Hey Jeff, you have it bang on with the rain, we have had lots but not in the headwaters of the Tongariro. There was heavy flooding in the North on Saturday and not a drop of rain in Turangi.
As for the Rotorua lakes I hear they are fishing very well when the wind blows onshore. Some big fish have come out of Okataina this winter and there has been some great fishing of the beaches at some of the smaller lakes like the Blue lake. There was a good run of browns into the Nongataha river on Saturday as well so I may have to try to get down there sometime soon.
Al the best.
Mike.