Lake Taupō: Summer Creel Survey

Date:  25 February 2023

Average catch rate 

The average catch rate this summer has been calculated at 0.68 fish per hour (1 legal sized trout every 1 hour and 28 minutes) which is comparable with the 0.66 fish per hour (1 legal sized trout every 1 hour & 30 minutes) calculated for the entire 2021/22 summer season (Fig.1). The 2020/21 summer season was the peak at 1.1 fish per hour (1 legal sized trout every 54 minutes).

Figure 1: Average catch rate for anglers fishing on Lake Taupo since 1992, where data is available. *Part season for summer 2022/23 | DOC

Catch, kept and released

Figure 2: Percentages of the total catch, kept and released by anglers during the summer period of November to end of January, since summer 2017/18 on Lake Taupō | DOC

So far this summer, anglers have reported through the creel surveys to keeping 90 trout, releasing 101 that were legal sized and releasing a further 21 that were undersized. This is very similar to the data from summer 2020/21 (Fig.2).

This summer has been much wetter than usual following on from what was a very wet winter. Last winter also saw some of the largest spawning runs on record enter the local tributaries and so what goes upstream must come downstream and so a large influx of spent fish after a very large spawning run was always to be expected this spring and summer.

Some decent flood events over summer have pushed a lot of the recovering fish back into the lake that would normally have spent longer recovering in the rivers. A number of these recovering fish have been caught by anglers this summer as they are often the hungriest and quickest to your lure! This partly explains almost 50% of the total catch that was legal sized but returned to the water alive.  Overall, anglers chose to keep 47.1% of their catch that was of a takeable size. 

Trout size 

Figure 3: Average lengths and weights of rainbow trout kept by anglers during the summer creel surveys on Lake Taupō | DOC

A sample of 81 rainbows measured and weighed by staff over summer have averaged 473 mm and 1.2 kg (2.64 lbs) with an average condition factor of 42.9. The rainbows kept this summer are similar to those from summer 2020/21 (Fig.3). Last summer was a standout where the rainbows averaged 1.5 kg (3.3 lbs) as fish during recent summers have averaged between 1.1 & 1.2 kg.

Overall, the fish kept this summer have been a mixed bag with some recovering fish, young maidens and well recovered fish amongst those being kept. A couple of excellent maiden fish have been measured and weighed this summer; a hen measuring 610 mm and weighing 3 kg (6.6 lbs) and a jack measuring 600 mm and weighing an impressive 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs).

The very high lake levels and colder water temperatures this summer will have had an impact on the formation of any thermocline within the lake and trout won’t be where they are normally found at this time of year. The season almost seems one month later than usual with the lake still to really warm up. Anglers are doing well trolling within the top 20 metres rather than jigging in deeper waters closer to 40m, but this is likely to change once a decent thermocline does form. 

Preferred angling method

The preference for jigging amongst summer anglers peaked during summer 2019/20 at 55.5% and has slowly declined in popularity during recent summers down to 44% so far this summer. The drop in popularity of jigging has seen a rise in the use of trolling gear, both deep and shallow to 29.5% and 16.7%, respectively.

This summer, the jigging has yet to fire, and anglers have generally done better targeting trout by trolling in the top 20 metres. We should expect the jigging to improve once the lake warms up and it eventually stops raining! The use of downriggers during recent years has remained under 10% and was the lowest since summer 2016/17 at just 2.3% this summer.

Average angler satisfaction

Figure 4: Average angler satisfaction scores for angler fishing on Lake Taupō during the summer of 2022/23 | DOC

As part of the angling survey, anglers are asked 3 questions pertaining to the size and condition of the trout that they are catching, their angling success and their angling enjoyment. So far this summer, anglers have rated the trout that they are catching at an average of 6/10, their catch rate at 6.3/10 and their angling enjoyment at 9.3/10 (Fig.4).

The size and condition this year reflects the numerous recovering fish amongst the catch this summer. Angling success is down slightly this summer as anglers have had to adjust to different conditions but is still acceptable given the overall catch rate. Average angling enjoyment has remained steady during recent summers and exceeded 9/10 since 2011/12.

Lake anglers were also asked a final question about whether anything detracted from their angling enjoyment. So far this summer, 66.1% of anglers didn’t cite anything. The largest detraction was jet skiers (13.6%) followed by lake levels (6.8%). Bad manners and bad boating behaviour accounted for 2.5%.

Summary

Overall, this summer has been on par with that of 2019/20 in terms of average fish size and to last summer in terms of catch rate. Last summer was special and “one out of the box”. Given the current conditions within the lake, anglers should expect the fishing to improve and the fish to improve as we progress through what is left of summer and early autumn.