Fishing for the family

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 4, Issue 19, 7 October 1986, Page 1

Fishing for the family

Children and families who like trout are in luck because 400 fish have just been liberated in the lake at Lakes Road, Ohakune. The trout were liberated by the Wildlife Service as "put and take"fishery — not intended for breeding but for fishing out and annual replenishment. They have been reared at the Tongariro hatchery in Turangi and are the excess of the children's fishing programme there. Harry Brown, secretary of the Waimarino ward of the central North Island conservancy council, said that the fish don't breed because of the limited food supply and the absence of gravel beds for spawning grounds. "The liberation is intended for family fishing rather than for the serious angler. We want to see fathers and mothers take their children fishing here and to learn something of the game," he said. One lucky, and perhaps large, family managed to catch 70 fish last year! The fish were brought from Turangi bv hatchery manager Bob Bedingfield in the Wildlife Service trout transport unit. The lake may be fished all year round, although until last week there were few fish left. The lake is open to artifical fly and spinner fishing, but not to bait fishing.