Lake Ōkāreka Trout Fishing
Its name means "the lake of sweet food". In early times, Māori cultivated sweet potatoes, or kumara, around the edge of the lake. The lake is now a very popular recreational resource and residential area.
Lake Ōkāreka is a gentle lake suitable for recreation, including boating, swimming, and family fishing. It has a large population of rainbow trout that can be caught by a variety of fishing methods.
Lake size: 340 ha
Catchment area: 1980 ha
Elevation: 355 m
Average depth: 20 m
Deepest point: 34 m
Formed: 19,000 years ago
Drains to Lake Tarawera via Waitangi Springs and an artificial surface channel.
Fish Type
Rainbow trout
Description
Lake Ōkāreka is well-sheltered, making it fishable except in the most extreme weather conditions. Most of the lake is surrounded by open land and bush. As there are no feeder streams of note, the lake is dependent upon stocking for the maintenance of the trout population. As a consequence, numbers of fish are good and the condition of those caught is often superb.
Fish Numbers and Size
Fish numbers are high, with most specimens ranging from 1 to 1.5 kg. This lake is predominantly stocked with rainbow trout, although a few brown trout are also present.
Access
Ōkāreka Loop Road from the Tarawera road leads to the small township of Ōkāreka on the western shores of the lake. A boat ramp at Acacia Bay allows access to the rest of the lake.
Methods
While there are good opportunities for shoreline fishing, the best fishing is typically done from a boat. Trolling is the preferred and most popular method of catching fish, although fly fishing from a boat can also be very successful.
Those wishing to fish from the shore will find plenty of opportunities at Boyes Beach and at several small bays around the western shoreline. Fish can often be spotted as they cruise the shoreline along the weed beds. Good polarised glasses, therefore, are essential. Fishing from the shore can be most productive either early in the morning or in the evening when fish often come very close to the shoreline.
Recommended Tackle
When trolling, it is necessary to get your line and lures down around 3 to 6 metres. If using a lead line, troll with four to six colours in the 3-5 metre leader. In the mornings and late evenings, harling a lure slowly along any weed beds can also be effective. Jigging is also becoming popular. Those wishing to fish using a fly from the shore will need to use a floating or slow-sinking line.
Recommended Lures
Tributaries
There are no tributaries of note, though any small stream that flows into the lake, no matter how insignificant it may seem, can produce excellent fishing, especially at night with a dark fly.
Regulations (1)
Applicable to: Lake Ōkāreka
Season: All Year
Methods: Artificial fly, spinner
Bag Limit: Trout (8)
Size limit (cm): 350mm minimum
Regulation (2)
Applicable to: All springs, streams and their tributaries which flow into or from Lake Ōkāreka
Season: Closed
Methods: None
Bag Limit: 0
Size limit (cm): N/A
Lake Ōkāreka is a gentle lake suitable for recreation, including boating, swimming, and family fishing. It has a large population of rainbow trout that can be caught by a variety of fishing methods.
Lake size: 340 ha
Catchment area: 1980 ha
Elevation: 355 m
Average depth: 20 m
Deepest point: 34 m
Formed: 19,000 years ago
Drains to Lake Tarawera via Waitangi Springs and an artificial surface channel.
Fish Type
Rainbow trout
Description
Lake Ōkāreka is well-sheltered, making it fishable except in the most extreme weather conditions. Most of the lake is surrounded by open land and bush. As there are no feeder streams of note, the lake is dependent upon stocking for the maintenance of the trout population. As a consequence, numbers of fish are good and the condition of those caught is often superb.
Fish Numbers and Size
Fish numbers are high, with most specimens ranging from 1 to 1.5 kg. This lake is predominantly stocked with rainbow trout, although a few brown trout are also present.
Access
Ōkāreka Loop Road from the Tarawera road leads to the small township of Ōkāreka on the western shores of the lake. A boat ramp at Acacia Bay allows access to the rest of the lake.
Methods
While there are good opportunities for shoreline fishing, the best fishing is typically done from a boat. Trolling is the preferred and most popular method of catching fish, although fly fishing from a boat can also be very successful.
Those wishing to fish from the shore will find plenty of opportunities at Boyes Beach and at several small bays around the western shoreline. Fish can often be spotted as they cruise the shoreline along the weed beds. Good polarised glasses, therefore, are essential. Fishing from the shore can be most productive either early in the morning or in the evening when fish often come very close to the shoreline.
Recommended Tackle
When trolling, it is necessary to get your line and lures down around 3 to 6 metres. If using a lead line, troll with four to six colours in the 3-5 metre leader. In the mornings and late evenings, harling a lure slowly along any weed beds can also be effective. Jigging is also becoming popular. Those wishing to fish using a fly from the shore will need to use a floating or slow-sinking line.
Recommended Lures
- Nymphs: Lightly weighted Hare and Copper, Pheasant Tail, Halfback, Caddis and stonefly patterns fished on a floating line can be effective when fishing close to the shoreline weed beds.
- Dry flies: In November and December, Green Beetle patterns can be very successful, and in late summer, Cicada and Blowfly patterns work well.
- Wet flies / Streamers: Hamill's Killer, Mrs Simpson and any smelt pattern such as Parsons Glory, Grey Ghost or Rabbit pattern in light colours. At night, use dark colours with such flies as Black Fuzzy Wuzzy and Woolly Buggers
- Spinners: Small Black and Gold Toby's, bright coloured Tasmanian Devils and Cobras.
Tributaries
There are no tributaries of note, though any small stream that flows into the lake, no matter how insignificant it may seem, can produce excellent fishing, especially at night with a dark fly.
Regulations (1)
Applicable to: Lake Ōkāreka
Season: All Year
Methods: Artificial fly, spinner
Bag Limit: Trout (8)
Size limit (cm): 350mm minimum
Regulation (2)
Applicable to: All springs, streams and their tributaries which flow into or from Lake Ōkāreka
Season: Closed
Methods: None
Bag Limit: 0
Size limit (cm): N/A
