Weather: 13.6°. Partly cloudy. Showers, possibly heavy, clearing late evening. North westerlies.
Tongariro River Flow: 39.2 cumecs
The Tongariro was in excellent condition today, flowing at an ideal level for both wet-lining and nymphing. Recent reports from anglers on the water have been very positive, with good numbers of fish caught across a range of weather conditions.
Fly Selection:
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Orange egg patterns remain highly effective and continue to attract solid takes.
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Caddis are now widespread in the system and are a key part of the trout’s diet.
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Category 3 flies, including the Pole Position and Flashback Pheasant Tail, have also been producing strong results.
Earlier in the week, heavy rain pushed the Tongariro up to around 344 cumecs, which has helped to move the remaining spawning fish upstream. With the river now settled and clear, current conditions are very favourable.
Smaller Streams:
The smaller rivers were heavily affected by the earlier rain and were largely unfishable. However, they are beginning to clear and should become fishable again over the next few days.
Outlook for the Week Ahead:
The coming week is looking promising. A brief period of rain is forecast for Monday, followed by clearer weather. These intermittent rain events are ideal for keeping the river topped up without pushing it too high, which should result in consistently good fishing conditions throughout the week.
With one week left of the school holidays, it has been great to see families making the most of the time off. We've received several reports of first-time anglers hooking and landing fish, which is always encouraging.
Hamish and Tim have been out on the river today and have reported landing a mix of fresh-run fish and recovering post-spawners.
Lake Fishing:
The lakes are looking fantastic, and recent angler feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. As weather improves and daylight hours extend, lake fishing is expected to become even more productive.
Many anglers are preparing to head out to the smaller lakes, such as Otamangakau and Rotoaira, now that the weather is more favourable. With many including myself already having gone out as soon as they opened. Also, Kuratau opens on October 1st, coinciding with the start of the new season around the country.
Some fish have moved back into Lake Taupō following recent rain, but there are still plenty holding in the lake — perfect for those planning to fire up the smoker.
In-Store Update:
We’ve just received a large restock of fly tying materials, and the wall is fully stocked again.
Popular items that are now available include:
If you've been waiting to top up, now’s a great time to visit and replenish your gear.
We will also be topping up on Guideline gear early next week, which includes waders, boots, chest packs and much more.
A few new items like the new Guideline Euro nymphing fly lines will also be coming into the store.
Lost Item Notice:
A black Fizan walking pole has been lost along the lower Tongariro. If found, please drop it into the shop so we can return it to its owner.
Tight lines everyone!
Niamh & Rosie