Media release from Eastern Fish & Game

Fish & Game: Smallest Release has Big Value

Tipping just 200 trout into a tiny North Island lake is the proverbial drop in a bucket for Fish & Game officers - who often release thousands at a time.

But that’s not to underestimate the “huge value” the annual re-stocking has to East Coast locals who fish privately owned Kent’s Lake at Tiniroto, in the ranges behind Gisborne.

On Monday, officers will transport the 200 yearling rainbows 350 km from the trout hatchery at Ngongotaha near Rotorua, to the lake owned by Syd Kent and his family.

Fish & Game Officer Mark Sherburn says it’s a great resource for the people of Gisborne and other East Coasters as “one of the few stocked lakes in the region.”

It’s thanks to Syd Kent’s generosity and community spirit that people can visit the picturesque lake to fish, Mark says.

The lake is stocked annually at this time, to provide fish which will become a nice size to catch by next winter. Their efforts appear to be worthwhile, he says, with some nice fish caught last summer. There are no size limits for Kent’s Lake and anglers are permitted to take two fish a day.

For his part, Syd Kent has made it clear that people are welcome so long as they respect the lake and its surroundings, take their rubbish away and close gates behind them.

Local angler and Fish & Game Councillor Murray Ferris says there are recent reports of anglers getting some nice fish from 1.5 kg to 2kg in size and “pretty feisty.”

He says the lake is important to local anglers as the only year-round fishery reasonably handy to town. It’s a lake where all methods can be used, from fly fishing and spinning to jigging, he adds.

There are two aluminium dinghies on hand for anglers to use – one owned by the angler’s club and the other by Fish & Game – but only small motors are permitted, with a five knot limit.

Murray Ferris says that visitors to the lake are advised to park by the gate and walk the short distance to the lake to avoid getting stuck in wet weather.

Fish & Game notes that even though the lake is on private property a fishing licence is still required, and can be obtained from most fishing stores or sports shops.

NOTE:
Tiniroto means many lakes and Kent’s is one of six well known ones in the area, including Rotokaha Lake, also known as Tiniroto Lake.

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