Lake Rotoiti Fishing Waters

Access map
Access map with topography

LINZ topographic maps: 1:50,000 (260 series)

See the Environment Bay of Plenty website for:

- A report card on the lake water quality

- Lake use map and lake closure notices

View the MetService weather forecast for Rotorua.

Lake Rotoiti info and basic chart (pdf file 123 kB)

Rotorua lakes fishery (pdf file 491 kB)

Rotorua lakes: Winter shoreline fishing (73 kB)

Boat fishing information (pdf file 256 kB)

Lake Rotoiti is a deep lake formed from a volcanic cone that provides excellent fishing to both the shoreline and the boat angler who wishes to target trophy sized fish. It is third-largest lake in the Rotorua area. As there are limited numbers of spawning tributaries, most fish are hatchery-reared but due to the abundant food source in the lake, fish grow rapidly and can reach impressive sizes.

The northern shoreline is bush clad and often has steep cliffs rising directly out of the water. This section is only suited to boat fishing. The southern shore offers a range of angling opportunities to the fly fisherman who wishes to fish from the shoreline.

An algae bloom that affected the lake for a period has
not been a major problem over the last few summers and
with a diversion wall well under way, the future looks good.

There is good access to much of the lake. State Highway 33 provides access to the northwestern shoreline, with State Highway 30 providing good access to the southeastern shoreline. As most of the lake can only be fished by boat there are a number of public boat ramps.

As of mid August 2008, Lake Rotoiti's delta boat ramp was back in use with construction of the Ohau Channel Wall completed.

See the Lake Rotoiti access map.

Nymphs: Nymphs in the Pheasants Tail, Hare and Copper and Halfback patterns can be successful. When jigging during the winter months any pattern such as a Glo-bug can also work well.

Dry flies: During warmer weather trout will rise to take any terrestrial insect that is blown on to the water, so any Cicada, Wasp or Blowfly pattern can be successful during the warmer months.

Wet flies / Streamers: During the day use any pattern that resembles a smelt such as the Grey Ghost, Dorothy, Ginger Mick or Rabbit pattern. At night use a Fuzzy Wuzzy, Craig's Night-time, Scotch Poacher or any dark Marabou pattern. Lumo flies work well particulary on very dark nights. When jigging, use any smelt pattern.

Spinners: Toby patterns, Tasmanian Devils and Copper patterns all work well when deep trolling. Different colours work well at different times of the year so it is best to experiment to ensure the best result.