Went for an exploritory mission on the Tauranga-Taupo river this morning and met a good fulla up there (Nick from Palmerston North) whom I fished with for a few hours. Nick and landed a few in the morning and like me was interested in testing the waters not often touched by other people. Beween us we hooked around 10 or 11 of which 6 came from one little lye which might prove useful for upcoming guiding trips if the river doesn’t change before then. It was in the area that I had fished over yesterday with Gareth and Caroline Dent but we fished the likely looking spot a bit heavier and cracked it! .53

Later in the afternoon I went for an hours fishing in the Hydro pool of the Tongariro – my standard muck around pool – and managed to land 3 nice Rainbow Trout the biggest was a beautifully conditioned fat maiden hen of around 4 pounds – as good as anything I got in the whole of last season so maybe things might be looking up a bit. I have also been picking up some good reports from other areas of the river – some catch rate numbers in the mid to late teens for good fishermen in the right areas at the right times.

kkk 

Tongariro Report

Barometer: Falling

Cloud/Wind: No wind but overcast and drizzly

Water Temperature:

River Conditions: Green and dropping .53

Flow: 31 cumecs

Recommended Flies: Salmon egg and flame glow bugs – size 14.

Picked up Gareth and Caroline Dent from the 5 star River Birches Lodge in Turangi today for their first ever days fly fishing. Took them up the Tauranga-Taupo River near Turangi and shortly before lunch Gareth managed to hook and land his first ever trout and first fish caught fly fishing. Not long afterwards Caroline got smoked by a couple of beaties fresh out of the lake before Gareth managed to land another one. Caroline then managed this fantastic trout before Gareth hooked a few more of which he landed one smaller one. In total around 3 were landed from 8 hooked. Not bad for a first days fly fishing! .59 – .57

kkk 

Tongariro Report

Barometer: No Change

Cloud/Wind: No significant wind

Water Temperature:

River Conditions: Green and clearing

Recommended Flies: Salmon egg glow bugs size 10 – 14.

Day 2 for the Nashua Mobile Corporate Group booking staying at Tongariro Lodge. The guys decided to stay on and fish 1 more morning but unfortunately could only get 7 seats on the plane so 5 of the others had to leave the evening before as planned.

I was already booked for another Job out of River Birches so I booked Tim from Tongariro Lodge who I believe had a fantastic morning with two of the guys hooking around 11 trout though I believe 0 made it to the shore. Will Kemp took a couple of the others and managed 1 or two I believe but the day belonged to Edwin at last! Edwin after being reminded the previous day that it is called fishing and not catching went with Marcel and from the two fish hooked for the morning managed to sight fish an 8 pound Brown Trout out of the Tongariro.

In the end I believe the group had a great time – as can be seen by their bar bill at the Lodge!

kkk 

Tongariro Report

Barometer: Falling

Flow: 32 Cumecs

Cloud/Wind: No significant wind

Water Temperature:

River Conditions: Green and dropping

Recommended Flies: .

It was a nice day on the river with over 40 trout hooked between the group and amongst the 4 guides for the day – not a huge score overall but not bad either. My group consisting of Mike, Edwin and Philip with mixed results with 3 landed from 8 hooked which was a little slow for this time of the year given that all the guys were reasonably capable fly fishermen. Marcel Ryda’s group did a little better I think with around 10 to 12 hooked. Will Kemps group landed 3 I believe and lost a few and Ken Drummonds group topped the score for the day with around 17 or 18 hookups which was a fantastic day given that a lot have been struggling lately.

After suffering a loss against the Bok’s at Carisbrooke on Saturday I did my best to drown one of their supporters today – carefully trying to hold Edwin under while faking trying to rescue him after he tripped on a boulder! At least this was his story around the dinner table at Tongariro Lodge tonight anyway!

The Tongariro seems to be holding more fish around the town area at the moment – not uncommon for early season though normally by this time of the year the fish are a litttle more spread through the river. The fishing is definitley improving and persistance normally pays off – though not for all members of my group today unfortunately!

To Nashua Mobile Group – photos will be put on over next couple of days from mine, Wills, and Kens cameras – should be tomorrow night. Tight lines and good luck in Aussie.

kkk 

Tongariro Report

Barometer: No Change

Cloud/Wind: No significant wind

Water Temperature:

River Conditions: Green

Recommended Flies:Glow bugs.

Went to the airport this morning to pick up the corporate group of 12 South African rugby supporters here to watch the Tri-nations test match in Dunedin on Saturday to find their plane cancelled due to fog. The guys eventually arrived later by bus but did miss the afternoons fishing so I am hoping for a extra good day tomorrow for them. Needless to say that after Saturdays result where the Sprinboks beat the All Blacks the guys were in great spirit when they arrived at Tongariro Lodge despite their cancelled flight and lost half days fishing.

While I waited for them to arrive I went for a very brief flick in the Tongariro and talked to a few people on the river. There had been a few fish caught on Sunday at around 70 cumecs of flow in the same area that fished well at that flow last year. The best area yesterday at around 50 cumecs appeared to be just below the 70 cumec area. Most other fishermen on the river appeared to be stuggling.

kkk 

Tongariro Report

Barometer: Risen

Cloud/Wind: No significant wind

Water Temperature:

River Conditions: Green and milky

Recommended Flies: Salmon egg and flame glow-bugs size 10.

It’s 7am and I am meant to be picking up Stuart and Kelly McKinnon from the 5 star River Birches Lodge in Turangi for a days guided fly fishing on the Tongariro but the rivers have come up in a flood over night with the Tongariro already above 120 cumecs and rising. This is my first postponing/cancellation due to weather for the year and hopefully there won’t be any more. Last year only 1 day got called off and the same the year before so it is not a normal occurrence. The weather is meant to deteriorate further this morning and I would imagine the Tongariro will probably go well over 200 cumecs this afternoon. On the bright side it should put more water in the lake and reduce the electricy shortage crisis.

kkk 

Tongariro Report

Courtesy of Marcel at Riverway General Store And Outfitters Phone +64 7 3860501

Barometer: Dropped and low1

Cloud/Wind: Pouring down with little wind

Water Temperature:

River Conditions: Flooded

Recommended Flies: Tangerine and blood red glow-bugs – best seller and results so far this season! You may need to call River Way General Store in advance to ensure your supply as being a custom tie high demand means often sold out.

Went for a brief fish up the Tauranga-Taupo River this morning. A few people were catching trout with a couple of people catching a half dozen or so. The lyes that I normally fish wern’t holding many and I narrowly missed blanking with a late catch of one trout. Later on I fished the Hydro pool in strong winds and landed a nice rainbow of 3 pounds before giving in to the conditions. I have heard of some people having some reasonable good success i.e. have heard of 18 hookups and 16 hookups in the mid to low river area. The numbers are definitely increasing but still far below peak.

kkk 

Tongariro Report

Courtesy of Marcel at Riverway General Store And Outfitters Phone +64 7 3860501

Barometer: 1009.5hPa

Cloud/Wind: Very windy from South

Water Temperature:

River Conditions: Green and clearing

Recommended Flies: Champagne & flame glow bug and Sawyers Pheasant tails.

Sitting down in my friends fly shop accross the road from home today tying flies for the months ahead. It is freezing cold and very windy blowing from the South. Would recommend staying home by the fire today instead of fishing!

kkk 

Tongariro Report

Courtesy of Marcel at Riverway General Store And Outfitters Phone +64 7 3860501

Barometer: No Change

Cloud/Wind: Blowing a gale from the South

Water Temperature:

River Conditions: Coloured, clearing – good fishable colour

Recommended Flies: Tangerine and blood red glow-bugs – best seller and results so far this season! You may need to call River Way General Store in advance to ensure your supply as being a custom tie high demand means often sold out.

After heavy rain and hail in the night it was surprising to wake up and find any rivers actually fishable this morning but fortunately the good old Tongariro was at a fishable level though pretty much nowhere else was. Driving to meet the Hills from Whangarei staying at Creel Lodge in Turangi for the second day of their second trip with me a little sleet was falling on the windscreen and I knew it was going to be a cold one.

In pretty tough conditions the guys did OK manageing to hook 6 or 7 and landing 3. Certainly not a high scoring day but OK given the conditions and we did move around a bit to keep things a bit interested. It appeared that most fisherman on the Tongariro were getting the odd fish or two but it certainly didn’t appear like any major runs have come through yet.

Later in the afternoon it snowed here in Turangi which can be seen in the picture here of Mark Hill in the Tongariro’s Hydro pool.

kkk 

Tongariro Report

Barometer: Low

Cloud/Wind: Cloud, wind, sleet and snow

Water Temperature: Freezing

River Conditions: Green, around 34 cumecs

Recommended Flies: Champagne and flame glowbugs

Picked up Peter Hill and his two sons Mark, and Brian this morning hoping for a repeat of last years highly successful guiding trip. The fishing has been tough of a late but the guys still managed a great day hooking into a dozen nice fish including this one of Marks and a good Brown Trout also for Brian. A few fish were dropped and much advise was given on this to each other!

kkk 

Tongariro Report

Barometer: Falling

Cloud/Wind: A little wind today but fishable

Water Temperature:

River Conditions: Low and clear

Recommended Flies: Marcel at the new Riverway General Store and Outfitters accross the road has been recommending Green Stoneflies – a lot of his customers have been getting success on his custom tied Green Stonefly patterns.