At the northern end of the lake, several beaches can be accessed from Landing Road. Many anglers fish in the vicinity of the Arapuni and Waipapa Dams. There are five boat ramps located around the lake; the most popular being Jones Landing and Arapuni Landing at the northern end.
Lake Waipapa
This lake is very scenic and provides a high catch rate, although the trout tend to be a little smaller than those caught in Arapuni and Karapiro. The only boat ramp is found next to Waipapa Road (Te Awamutu-Mangakino). Shore based anglers favour the mouth of the Waipapa River.
Pokaiwhenua Stream
This stream is fed soley by springs located in the plantations beyond Tokoroa, running past Putāruru into Lake Karapiro. Below the waterfall on the Putāruru-Arapuni Road, anglers can look forward to a good spawning run of large trout from Lake Karapiro in Autumn. Access to the stream is across farmland either via the Putāruru-Arapuni Road, State Highway 1, Horahora Road or from Hildreth Road (please remember to obtain the landowners permission). Above the falls, a resident population of brown and rainbow trout provide good fishing with access available from Putāruru-Arapuni Road and Waotu Road.
Little Waipa Stream
This large spring fed stream near Putāruru has an abundant trout population and can be accessed from Arapuni, Pearsons, or Old Taupō Roads. Good water that is rarely fished can also be reached across private farmland from Huihuitaha Road. Crystal clear water with good aquatic weed coverage makes this a challenging stream to fish.
Waihou River
Most fishing is carried out in the upper reaches above Okoroire where the Waihou is very clear. This section of the river sees relatively high numbers of trout, although the trout themselves tend to be on the small size. Access is obtained from the Hamilton/Rotorua highway, Whites Road (road between SH5 and SH1), and at Okoroire behind the Hotel.