Weather: Highs of 15°C, a light 12km breeze with gusts up to 30kph
Tongariro River Flow: 26.8 cumecs (m³/s)
All methods of fishing are on for this weekend with the elevated flows compared to our autumn season so far. Euro nymphing, wetlining/ spey fishing and nymphing will be productive on the big river!
Some great reports of fresh fish coming to the net over the past week around the wet weather front. Fish have been moving up through the systems as the early spawning runs have set in with silver bars of all sizes being landed in great condition. With such a warm dry summer the insect life has been pumping and our fish have been feeding hard and many of us are excited about the great forecast of big-conditioned, fighting fish. Everything from the summer season suggests we have great winter fishing ahead!
I headed up the river earlier in the week before the weather set in, using heavy beaded nymphs to target the fast deeper water and found a reasonable number of fresh fish. I recently treated myself to a new pair of Patagonia Forra Wading Boots for the winter and I'm very impressed! They have a thick shock-absorbing sole, great to stop wear and tear on the ankles and I notice the difference after all day walking on boulders, no sore lower back, hips or joints! The sole is super grippy when wet, which is great that I no longer need studs, which I have wrecked a fly line on previously. And the main boot material is super light-weight, yet still supportive which means I can fish longer and walk further with ease. Highly recommend!
Gary has been out targeting smelting fish at the delta with booby flies on the Rio Fathom sink 5 and 7 full sinking lines. He found a good flurry of fish after the spike in river flow and the same goes for all the river mouths, with more flow the fish have come in to feed closer to shore in casting reach.
From today we expect river flows to drop back down to lower flows, so through the rest of the week, those smaller natural patterns will be the go to.
Reports from anglers coming in today, speak of success on using small natural peachy coloured eggs as the spawning season begins its main swing and eggs are now being seen to fish throughout the system. Glo bugs are a nice easy tie and productive way of producing fish, we have the Bug Shop Glo Bugs Yarn and McFly Foam in store in a range of effective and popular colours for you to tie these hot favourites at home easily, or we have a range tied for you to pick up ready. Slushies are also great for targeting fresh fish at first light or in coloured/dirty water and are also very easy to tie, we have some tied in store ready to go or plenty of material to tie your own at home with the Slushy Material - Egg-it UV being a favourite in a variety of colours. It's a good idea to stock up on tying gear and get those flies tied and in the box, ready for what's coming!
These cold mornings have us excited about the solid winter runs around the corner, see you out there fellow anglers!
Rosie & Gary