Lake Tikitapu Trout Fishing
In ancient times, the daughter of a high born chief was bathing in its crystal waters and wore the Tikitapu (sacred greenstone neck ornament). The piece dislodged itself while she swam and the blue waters of the lake are believed to still be hiding the tikitapu.
Lake Tikitapu is a small, circular lake framed by pretty native bush and forestry. Famous for its striking colour, it is commonly known as the Blue Lake and is adjacent to the slategreen coloured "Green Lake" / Lake Rotokakahi. With a water slide and an easy walking track around the lake, it is a popular location for family outings.
Lake Tikitapu or the Blue Lake offers easy fishing for a reasonable population of rainbow trout and brook trout. Being surrounded by forest and very sheltered, it is very popular for all recreation users.
Lake size: 150 ha
Catchment area: 570 ha
Elevation: 415 m
Average depth: 18 m
Deepest point: 27.5 m
Formed: 13,500 years ago
No surface outlet but probably drains via groundwater to Lake Rotokakahi.
Fish Type
Rainbow trout and brook trout. Lake Tikitapu is the only lake in the Rotorua district that is stocked with brook trout.
Situation
Lake Tikitapu, sometimes called the Blue Lake, is one of the best-known recreational lakes in the Rotorua district. It is very sheltered and the angler will often have to compete with other water users such as water skiers, swimmers and canoeists. Sometimes the lake is closed for an event: to check, see the Environment Bay of Plenty website.
Description
The Blue Lake is very attractive, having deep clear water. It is surrounded mostly by forest and, being very sheltered, means that it is very popular for all recreation users. It is stocked with both rainbow and brook trout but has no natural spawning rivers or streams entering the lake. The water also has no natural outlet and would appear to drain from a sub-surface aquifer into the nearby Green Lake.
Fish Numbers and Size
Tikitapu Lake holds a reasonable population of small rainbow trout and an even smaller population of small brook trout.
Access
Lake Tikitapu can be reached via the Rotorua - Tarawera Road. There is a good boat ramp.
Methods
All methods are suitable on this lake, with jigging and harling being popular methods during the day. There is reasonable shoreline fishing around the main beach area for those wishing to fly fish or use a spinner.
Recommended Tackle
For nymph fishing:
For wetfly fishing:
For trolling:
For trolling using a downrigger:
For harling:
Recommended Lures
Tributaries
There are no tributaries of note.
Regulations
Season: All Year
Methods: Artificial fly, spinner
Bag Limit: Trout (8)
Size limit (cm): 350mm minimum
Lake Tikitapu is a small, circular lake framed by pretty native bush and forestry. Famous for its striking colour, it is commonly known as the Blue Lake and is adjacent to the slategreen coloured "Green Lake" / Lake Rotokakahi. With a water slide and an easy walking track around the lake, it is a popular location for family outings.
Lake Tikitapu or the Blue Lake offers easy fishing for a reasonable population of rainbow trout and brook trout. Being surrounded by forest and very sheltered, it is very popular for all recreation users.
Lake size: 150 ha
Catchment area: 570 ha
Elevation: 415 m
Average depth: 18 m
Deepest point: 27.5 m
Formed: 13,500 years ago
No surface outlet but probably drains via groundwater to Lake Rotokakahi.
Fish Type
Rainbow trout and brook trout. Lake Tikitapu is the only lake in the Rotorua district that is stocked with brook trout.
Situation
Lake Tikitapu, sometimes called the Blue Lake, is one of the best-known recreational lakes in the Rotorua district. It is very sheltered and the angler will often have to compete with other water users such as water skiers, swimmers and canoeists. Sometimes the lake is closed for an event: to check, see the Environment Bay of Plenty website.
Description
The Blue Lake is very attractive, having deep clear water. It is surrounded mostly by forest and, being very sheltered, means that it is very popular for all recreation users. It is stocked with both rainbow and brook trout but has no natural spawning rivers or streams entering the lake. The water also has no natural outlet and would appear to drain from a sub-surface aquifer into the nearby Green Lake.
Fish Numbers and Size
Tikitapu Lake holds a reasonable population of small rainbow trout and an even smaller population of small brook trout.
Access
Lake Tikitapu can be reached via the Rotorua - Tarawera Road. There is a good boat ramp.
Methods
All methods are suitable on this lake, with jigging and harling being popular methods during the day. There is reasonable shoreline fishing around the main beach area for those wishing to fly fish or use a spinner.
Recommended Tackle
For nymph fishing:
- A 4 to 6 weight rod.
- A floating line.
- A weighted nymph with lighter nymphs tied below.
- Leader 4-4.5 metres in length, and 2.5-4 kg strength.
- An indicator (to detect strikes)
For wetfly fishing:
- A 6 or 7 weight rod.
- A medium to fast-sinking line.
- A short tippet of 2-2.5 metres.
For trolling:
- A short (1.5-2 metre) reasonably stiff rod.
- Lead core line (or LED line) with at least 100 metres backing.
- A long leader of between 3 to 15 metres depending on the water clarity.
For trolling using a downrigger:
- A downrigger.
- A flexible rod with reel set up with around 200 metres of 4 - 6kg nylon with a 3 metre leader of 3kg line.
For harling:
- A flexible rod with reel holding a slow to medium sinking fly line (or between one and two colours of leadcore line).
- A leader of around 5 metres.
Recommended Lures
- Dry flies: During the very warm weather many terrestrial insects can be blown onto this lake from the surrounding bushland and patterns that match these can be successful. Try Cicada patterns and Beetle, Bumble Bee or wasppatterns during the summer months.
- Nymphs: Green Caddis patterns, lightly weighted Pheasants Tail and Hare and Copper in sizes 14 - 16 can work well when fished just over the drop-off.
- Wet flies / Streamers: During the day use smelt patterns such as a Grey Ghost or Parsons' Glory, and during the evening and at night dark patterns such as Scotch Poacher,Hairy Dog or Fuzzy Wuzzy.
- Spinners: During the day use bright spinners such as the gold or silver Toby and use darker patterns such as Black Toby or Rapalas in the evening or on overcast days.
Tributaries
There are no tributaries of note.
Regulations
Season: All Year
Methods: Artificial fly, spinner
Bag Limit: Trout (8)
Size limit (cm): 350mm minimum
