TAUPO MOANA

Dominion, Volume 27, Issue 70, 15 December 1933, Page 24 (Supplement)

TAUPO MOANA

Paradise for Anglers FISHING FACILITIES Beautiful, Historic Spot Known to New Zealanders and to visitors alike as “the angler’s paradise,” Lake Taupo, or Taupo Moana, the beautiful inland sea with its many historical associations, increases in popularity every season, and so farflung are its praises that its visitors now include fishermen and holidaymakers from all parts of the globe. The home of the fighting rainbow trout, Taupo and the tributary rivers present a very animated sight during the fishing season, when campers pitch their tents in all parts of the district. Fishermen come from far

and near, and many and varied are the stories of the day’s catch, each fishermgn making sure that he can go one better than last, season. However, by no means all the stories are “fish” Btories, for the average size of Taupo's rainbow trout exceeds that of the trout of any other waters of the world. Control over the waters of the district, in all matters relating to fish and fishing, is exercised by the Department of Internal Affairs, and any Information can be obtained by calling at the Department’s office at Taupo Village.

The angler who makes his headquarters at Taupo has a large range Of fishing-water within easy reach. There is some good fly-fishing and spinning water in the Waikato River from its outlet from the Lake at Taupo down to the Huka Falls, which mark the boundary of the Taupo district. Rowboats or launches can proceed some distance down the river, while there is easy access by car to, the left bank from the main Taupo-Wairakei-Rotorua road within two and a half miles of Taupo. At the Huka Falls, three and a half miles from Taupo on the same road, a suspension bridge spans the river and provides an approach to a foot-track on the right bank which opens up much good fly-fishing water. Local anglers have recently developed a method of fishing in the evenings with large dry flies in this locality with considerable sue Cess. There is more good water below the Huka Falls, extending as far as the famous Aratiatia Rapids, nine miles from Taupo. Anglers who make Wairakei, six miles from Taupo, their headquarters have ready access , to this portion of the river. A motorroad from Taupo, on the opposite side of the river from the Taunp-Rotorua road, leads to the Aratiatia Rapids Ind to good spinning and fly-fishing water below them. The rapids are also accessible from the Wairakei side of the river, but the fishing-water below them is not accessible by this route. Anglers fishing below the Huka Falls must obtain Rotorua District licences. These are obtainable both at Wairakei and Taupo. There are a number of good fly-fish-ing localities round the shores of the bay on which Taupo is situated, and at numerous spots around the lake, and in the various streams that flow Into it. The Tongariro is the largest river flowing into the lake, and it is also one of the most famous trout rivers in the world. To the fisherman who wishes to troll the lake gives wide scope. Fish may be taken almost anywhere round the shores, and the usual method is to troll from a launch. The most favoured trolling-waters are within easy reach of Taupo, where for miles the angler can troll round the rugged and rininhabited western shores, across beautiful bays and through deep blue waters lying still and silent at the feet of precipitous cliffs.