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Lake Waikareiti

Lake Waikareiti is a wilderness lake in the Lake Waikareiti Urewera National Park that can only be reached by walking. It is surrounded by beautiful native forest and containing a large stock of well conditioned feisty rainbow trout.
Fish type, number and
size		 Rainbow trout averaging around 1 to 1.5 kg, in good numbers and generally excellent condition.
Situation Lake Waikareiti is a remote lake situated north east of Lake Waikaremoana within the Urewera National Park
Maps

Access map
Check conditions View the MetService weather forecast.
Boat hire The Department of Conservation have small boats at the lake that can be hired on the visitor centre at Aniwaniwa Visitor Centre on Lake Waikaremoana.
Description Lake Waikareiti is a beautiful pristine clear water lake set in virgin native forest within the Urewera National Park. Its very remoteness makes it a pleasure to fish. It is however a reasonably difficult lake to fish as a deep drop off is often quite close to the shoreline and the banks are often covered with overhanging vegetation. The water is clear and cold with an abundance of food and so is able to sustain a good population of rainbow trout that average over 1 kg. While the fish may be smaller than some of the other lakes nearby, they are a generally in excellent condition. And they are certainly very feisty fighters. Access is not easy and though there is some shoreline fishing opportunities, this lake is best to fish from the small row boats supplied by the Department of Conservation. There is shoreline access at White Bull Bay and at Sandy Bay that can be reached along a track which follows the shore to the top end of lake.
Access A well maintained track that starts at the Aniwaniwa DoC Headquarters is the only way to reach this lake and generally takes about one hour to walk. It is a very attractive walk however as it passes through native forest. See the Lake Waikareiti access map.
Methods Both fly and spinner are legal though the best results are generally from fly fishing or from harling a fly close to the lake's shoreline.
Recommended tackle Rods of around 9 feet with either a floating or sinking line depending on the fishing option chosen. During the day most fish are taken deep a floating line can be useful when harling or fishing during the evening.
Recommended lures

Nymphs:
Weighted nymphs such as Hare and Copper or Pheasants Tail fished over the drop off can be effective.

Dry flies:
Waikareiti is not noted as a dry fly lake although during the height of summer Cicada, Blowfly and Beetle patterns can be effective when cast near the overhanging vegetation.

Wet flies / Streamers:
The most effective fly patterns are those that imitate the smelt population. These include Dorothy's, Grey Ghosts, Parsons' Glory, Rabbit patterns, particularly yellow or green, and Jack Spratt. Patterns such as Mrs Simpson or Hamill 's Killer that imitate a bully pattern can also be effective. During the night or in dark overcast conditions use darker patterns such as Scotch Poacher, Craig's Night-time or Black Marabou patterns.

Spinners: Black and gold Toby's, Tasmanian Devil, Cobras are effective when either trolling, harling or casting from the shore or a boat.
Tributaries There are no tributaries of note
Regulations
Applicable to Lake Waikareiti
Region Eastern region regulations
Season All year
Methods

Artificial fly, spinner.

Downriggers, paravanes and metal or lead core lines are prohibitied in Lake Waikareiti (but the use of weights such as spiral weights are allowed)
Bag limit 8
Size limit (cm) 350mm minimum

Other fishing waters of the region



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