{"id":1330,"date":"2019-12-14T11:10:13","date_gmt":"2019-12-14T01:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.elaborate.net.au\/flyfishing\/?p=1330"},"modified":"2019-12-14T11:28:26","modified_gmt":"2019-12-14T01:28:26","slug":"taupo-fishery-focus-dec-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elaborate.net.au\/flyfishing\/taupo-fishery-focus-dec-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"Taupo Fishery Focus – Dec 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Department<\/a><\/p>\n

Written by Taupo Fishery Focus by Editor, James Barnett for\u00a0 Newsletter : Taupo Fishery Focus #9<\/p>\n

Issue 9 – December 2019.<\/strong><\/p>\n

By\u00a0trout anglers\u00a0for trout anglers.<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Welcome to the December edition of Taup\u014d\u00a0Fishery Focus,\u00a0the\u00a0bi-monthly online newsletter for anglers who fish this world class trout fishery.<\/p>\n

Summer brings a wealth of fresh opportunities for catching trout in the Taup\u014d Region. Backcountry rivers are now open\u00a0providing\u00a0plenty of new water for fly anglers, while\u00a0 boaties and kayakers will\u00a0find success with a variety of techniques on the lake.<\/p>\n

This is an excellent\u00a0time of year for families and friends to get\u00a0together, kick back and\u00a0enjoy the great outdoors. Trout fishing is good\u00a0option, especially for kids\u00a0who never forget the excitement of catching their first trout! If you are heading out on a fishing trip\u00a0with the family just\u00a0ensure everyone who will be\u00a0fishing has a licence before they start\u00a0– our online licence store\u00a0makes it easy to find a suitable option –\u00a0licences\u00a0available here><\/a><\/p>\n

From the trout’s perspective spawning is largely over. In rivers they will be\u00a0making the most of\u00a0increased insect activity to pack on weight –\u00a0feeding on mayfly, caddis and stonefly, with protein rich cicada proving irresistible during the hotter months. Trout in Lake Taup\u014d will pursue\u00a0spawning smelt\u00a0into the shallows,\u00a0where they will also find\u00a0bullies and koura after dark.\u00a0Off-shore winds will carry green beetles onto the lake surface, providing yet another feeding option. Large\u00a0shoals of\u00a0smelt will continue to be found in deeper water,\u00a0with hungry\u00a0trout in constant attendance.<\/p>\n

As summer progresses so\u00a0the surface water of Lake Taup\u014d heats up causing the lake to stratify – warmer surface water does not mix with\u00a0deeper cold water. The layer where the warm and cool water meet is called the thermocline, which forms at a\u00a0depth of\u00a0 approximately\u00a025\u00a0to 30m.\u00a0\u00a0This makes\u00a0a good target for anglers, as both smelt and trout are attracted here.<\/p>\n

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to wish\u00a0all Taup\u014d anglers\u00a0an\u00a0enjoyable festive break. Have fun,\u00a0stay safe\u00a0and don’t forget to take a few photos – we will be running our photo competition again in the new year!<\/p>\n

\"Tongariro<\/a><\/p>\n

Back country open.<\/strong>
\nGood news for back country fishing fans, December 1 saw\u00a0headwater rivers and streams open to anglers, allowing access to water previously restricted to protect spawning trout. The back country fishing season in Taup\u014d opens later than many parts of the country due to the late spawning habits of our rainbow trout… more><\/a><\/p>\n

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\"Summer<\/a><\/p>\n

Summer smelting.<\/strong>
\nFlowers blooming along the shore of Lake Taup\u014d often coincide with the first arrivals of smelt in the shallows. With hungry trout in hot pursuit! Casting to \u2018smelting\u2019 trout in shallow water can be an exciting way to fish. These trout are aggressive and can hit an artificial fly hard…\u00a0more><\/a><\/p>\n

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Harling is an ideal method for catching trout in early summer. It is a very mobile technique best suited to low light conditions such as early morning or evening. This video provides an introduction to this valuable technique<\/p>\n