Lake Trout Fishing Gear

There’s more than one way to indulge your love of fishing at Lake Taupo. With some of the finest fly fishing and lake fishing available in New Zealand, Lake Taupo caters for all; from experienced to first-time anglers.

The only way you can enjoy a meal of trout in New Zealand is by landing one yourself. You can’t buy trout at restaurants and supermarkets (although most restaurants in Taupo will happily cook your catch for you) so to experience the best trout fishing Taupo has to offer, check out our guide.

Fly Fishing in the Mighty Tongariro River
Tread the path well traveled by film stars, business leaders, world politicians, locals and visitors alike to the mighty Tongariro River in Turangi. Considered the ‘Holy Grail’ of fly fishing; here anglers from all over the world come to do battle with the large silver trout this area is famous for.

To get the inside knowledge on how the river pools are fishing, head to Riverway General Store and Outfitters. This Tongariro River landmark has been part of the local landscape for the past 50 years. With a tackle shop, fishing guides and fishing school, Riverway exemplifies all that is wonderful about fly fishing in this region.

Daydreaming and fishing the Trout Fishing Capital of the World
His 38 foot catamaran might be called the Daydream, but be prepared for plenty of action with Adam of AJ Charters. Considered the Trout Fishing Capital of the World, Adam knows the southern end of Lake Taupo like the back of his hand. You’ll visit Tokaanu, Waihi, Pukawa, Omori, Kuratau, Stump Bay and the steaming Hipaua cliffs. All forms of lake fishing are catered for including harling, trolling and jigging and Adam will clean and bag your catch so all you have to do is cook it. Talk nicely to the skipper and he’ll show you the local bush walks, restaurants, hot pools and may even stop by a winery or two.

Take the kids fishing
Now you can learn about everything to do with trout, fishing and New Zealand’s freshwater ecology at the Tongariro National Trout Centre. This wild trout fishery experience and education facility is a ‘must visit’ for the whole family. The centre also holds special children’s fishing days once a month where kids can try fly fishing with a guaranteed catch. The trout is then weighed, measured and presented to each child with a certificate to take home. They can also get their fish filleted and smoked on site.

Fish Cruise Lake Taupo
With a lake expanse covering 606 square kilometres (234 square miles), you know there’s got to be lots of fishing charter boats heading out each day. But how do you find the right charter boat and skipper for you? Its no problem as Fish Cruise Lake Taupo makes it unbelievably easy for you. Representing more than 20 charter boats, Fish Cruise Lake Taupo is located at the Lake Taupo Boat Harbour just minutes from town. These guys can tell you who takes big groups, small groups, half day charters and full day so you can tailor your fishing experience to suit you.

Its not just Bravado
Nick and Daphne, owners and operators of the luxurious Bravado 3 will help you get hooked on the lake. Nick and Daphne promise and deliver a truly memorable fishing experience, so much so that they won the 2009 Best Charter Boat Nationwide – People’s Choice Award. All you have to do is turn up as all fishing gear is provided. You can try your hand at harling, lead-lining, down-rigging or jigging; even lake fly fishing. With an open upper deck that’s great for soaking up the sun and the views, there’s more to this charter boat than just bravado.

The Jolly Outdoors
Fishing, hunting, hiking, cruising; enjoy the best the outdoors has to offer with Chris Jolly Outdoors. With not just one, but five charter boats, Chris Jolly Outdoors caters for groups of all sizes; from small to big groups of up to 160 people.

Choose from lake and fly fishing and for something different; heli fishing, which gives you the opportunity to visit remote areas without having to hike your way in. On board, Chris and his crew will help you bag a big one and clean and prepare your fish so you can eat it sashimi style or barbequed, right there and then. If you want to take your catch home, they can arrange to get it smoked, vacuum wrapped and couriered anywhere in New Zealand.

A unique catch that’s absolutely delicious
Well it’s not trout but still fresh water and still equally delicious. At Huka Prawn Park, the geothermal activity in the area is used to create the perfect warm water conditions to breed and grow tropical prawns.

Here you can tour the hatchery, hand feed the baby prawns and the park’s friendly rainbow trout while the kids can play on the park’s water features. But best of all, you can fish all day for prawns and then get your catch cooked at the restaurant for free. There’s nothing like this anywhere in New Zealand which is why it makes our ‘best fishing’ guide.

Come back from fishing empty handed?
Didn’t bag a trout? Don’t sweat. Just head to Grand Central Fry for the best fish and chip takeaways in town. Yes it’s true that the fish here is not trout but it is real good. Take your freshly cooked, newspaper wrapped “catch” down to the lake side and enjoy that quintessential kiwi past-time; eating fish and chips outdoors with your friends and family.

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