Trout bigger and more numerous

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 58, 23 July 1974, Page 3

Trout bigger and more numerous

Research at the Whareroa trap demonstrates that the number and average weight of trout in Lake Taupo increased last year, anglers were told on Saturday. Statistics were presented by the controller of the wildlife division of Internal Affairs, Dr G. R. Williams. Williams. Dr Williams acted as the chairman at a Kinloch conference between Federation of Lake Taupo Angling, Shooting and Boating Clubs and Internal Affairs officers. The trap was operated from September 1 to September 30. During that time 574 brown and rainbow trout of both sexes migrated upstream compared with 467 the previous year. Downstream migrants

totalled 711 compared with 417 for 1972. The biggest group to move in either direction were female rainbows. Their average length was 21.39 > inches, compared with 20.35 inches in 1972. Female browns averaged 23.68 inches (22.25 the previous year). The average weight of female rainbows was 4.48 lb (4.01). Female browns averaged 7.18 lb (5.63). The average condition factor for female rainbows showed a slight decrease last year — 45.4 compared with 47.4 in 1972. Female browns, however, showed an improvement — 53.5 compared with 50.4. With few severe floods, the condition of the stream for trapping was the best for several years, said Dr Williams. Good river gravels, rather than silt, were in evidence down to the stream mouth.