Tarawera is the trophy lake of the Rotorua district — deep, clear and cooler than Rotorua, it grows the biggest rainbows around, fish that hold over the cold springs and run the tributaries in season. Much of it is boat-access fishing, jigging and trolling the drop-offs and working the stream mouths and the hot-water beaches, with fly fishing the cold-water inflows. A scenic, big-fish lake under a famous mountain.
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
35% confidence — limited data
Live now
Conditions on the water
Trends shown where the gauge supports them
Wind
SW 7 km/h
Light breeze
Wave
Ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
6°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1019 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
How to fish · for rainbow trout
The brief
When · where · method · kit
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
No strong hatch signals at the moment — general searching tactics should work best. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Today's tactical plan
The plan
Plan A · Plan B · what to watch · bank or boat
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Hatches & runs
What's on, when
Twelve months at a glance
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Today's fly · curated pack
Top pattern + the box
4 patterns from this venue's curated pack
Evidence
Why today scores what it does
The factors driving today's verdict
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
About this water
Lake Tarawera, on the water
Field guide · contributor-editedLake Tarawera · about
What this water is
Background · character · contributors
About this water
Tarawera is the trophy lake of the Rotorua district — deep, clear and cooler than Rotorua, it grows the biggest rainbows around, fish that hold over the cold springs and run the tributaries in season. Much of it is boat-access fishing, jigging and trolling the drop-offs and working the stream mouths and the hot-water beaches, with fly fishing the cold-water inflows. A scenic, big-fish lake under a famous mountain.
Under the surface
A deep, clear lake beneath the riven dome of Mount Tarawera, whose 1886 eruption reshaped this whole country. Cooler and deeper than its neighbours, it grows the largest rainbows of the district, fish that hold over the cold springs and gather at the stream mouths and the famous hot-water beaches.
Wading: Deep cold lake, sudden weather, boat access fishing — caution
- Lake
- Volcanic
- Stillwater
- River mouth
Lake Tarawera · directions
How to get to the water
Directions
Lake Tarawera · zones
Where the rules change
Seasons · zones · per-species rules
Seasons & zones
- Troutyear-round → year-round
Lake Tarawera · permits
Good to know
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Eastern Fish & Game region — a Fish & Game licence is required (NOT a DOC Taupō licence)
- Check the current Eastern region Anglers Notice.
Lake Tarawera · learn
Related guides
Learn-zone playbooks for this water
Related guides
Lake Tarawera
Google Places
Tarawera is the trophy lake of the Rotorua district — deep, clear and cooler than Rotorua, it grows the biggest rainbows around, fish that hold over the cold springs and run the tributaries in season.
Species
A patient day, if you fancy it
Good wave on — drift country. Take your time — read the water before you cast.
35% confidence — limited data
Conditions
Wind
SW 7 km/h
Light breeze
Wave
Ripple
Water temp
—
No reading
Air temp
6°C
Cloud
Overcast
Pressure
1019 hPa
Rain · 24h
0.0 mm
No rain
Some readings unavailable — check directly before fishing.
Weather-only: no live gauge. Read wind, water temperature and the cold-water springs/mouths.
Condition match
73%
Cloud50%
Wind100%
Temp60%
A good match for this venue — most conditions are close to what it fishes best in.
How to fish it · for rainbow trout
When
No strong hatch signals at the moment — general searching tactics should work best. The ripple is helpful — fish should move onto the feed and a slow-drifted team or single wet will cover water well.
Where
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
The plan
Plan A
Set up a broadside drift and cover the water systematically. Work a bushy searching pattern on the bob and drop a contrasting nymph on the point.
Plan B
If the main plan is not working, switch to a smaller, more imitative pattern fished slower and deeper. A change of drift angle can also make a difference.
Watch for
Evening tends to be the best period in summer — stay late if you can for a sedge or spinner fall.
Boat — drift
A gentle ripple is ideal for drifting — broadside drift covering the wind lanes should be productive.
Why this score
- Wind conditions (ripple) closely match what this water fishes best in.
Through the year
0–3 scale · June highlighted
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Black MidgeHatch
2
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
2
Daddy Long LegsHatch
2
3
2
Murrough (Great Red Sedge)Hatch
1
2
1
Lake OliveHatch
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
Numbers are intensity 0 (none) to 3 (peak) — a guide, not a guarantee.
Gallery · 1
Terrain map
Permits & access
Permit required — see local rules.
- Eastern Fish & Game region — a Fish & Game licence is required (NOT a DOC Taupō licence)
- Check the current Eastern region Anglers Notice.
Directions
About this water
Tarawera is the trophy lake of the Rotorua district — deep, clear and cooler than Rotorua, it grows the biggest rainbows around, fish that hold over the cold springs and run the tributaries in season. Much of it is boat-access fishing, jigging and trolling the drop-offs and working the stream mouths and the hot-water beaches, with fly fishing the cold-water inflows. A scenic, big-fish lake under a famous mountain.
Under the surface
A deep, clear lake beneath the riven dome of Mount Tarawera, whose 1886 eruption reshaped this whole country. Cooler and deeper than its neighbours, it grows the largest rainbows of the district, fish that hold over the cold springs and gather at the stream mouths and the famous hot-water beaches.
Wading: Deep cold lake, sudden weather, boat access fishing — caution
- Lake
- Volcanic
- Stillwater
- River mouth
Seasons & zones
- Troutyear-round → year-round
About this water · Lough note · 4 min read
Tarawera is the trophy lake of the Rotorua district — deep, clear and cooler than Rotorua, it grows the biggest rainbows around, fish that hold over the cold springs and run the tributaries in season. Much of it is boat-access fishing, jigging and trolling the drop-offs and working the stream mouths and the hot-water beaches, with fly fishing the cold-water inflows. A scenic, big-fish lake under a famous mountain.
Other water nearby · 1
Related guides