Keen anglers will have a selection of trout to fish for with following the release of 25 trophy-sized trout into Lake McLaren.

The fish, which were released on Tuesday, range between 4kg and 7kg - a trophy trout is considered to be anything over 10lb, or 4.5kg.

Lake McLaren is a great spot for both novice and experienced anglers, children, adults, and families to catch fish at easily accessible spots for fly and spin fishing.

The fishery is stocked with small yearling fish every spring from Eastern Fish & Game's hatchery at Ngongotaha near Rotorua.

One thousand rainbow trout and 500 brown trout are released each year into Lake McLaren, with trophy size fish released when they are available.

Stocking greatly enhances the opportunity to catch a trout.

Fish & Game's Mark Sherburn says the young trout grow very quickly and will be catchable within a year.

'Anglers are catching the fish we released last year already. The big trophy fish are a bit of a bonus we can provide occasionally so that local anglers get a chance of a genuine trophy fish – not something that happens every day.”

Fish & Game say the trophy fish release has created a real buzz in the past and anglers have been successful catching them.

The long Easter weekend is a great time to bring friends and family down to Lake McLaren to try their luck and catch one of these trophies.

A trout fishing licence is required when fishing for trout and a range of affordable options are available including day licences, junior and family licences.

Another option is a winter fishing licence which is a more cost-effective option at this time of year.

The winter fishing licence is valid from April 1 to September 30.

Licences are available on-line or via most fishing tackle stockists.

Fish and Game are asking anglers to let them know if they hook into a prize catch at McLaren by posting to one of their social media pages.