Lake Okataina Trout Fishing
The name Okataina means "The lake of laughter", a shortened form of the original name Te Moana-i-kataina-a-Te Rangitakaroro, which means "The ocean where Te Rangitakaroro laughed". Te Rangitakaroro and his warriors were resting when one member of his group referred to the lake as an ocean and this was seen as a great joke by the rest of the group. Their laughter echoed around the lake and now remains enshrined in its name.
Lake Okataina was an important link in pre-European travel routes, when canoes were carried from Lake Tarawera to Lake Okataina. The lake and surrounding scenic reserve is remote and beautiful, with native bush down to the water's edge containing fine examples of rimu, totara, rata and kahikatea.
Lake size: 1080 ha
Catchment area: 6290 ha
Elevation: 311 m
Average depth: 39 m
Deepest point: 79 m
Formed: about 7000 yrs ago
Drains to Lake Tarawera via subsurface flow Te Moana i kataina a Te Rangitakaroro
Fish Type
Rainbow trout
Situation
Lake Okataina is in a remote, extremely scenic valley surrounded by pristine virgin native forest. There is only one road to the lake that provides access to just one bay.
Description
Lake Okataina's clear water provides an abundance of food that ensure the fish reach very impressive sizes. The lake is very deep and has very cold water. There are a number of bays and long arms that reach into long wooded valleys. This is a very beautiful lake to fish and the quality of the fishing in a pristine wilderness setting is very special.
Due to its remoteness and limited shoreline access, most fishing must be done from a boat. A number of small streams feed into the lake, all of which provide excellent fishing opportunities, although again most can only be reached by boat. Where the road ends on the lake shoreline there can be good fishing for the land based angler. Those willing to walk will also be able to move around the lake shore to a few other bays. Fish are easy tosopt as they cruise the shoreline.
Fish Numbers and Size
Lake Okataina is renowned for its large population of hard fighting rainbows that can reach impressive sizes. Every year many fish are caught that are well beyond the magical 10 pound mark (4.5 kg).
Access
There is only one road in to Lake Okataina which turns off State Highway 30 at Ruato Bay on Lake Rotoiti. This road takes you to the north end of the lake where there is also a boat ramp. There is no vehicle access to any other part of the lake.
Methods
The two most popular methods of fishing Lake Okataina are trolling and jigging. There can also be excellent fly fishing around Home Bay and the Log Pool in late autumn and early winter when the trout will often come very close to the beach.
Shoreline fishing is often best when the water is being disturbed by a light wind and the conditions are overcast.
Recommended Tackle
The fish are generally found deep, requiring lead core line or a downrigger. As the water is also very clear, it is necessary to use a very long leader.
When jigging, use non-stretch nylon or fusion line to ensure the soft takes of the trout can be felt.
When fly fishing, use as light a line as is practical (weight 5 to 6 are ideal) as the fish will often become spooky if there is too much disturbance of the water when casting.
Recommended Lures
Tributaries
A number of small streams enter Lake Okataina but there are no real tributaries. The lake is also unique in that there is no known outlet and it is believed the water drains through an underground aquifer.
Regulations (1)
Applicable to: Lake Okataina except the areas below
Season: 1 Oct-30 Jun
Methods: Artificial fly, spinner
Bag Limit: Trout (8)
Size limit (cm): 350mm minimum
Regulation (2)
Applicable to: Lake Okataina winter shoreline area - from Te Koutu Point landmark to west of Okataina Lodge landmark extending 200m offshore.
Season: All Year
Methods: All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Jul-30 Sept: Fishing for trout from a boat is prohibited.
Bag Limit: Trout (8)
Size limit (cm): 350mm minimum
Regulation (3)
Applicable to: Lake Okataina within 200m of Log Pool, and of Rayners 1 and 2 stream mouths
Season: 1 Oct-30 Jun
Methods: 1 Oct-31 Mar: Artificial fly, spinner
1 Apr-30 Jun: Flyfishing only. Fishing for trout from an unanchored boat is prohibited.
Bag Limit: Trout (8)
Size limit (cm): 350mm minimum
Regulation (4)
Applicable to: All springs, streams and their tributaries which flow into or from Lake Okataina
Season: Closed
Methods: None
Bag Limit: N/A
Size limit (cm): N/A
Lake Okataina was an important link in pre-European travel routes, when canoes were carried from Lake Tarawera to Lake Okataina. The lake and surrounding scenic reserve is remote and beautiful, with native bush down to the water's edge containing fine examples of rimu, totara, rata and kahikatea.
Lake size: 1080 ha
Catchment area: 6290 ha
Elevation: 311 m
Average depth: 39 m
Deepest point: 79 m
Formed: about 7000 yrs ago
Drains to Lake Tarawera via subsurface flow Te Moana i kataina a Te Rangitakaroro
Fish Type
Rainbow trout
Situation
Lake Okataina is in a remote, extremely scenic valley surrounded by pristine virgin native forest. There is only one road to the lake that provides access to just one bay.
Description
Lake Okataina's clear water provides an abundance of food that ensure the fish reach very impressive sizes. The lake is very deep and has very cold water. There are a number of bays and long arms that reach into long wooded valleys. This is a very beautiful lake to fish and the quality of the fishing in a pristine wilderness setting is very special.
Due to its remoteness and limited shoreline access, most fishing must be done from a boat. A number of small streams feed into the lake, all of which provide excellent fishing opportunities, although again most can only be reached by boat. Where the road ends on the lake shoreline there can be good fishing for the land based angler. Those willing to walk will also be able to move around the lake shore to a few other bays. Fish are easy tosopt as they cruise the shoreline.
Fish Numbers and Size
Lake Okataina is renowned for its large population of hard fighting rainbows that can reach impressive sizes. Every year many fish are caught that are well beyond the magical 10 pound mark (4.5 kg).
Access
There is only one road in to Lake Okataina which turns off State Highway 30 at Ruato Bay on Lake Rotoiti. This road takes you to the north end of the lake where there is also a boat ramp. There is no vehicle access to any other part of the lake.
Methods
The two most popular methods of fishing Lake Okataina are trolling and jigging. There can also be excellent fly fishing around Home Bay and the Log Pool in late autumn and early winter when the trout will often come very close to the beach.
Shoreline fishing is often best when the water is being disturbed by a light wind and the conditions are overcast.
Recommended Tackle
The fish are generally found deep, requiring lead core line or a downrigger. As the water is also very clear, it is necessary to use a very long leader.
When jigging, use non-stretch nylon or fusion line to ensure the soft takes of the trout can be felt.
When fly fishing, use as light a line as is practical (weight 5 to 6 are ideal) as the fish will often become spooky if there is too much disturbance of the water when casting.
Recommended Lures
- Nymphs: Due to the depth of water it is necessary to use reasonably weighted nymphs usually in Hare and Copper,Pheasants Tail and Halfback patterns with a reasonable length leader. When jigging use smelt patterns though a Globug ormuppit pattern can also be successful.
- Dry flies: Because of the abundant forest cover down to the water's edge, a good supply of terrestrial insects land on the water throughout the year. Good patterns to try in summer include cicada, wasp and beetle patterns.
- Wet flies / Streamers: Any smelt pattern such as Parsons' Glory, Grey Ghost or Taupo Tiger and palmered flies such asWoolly Buggers, particularly in green are effective during the day and dark patterns such as Craig's Night-time, Scotch Poacher or Black Marabou flies work best. Luminous flies are also popular on dark nights.
- Spinners: The most popular spinners are Toby's, Flatfish andTasmanian Devils, though when trolling many anglers prefer to troll a large smelt fly pattern in combination with a spinner.
Tributaries
A number of small streams enter Lake Okataina but there are no real tributaries. The lake is also unique in that there is no known outlet and it is believed the water drains through an underground aquifer.
Regulations (1)
Applicable to: Lake Okataina except the areas below
Season: 1 Oct-30 Jun
Methods: Artificial fly, spinner
Bag Limit: Trout (8)
Size limit (cm): 350mm minimum
Regulation (2)
Applicable to: Lake Okataina winter shoreline area - from Te Koutu Point landmark to west of Okataina Lodge landmark extending 200m offshore.
Season: All Year
Methods: All year: Artificial fly, spinner.
1 Jul-30 Sept: Fishing for trout from a boat is prohibited.
Bag Limit: Trout (8)
Size limit (cm): 350mm minimum
Regulation (3)
Applicable to: Lake Okataina within 200m of Log Pool, and of Rayners 1 and 2 stream mouths
Season: 1 Oct-30 Jun
Methods: 1 Oct-31 Mar: Artificial fly, spinner
1 Apr-30 Jun: Flyfishing only. Fishing for trout from an unanchored boat is prohibited.
Bag Limit: Trout (8)
Size limit (cm): 350mm minimum
Regulation (4)
Applicable to: All springs, streams and their tributaries which flow into or from Lake Okataina
Season: Closed
Methods: None
Bag Limit: N/A
Size limit (cm): N/A
