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Home > Target Species |
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Target Species |
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Rainbow Trout |
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Widespread in cool waters in many parts of New Zealand including lakes and rivers of the central North Island and further southwards. Introduced from the Pacific coast of North America. Found in pools in rivers and in open waters of colder lakes. Spawns in winter when 3-4 years old in cold, fast flowing, gravelly rivers, the young moving down to lakes as they grow. Has reached 9.5kg in New Zealand and the world record is 16.5kg caught in Lake Michigan. Rainbows feed on immature and adult insects, aquatic invertebrates, fish eggs and small fish. They are a favourite of fly fisherman, but can also be caught on spinners, plugs and a wide variety of baits ranging from worms to small marshmallows. |
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Brown Trout |
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Brown Trout vary in colour. They are normally sea-run fish olive on their back, silvery on their side and whitish on their belly with indistinct spots. Known to reach 13.5kg in rivers and up to 31kg in lakes. Present from Coromandel southwards in both rivers and lakes and include many sea-run populations. Introduced from Europe, their life cycle is the same as rainbow trout but spawns earlier in winter. Feeds on a wide range of terrestrial and aquatic insects, crustaceans as well as small fish. Active feeding generally occurs during subdued daylight and at night when they search water areas. Brown trout habitat moving water of variable depth, hard bottom areas of lakes, sunken weed beds, submerged islands, sunken logs, undercut banks, protruding shorelines, deep pools and around bridges or boulders downstream in any current. Brown trout are extremely wary and must be approached quietly and slowly. They will take small spoons, spinners or plugs worked near the bottom in areas having their preferred water temperature. Use a slow retrieve with pauses to allow your lure to rise and then flutter down. |
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Brook Trout |
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Intermittent in central North Island and the eastern South Island. Introduced from eastern North America. Reaches 6.5kg but rarely more than 4kg and more commonly less than a kilo. Found in some lakes and in small, cold headwater streams. Life cycle is the same as for rainbow trout. Active feeding generally occurs during subdued daylight and at night when they search water areas providing insects, smaller fish and crayfish. |
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Perch |
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Found up to sixty centimetres. An introduced species of still water and slow moving rivers with good water quality, perch are voracious predators preying on insects and small fishes. They will eat surprisingly large food items. Perch have a scattered distribution through both main islands. They grow up to weights of 2kg or more, but populations will stunt under certain conditions resulting in large populations of small, undernourished individuals. An attractive olive-green fish with prominent stripes, perch will take baits of worms, small fish (where legal) and respond to streamer flies, spinners, spoons and plugs. Not often targeted, they fight reasonably well and are said to be good eating. A licence is required to fish for perch. |
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