Weather: 22°C. Mainly fine with areas of morning cloud. Light winds.
River Flow: 28.7 Cumecs (m³/s)
What a stunner of a week we’ve had! The warm weather has been well received, and everyone’s been happy to have a break from the rain.
Fishing on the river has been fantastic, with most anglers reporting good numbers of fresh fish still moving through the system. The clearer water conditions have made switching to more natural patterns essential. Early morning light changes have seen success with egg patterns, while natural imitations have produced better results as the sun climbs higher.
River traffic has been noticeably quiet this week, giving weekday visitors and locals plenty of space to explore and even discover a few new spots holding fish after the massive changes the big floods caused.
Mark caught some stunning fish on the Tongariro earlier in the week. Sending through some very nice photos
Lakes Report
What an incredible stretch of weather we’ve been treated to! Warm, settled conditions and light winds have made for perfect days on the water. The calm mornings and mild afternoons have created ideal conditions for exploring the lakes and making the most of the long, sunny days.
Word from the smaller lakes is that fishing has been a little challenging overall, but those who’ve stayed patient and stealthy are being rewarded with some truly epic fish especially out at Lake Otamangakau, where several impressive catches have been reported. With the clear conditions, subtle presentation and quiet movement have made all the difference.
Out on the big lake, jigging has started to come alive right on schedule. As the water warms and baitfish activity increases, we’re expecting the action to only improve in the weeks ahead.
We’ve also received a big new shipment of harling and jigging combos, perfect for getting set up for the summer season. On top of that, we’ve restocked all our lake gear, including Pat Swift’s jig rigs and lake flies, so now’s the perfect time to gear up and make the most of this fantastic run of weather.
Community & Events
This weekend Women on Fly will be here running a series of workshops for anglers — including plenty of newcomers just getting into the sport. It’s fantastic to see more women discovering fly fishing and building their skills and confidence on the water.
As part of the weekend, the team will also be running a raffle with a great selection of prizes up for grabs. Raffle tickets are available in-store, so make sure to grab yours and show your support for this event.
Looking Ahead
The weekend is threatening a bit of rain, with showers expected to become heavier early next week. Temperatures are set to stay in that comfortable range, making it pleasant enough to be out on the water despite the change in weather.
Even though most of us have probably had our fill of rain lately, this next drop will do the rivers some good — helping to freshen up the water and likely push a few more runners up from the lake. With conditions staying mild, it could make for some exciting fishing opportunities once the flow settles again.
Tight Lines everyone!
~Niamh (Bluey)