Last updated October 2026
Lake McLaren is the winding hydro lake in McLaren Falls Park, about ten minutes’ drive from Tauranga. Fish & Game Eastern stocks it with rainbow and brown trout, and its shallow, weedy edges and many small bays let you fish for them from the shore.
The lake is open all year to fly and spin fishing, but bait is not allowed. The park gates set your fishing hours, so plan around them.
Lake McLaren at a Glance
- Location
- McLaren Falls Park, McLaren Falls Road off State Highway 29, near Tauranga
- Water
- Fresh: Lake McLaren, upper Wairoa catchment
- Main species
- Rainbow and brown trout (stocked by Fish & Game, with some wild fish)
- Season
- Open all year
- Methods
- Fly and spin only; no bait
- Best time
- First light and evening in summer; through the day from autumn to late spring
- Access
- Park roads and the Lakeside Track reach the water at Cherry Bay, Bottom Flat and Hamilton Point
- Park hours
- 7.30am to 7.30pm in daylight saving, 7.30am to 5.30pm otherwise
- Boats
- No powered craft; kayaks, dinghies and float tubes launch from Bottom Flat
- Dogs
- Not allowed in the park, even in vehicles
No tides. The lake level changes as the Kaimai power stations draw water, often dropping in the late afternoon, and summer trout feed mostly at first light and in the evening.
The Background
From above, Lake McLaren is a long, narrow lake that twists through the park in a chain of small bays and wooded points, with a footbridge across Cherry Bay and parkland running down to the water. It is one of the small storage lakes of the Kaimai hydro scheme, in the upper Wairoa catchment on the eastern side of the Kaimai Range, and it flows out into the Ruahihi Canal.
Fish & Game Eastern releases about 500 rainbow and 200 yearling brown trout into the lake each year from the Ngongotaha hatchery, and some trout breed naturally, so you can catch both wild and hatchery fish. Trout commonly reach about 1 kg, and some grow to 1.5 to 2 kg.
The park covers 190 hectares of parkland and is known for its tree collection, picnic flats and walks. Fish & Game describes the lake as ideal for family picnics and for introducing children to trout fishing.
Power generation in this catchment goes back to the McLaren Falls station of 1925. Today the lake is part of the Kaimai scheme, so its level changes with the power stations downstream.
How to Fish Lake McLaren
Where and when
Fish the edges. Much of the lake is shallow with weed beds along the margin, so trout feed close to the shore, and the park’s roads and the Lakeside Track let you reach the water easily.
Cherry Bay is one of the most popular spots and an easy walk from the main road. Fish & Game’s map also marks Hamilton Point and the dam end.
In summer trout are less active during the day and feed at first light, in the evening and after dark, so be there when the gates open and fish the last hours before they close. From autumn to late spring you can fish through the day.
What to catch and what to use
- Summer, fly: trout rise to land insects such as beetles and cicadas, so a terrestrial dry fly fished along the edges is a good start.
- Autumn to spring, fly: nymphs or wet flies fished through the day.
- Spinning: works through the cooler months, cast along the weed edges and off the points. Soft baits are allowed, because the lake is not a fly only water.
- From a kayak or float tube: Fish & Game suggests a rowing dinghy, kayak or float tube to reach the weed bed edges. No powered boats are allowed.
What to bring
Your licence (it is not sold at the park), polarised glasses for spotting fish over the weed, and insect repellent for the evenings. A landing net helps if you also try the steep sided Ruahihi Canal.
Getting There and Facilities
- Getting there: from State Highway 29 take the signposted McLaren Falls Road turnoff into the park. The speed limit inside the park is 15 km/h.
- Gate hours: 7.30am to 7.30pm during daylight saving and 7.30am to 5.30pm the rest of the year. Access is only while the park is open.
- Toilets and barbecues: toilets at the information centre next to the café, and electric barbecues at Cherry Bay, Bottom Flat, Top Flat, Pin Oak Flat and Hamilton Point.
- Camping: book and pay online before you arrive. Pin Oak Flat and Top Flat are open; Hamilton Point and Rotary Grove are closed for now.
- Dogs: not permitted anywhere in the park, including in vehicles.
- Mobile coverage: limited in parts of the park.
- More: for the falls, walks and camping, see our McLaren Falls Park guide.
Rules and Safety
- You need a current Fish & Game licence. It is not sold at the park: buy it online or from a licence agent. Season licences run to 30 September.
- The Fish & Game Eastern regulations list Lake McLaren as open all year to fly and spin fishing only. Bait is not allowed, and there is no fishing between midnight and 5am. Check the current brochure for set rod rules and bag limits.
- The southern section of the Ruahihi Canal, around the spawning bed, is closed to fishing. Check the brochure map before you fish the canal.
- Changing water levels: the lake level changes as the power stations draw water, especially late in the afternoon.
- Dam releases: on set Sundays, water is released from the Lake McLaren dam into the Wairoa River below for kayakers. Stay out of the river below the dam on release days.
- No swimming or boating downstream of the lower catchment boom.
- Weather warnings can close parts of the park, and a red warning closes it completely.
- Check, Clean, Dry your gear before and after fishing to stop pests spreading.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Hunting & Fishing Tauranga, Shop D1, 19 Bethlehem Road, Tauranga: tackle and Fish & Game licences.
- Bronco’s Outdoors, 88 Willow Street, Tauranga: fishing gear and Fish & Game licences.
Further Reading
Fish & Game Eastern regulations 2026/27: season, methods, hours and limits for Lake McLaren and the Ruahihi Canal.
Tauranga City Council: McLaren Falls Park: gate hours, closures, camping and park rules.
Manawa Energy: Wairoa River releases: the dam release dates below Lake McLaren.
Common Questions
What fish are in Lake McLaren?
Rainbow and brown trout. Fish & Game stocks the lake every year, and some trout breed there naturally.
Can I use bait at Lake McLaren?
No. The lake is fly and spin only. Soft baits are allowed.
Is Lake McLaren open all year?
Yes. It is open all year under the Fish & Game Eastern regulations, but you can only fish while the park gates are open, and never between midnight and 5am.
What time does McLaren Falls Park open?
At 7.30am. It closes at 7.30pm during daylight saving and at 5.30pm the rest of the year.
Can I fish from a boat?
Yes, from a kayak, rowing dinghy or float tube. Powered craft are not allowed in the park. Kayaks launch from Bottom Flat.
Do I need a fishing licence?
Yes, a current Fish & Game licence. Buy it online or from a licence agent before you go, because it is not sold at the park.
Can I bring my dog?
No. Dogs are not allowed in McLaren Falls Park, even in vehicles.
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