Lake Taupō

Lake Taupō, in Waikato, New Zealand, is the kind of lake where a careful approach pays off. Shore anglers do well casting parallel to the bank along reed lines and overhanging trees, where ambush predators wait. Boat anglers can fan-cast points and submerged humps — anywhere the bottom changes depth quickly. Lure choice at Lake Taupō usually mirrors the local forage: small baitfish imitations in spring, larger profiles through summer.

Location

-38.8070, 175.9087 · View on OpenStreetMap →

Species at This Spot

Rainbow troutBrown troutEuropean perchLargemouth bassEastern Australian salmon

Fishing Techniques

• For Rainbow trout

  Vary your retrieve speed when using spinners to find what triggers a strike; sometimes a slow, steady retrieve works best, while other times a faster, erratic retrieve is more effective.

• For Brown trout

  When fishing streams, focus on seams and current breaks, where trout hold to ambush prey.

• For European perch

  Vary your retrieve speed and lure depth until you find what the perch are responding to on that day, and use light line.

Recommended Gear

Tackle commonly used to target the species at Lake Taupō.

Plan Your Trip

Anglers heading to Lake Taupō should sort licences and confirm seasonal regulations for Waikato before the trip. A quick weather check the morning of helps too — wind direction in particular can make or break a session at a spot like Lake Taupō.

Nearby Spots in Waikato

See all fishing spots in Waikato →

Other Fishing Regions in New Zealand