry dropper combination on 5-7-weight rods is the go-to method though there are sometimes opportunities for sight fishing – particularly on the Tongariro River. Caddis and mayfly hatches are in full swing and the fish are usually on the feed.
Lake fishing in the shallower lakes improves as the water really heats up and this is a particularly good time to target the fish in deeper thermoclines or, where colder water streams enter warmer lakes. By late summer trout have had plenty of time to put on condition and is often when some of the largest fish are caught.
Autumn | March-May
As the temperatures begin to cool trout seek out spawning opportunities, move closer to shore, and begin to ascend the tributary streams from lakes and larger rivers. Backcountry fish are often in the best condition of the year and in the tributary streams of the Central North Island, Brown trout spawning runs will be in full swing.
Later in the Autumn, the first runs of the Lake Taupo streams will begin. Stream mouth fishing also starts to fire up. Autumn is the time of year that offers the widest possible range of fishing opportunities. Some fisheries close at the end of April and others at the end of May.
A 5-7 weight setup will suffice though as fish will tend to be deeper the need to work toward the heavier end with well-weighted flies will be necessary at times, particularly during higher water conditions. Autumn mayfly and midge hatches can be prolific and may offer up some timely dry fly opportunities.
Winter | June-August
The Taupo-Tongariro fishery has rightly earned its world-famous Rainbow trout fishing reputation from the large numbers of spawning Rainbows that gather and then ‘run’ up the tributary rivers of Lake Taupo. In the Rotorua District, the majority of spawning happens on the beaches in the lakes.
As this is a time for larger flows and deeper holding fish a 6-8 weight setup is recommended. Deeply sunken attractor-style nymphs and large streamer flies fished Skagit style are the way to go. Fish mostly range between 3-5lb and in the right conditions – often when rivers are receding after a fresh – are in plentiful supply.
Most backcountry rivers are now fully closed and other rivers will close during the earlier parts of winter, before reopening in the spring. Being first on the rivers at this time of year is often very important for success, so early starts are the norm.
Client Reviews
Tongariro River
Spawning Rainbows & Trophy Browns
All Year Round
King Country & Ruapehu
Backcountry Wilderness Experience
Spring-Summer-Autumn
Taupo Small Stream
Spawning Rainbows & Stream Mouths
Autumn-Winter-Spring
Hawkes Bay
Backcountry Wilderness Experience
Spring-Summer-Autumn
South Waikato
Spring Creeks & Feeder Streams
Spring-Summer-Autumn
Rotorua Lakes District
Trophy Rainbows & Browns
All Year Round
Urewera & East Cape
Backcountry Wilderness Experience
Spring-Summer-Autumn
Tongariro Lakes
Still Water Trophy Fisheries
Spring-Summer-Autumn
Rangitikei District
Backcountry Wilderness Experience
Spring-Summer-Autumn
Kaimanawa Forest Park
Wilderness Backcountry
Spring-Summer-Autumn