No lake like Rotorua for keen angler | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

In the first of a series on Rotorua's lakes we visit Lake Rotorua, the largest in the district and the most productive trout fishery in New Zealand.

Bert Robinson loves Lake Rotorua - he fishes for trout six days a day each summer from various spots on the lake and moved to the city for the fishing thrills.

Mr Robinson, who is also The Daily Post's trout fishing columnist, spends his lunch breaks trying to hook a trout and says he has experienced some magical moments on the lake's shores.

"I got called out one night last week out of the blue," he said.

"I was heading home and a guy was just leaving [my usual spot]. I got into the water about 10.15pm, the moon was out, not a cloud in the sky or a breath of wind. I was looking directly at the township and you could see Mokoia Island. The stars were out, it was a magical evening - then the fish started biting. It was brilliant, just perfect."

Mr Robinson started fishing on Lake Rotorua 30 years ago while living in Hamilton. He moved to Rotorua in 1992 as jobs were "fierce" in Hamilton but there were plenty here.

"It went from there," he says.

He has a few favourite spots and often drives to Hamurana from Rotokawa School where he is caretaker, to get a spot of fishing done in his lunch break.

Last summer he caught 700 fish in six weeks. He reckons it's not unusual for an angler to hook between 60 and 100 trout in a day with novices able to score themselves up to 40.

"I landed three at lunch on Monday," he says.

"In the summer I will fish six days a week, probably seven. It's easy access for me. I started fishing at Hamurana and Awahou stream mouths, then at Waiteti and Ngongotaha [stream mouths]. They drew me over. Sometimes I'll fish at Holdens Bay but mostly at Hamurana.

"Over the year I'm probably out two to three times a week."

He says Lake Rotorua holds a large number of fish and there are "some enormous" brown trout.

"I could go to other places, and I do from time to time, but I prefer to fish Rotorua because it's close. It can also be quite challenging."

He says that is because anglers have to work out what the fish are feeding on and find a fly to match.