Rainbow trout

Where they live

• The lakes and rivers of the central North Island, where they are the backbone of the fishery (NIWA).
• Many lakes along the eastern side of the Southern Alps in the South Island (NIWA).

When

• Some lakes are open all year; rivers mostly follow the October to April season, with exceptions. At Taupō, DOC sets the rules and sells the licence.
• In winter, rainbow trout run up rivers from the lakes to spawn, which brings them within reach of the bank.

Seasons and rules for each region, from Fish & Game ↗

How

From the shore of a lake

Fishing a river mouth where it enters a lake, with a fly or a lure, especially around dawn and dusk.

From a boat

Trolling or harling a lure or fly behind a slow-moving boat covers a lot of water.

In rivers

Nymphing the runs and pools, much as for brown trout; rainbows are more often in faster water.

Your first trip

1. At Taupō, buy a Taupō licence from DOC: a Fish & Game licence doesn’t cover it.
2. Try a river mouth on one of the central North Island lakes at first light.
3. Check, Clean, Dry your gear before you go to a different water.

Check, Clean, Dry. Remove any plant matter from your boots, waders, net and line, and leave it at the water you’re at. Soak or scrub everything in 10% dishwashing detergent for at least 10 minutes (or hot water at 50–55 °C for 5 minutes). Let it dry completely, inside and out, then leave it at least another 48 hours before using it in another river or lake. MPI

Places to start

Each region page lists places where a public road meets the water and the bank is public land.

• Central North Island
• Canterbury
• Otago