Fish & Game stocks up Lake Tutira with young trout

Lake Tutira’s trout population is set to receive part of its annual boost – as Hawkes Bay Fish & Game releases more than 2000 young trout.

The fish were transported from Fish & Game’s Rotorua hatchery for the release tomorrow (22/5)as part of an annual stocking programme.

Fish & Game Regional Manager Pete McIntosh says the 2,250 one year-old rainbows, including 500 with yellow tags, will be piped into the lake around noon (22/5/2015).

“We’d be grateful if anglers who catch a tagged fish use for form on our website or phone through the details, as the information is an important part of ongoing monitoring of the fishery.”

“We need to know where the fish was caught, its length and how much it weighed. This allows us to calculate growth rates and condition factors.” Those who send in details go into a draw to win a free licence

Mr McIntosh says the lake should start to fish well soon. Last winter some magnificent fish were caught in the shallows while they were looking for a place to spawn. And recent monitoring showed some exceptional visibility in the lake’s waters.

“The lake provides some consistent fishing opportunities when the region’s rivers are not suitable to fish.”

The trout released tomorrow will hopefully grow fast and be the prize catch of anglers in a couple of years’ time, he added.

Mr McIntosh says that Tutira doesn’t have streams suitable for trout to spawn in, so although some natural reproduction takes place, the lake does need to be re-stocked.

ENDS

© Scoop Media