Last updated October 2026
The Tokaanu Tailrace is the straight canal that carries water from the Tokaanu power station into Tokaanu Bay, at the southern end of Lake Taupō. It is one of the Taupō waters where you may spin fish as well as fly fish, and the mouth draws large trout when the smelt are running.
Most anglers fish the mouth, and boats may fish the canal at anchor. You need a Taupō fishing licence from DOC.
At a Glance
- Location
- Tokaanu, southern end of Lake Taupō, off State Highway 41
- Main catch
- Trout, with large fish at the mouth when smelt are running
- Methods
- Fly fishing and spin fishing; no bait
- Season
- Open all year
- Hours
- No fishing between midnight and 5am
- Closed water
- The first 110 m of canal below the powerhouse, and the SH41 bridge
- Boats
- Must be anchored parallel to the flow, with no more than two anchors
- Licence
- Taupō fishing licence from DOC
- Access
- Tailrace boat ramp and car park on the west bank, near the mouth
- Tides
- None
No tides. The canal carries water released from the Tokaanu power station, and smelt runs matter more than the weather for the mouth.
The Background
The Tokaanu power station is one of two stations in the Tongariro power scheme. It was built between 1966 and 1973 and runs on water drawn from the Whakapapa, Whanganui, Moawhango and Tongariro rivers, carried through tunnels and held in dams and lakes.
Once the water has passed through the station it is released into Lake Taupō down this canal. The Lake Taupō regulations count the tailrace as part of the lake.
From above, the canal runs dead straight from the powerhouse, under the State Highway 41 bridge, and north into Tokaanu Bay.
The boat ramp, a sealed car park and a jetty sit on the west bank close to the mouth. A long, low bank lines the east side, and beyond it lie the channels and wetland of the Tongariro River delta.
Local fishing writers rate the tailrace for large trout when the smelt are running, with most anglers working the mouth. The old Tokaanu Wharf on Wharf Road, once a shipping point for goods crossing the lake in the 1880s and restored in 2003, was another favourite, but it is listed as closed.
How to Fish the Tokaanu Tailrace
Where to fish
The mouth, where the canal water meets Tokaanu Bay, is where most anglers fish. Boats may also fish the canal itself, at anchor. Keep clear of the State Highway 41 bridge, where fishing is banned, and of the first 110 m of canal below the powerhouse, which is closed all year.
Spinning
DOC names the tailrace as one of the good spinning places in the Taupō district. Cast as far as you can and vary the direction to cover water, then wind just fast enough to keep the lure off the bottom.
DOC lists Tobies, Cobras and Tasmanian Devils as the popular Taupō lures, in green, black, red, gold or a mix. First and last light are the usual times, and spring and early summer are probably the best months, when trout move shallower to chase smelt.
Fly fishing
Fly fishing is allowed in the canal and at the mouth too. When the smelt are running, ask at a Tūrangi tackle shop which smelt patterns are working before you go.
What to catch and what to use
- Trout: large fish come into the mouth when smelt are running.
- Lures: Tobies, Cobras and Tasmanian Devils for spinning. Only artificial lures and flies may be used.
- Bait: not allowed anywhere in the Taupō district.
From a boat
Small boats launch from the tailrace ramp. If you fish from a boat in the canal it must be securely anchored, lying parallel to the flow, with no more than two anchors. For trolling and other boat methods out on the open lake, see our Lake Taupō fishing guide.
Rules and Wading Safety
- Licence: a Taupō fishing licence from DOC is required, bought online.
- Rule set: the Anglers Notice for Taupō District 2026, in force from 1 July 2026, sets the methods, seasons, daily limit and minimum size for the canal. Check the current notice on DOC’s website before you fish.
- Methods: fly fishing and spin fishing are both allowed in the canal. No bait.
- Closed water: no fishing in the first 110 m of the canal downstream of the powerhouse, at any time of year.
- Bridge: fishing from any state highway bridge is banned, and the notice names the State Highway 41 bridge over this canal.
- Boats: anchored parallel to the flow, with no more than two anchors.
- Hours: no fishing between midnight and 5am.
- Footwear: felt-soled boots are not permitted.
- Children: the canal carries the outflow from the power station. Keep young children back from the edge.
Getting There and Facilities
- Ramp and parking: the Tokaanu tailrace boat ramp is on the west bank near the mouth, with a sealed car park beside it. DOC uses the same ramp as the launch point for the Tongariro River delta; see our Tongariro River delta fishing guide for that water.
- Ramp permit: ramps managed by the Lake Taupō Harbourmaster’s Office need a ramp permit, bought online, from $6 for 24 hours. Check with the Harbourmaster’s Office whether it covers the tailrace ramp before you launch.
- Wharf: the historic Tokaanu Wharf on Wharf Road is listed as closed.
- Supplies: bring what you need, and buy tackle in Tūrangi.
Tackle and Bait Nearby
- Sporting Life, 60 Turangi Town Centre, Tūrangi, sells fly fishing gear, boat fishing lures and combos, runs guided trips and posts regular fishing reports.
Official Sources for The Tokaanu Tailrace
DOC Taupō fishery rules: hours, methods, spinning waters and boat rules.
Anglers Notice for Taupō District 2026: the official closed waters, seasons and limits for the tailrace.
DOC spin fishing around Taupō: lures, retrieves and the best spinning spots.
Common Questions
Can I spin fish at the Tokaanu Tailrace?
Yes. The tailrace is one of the Taupō waters where both spin fishing and fly fishing are allowed. Bait is not.
Do I need a licence?
Yes, a Taupō fishing licence from DOC, bought online.
Can I fish from the State Highway 41 bridge?
No. Fishing from any state highway bridge in the Taupō district is banned, and the notice names this bridge.
Is any part of the canal closed?
Yes. The first 110 m of the canal below the powerhouse is closed all year.
Can I fish from a boat in the canal?
Yes, if the boat is securely anchored parallel to the flow with no more than two anchors.
When is the best time?
When the smelt are running, at first and last light. DOC says spring and early summer are probably the best months for spinning at Taupō.
Can I fish from the Tokaanu Wharf?
The historic wharf on Wharf Road is listed as closed. Fish the canal banks and mouth instead.
What lures work?
DOC lists Tobies, Cobras and Tasmanian Devils in green, black, red and gold as the popular Taupō spinning lures.
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