Weather: 14°C with gusts and periods of drizzle and overcast
Tongariro River Flow: 44.4 cumecs (m³/s)
The flow rate has been reducing nicely today to the mid-forties from the 130 odd cumec spike after the heavy rain on Thursday and Friday here in Turangi. The wind has been blowing a hard westerly, set to reduce over the next couple of days, making for more pleasant casting! According to our reports, fish landed have been consistently throughout the entire river system, with no one place standing out as holding more than others. It's a case of moving through water until you find them.
We can expect this higher flow rate to be with us for the next couple of days which is really quite perfect for both indicator nymphing and wetlining, bearing in mind you will need slightly heavier gear to get yourself down there. As the water continues to clear there will be a large amount of caddis available in the extra flow, eggs and pheasant tails will be high on the menu as the water clears further.
The wetliners will enjoy some continued sport as the level remains reasonably high with a tinge of colour, using green, olive and dark coloured buggers and rabbits with a good sized bead to get down there.
Nick sent us in this photo of his great salmon-looking catch from Tuesday morning on the Tongariro! A cracking fresh fish, well done.
I fished the Tongariro on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and found good numbers of fresh fish throughout the system on both nymphs: green caddis, hare and coppers and on the double-handed spey gear, taking some home-tied woolly buggers with the Wapsi Wooly Bugger Marabou paired with 4ml Hanak Slotted Beads.
Wally and I fished together on Monday afternoon in the light showers and had a blast watching a few fish breach as they headed up to spawn. Roll casting in tight quarters, he landed this gorgeous big blue cheeked brownie among other fresh rainbows, deep on the nymph.
Gary has been spey fishing on his double-hander and nymphing with success. His euro nymphing missions in the early hours to get into those fresh fish running at first light has paid off, but still reports that the big surges aren't quite here just yet.
Enjoy the long weekend and pop in to see us in store to help you get kitted out for the awesome fishing at our fingertips!
Rosie & Gary