Lake
Maraetai is a large lake, holding good stocks of both brown and
rainbow trout. It is one of the deepest lakes that make up the series
of hydro lakes on the Waikato River and offers superb fishing.
Both brown
and rainbow trout are present in the lake, averaging around
1 to 1.5 kg and with some fish reaching 4 kg.
Situation
Lake Maraetai lies downstream from Lake
Whakamaru and is connected to that lake by a section of the
Waikato River that is very remote and only accessible by boat.
Lake Maraetai is a
deep lake that has a number of arms offering very secluded
fishing for those who wish to fish from a boat. There are
limited areas accessible to the shoreline angler. Like all
of the Waikato Hydro lakes, Lake Maraetai can be plagued by
lake weed during the warmer months. It is best fished using
a boat as this will give access to the remoter bays and sections
along the north and eastern shoreline.
Lake Maraetai Dam and tailrace
Maraetai is the largest dam of those on
the Waikato River. There is excellent fishing to be had when
fishing the faster water in the tailrace as it leaves the
dam. This water however is only accessible by boat as the
dam is built on a very steep sided gorge. The section is best
suited to spin fishing or wet fly fishing.
Access
The main point of access
to Lake Maraetai is at the small township of Mangakino where
there is also a boat ramp. There is also an excellent boat
ramp near Maraetai dam and a boat can also be launched at
the Twin Lakes where the Tokoroa-Mangakino road crosses this
small arm of the lake.
Trolling and harling are by far the most
preferred methods for fishing this lake. There can be excellent
fishing when the weather permits by drifting a boat and casting
either a spinner or a fly towards the weed beds.
Recommended lures
Nymphs:
Large weighted nymphs in the Hare
and Copper or Halfback
styles fished slowly along the weed beds can be effective.
Dry flies:
Lake Maraetai is not noted as a dry fly lake. However, during
the height of summer when large insects are being blown onto
the lake, try cicada
or beetle patterns
such as a Coch-y-Bondhu.
Spinners: Dark
spinners such as a Tokoroa Chicken,
black and gold Toby's or dark rapala
patterns fished on the weed beds are popular choices.
Tributaries
The Mangakino Stream
holds good numbers of large brown trout and can be fished
from a small boat entering the stream from the top end of
the lake. The Twin Lakes are really an arm of Lake Maraetai
but can be fished from a small boat that can be launched,
weather permitting.
