Fish and Game says the man jailed for poaching trout was involved in one of the worst poaching cases of all time.

Thomas Tawha has been sentenced to 12 months in prison for poaching up to 60 rainbow trout from a spawning stream near Lake Rotoiti.

A warrant to arrest his partner in crime David Leef has been issued after he failed to show up to court today.

Fish and Game Officer Anthony Van Dorp says the damage the pair did was significant.

"This is one of the most serious cases in at least a decade if not the most serious in living memory, really."