Weather: 14.1 C° — Cloudy periods with a few showers, possibly heavy and thundery with hail this afternoon and evening. Northwesterlies.
River Flow: 32.8 cumecs (m³/s)
What a rain dump we had last night! It definitely woke a few people up. Those gusts made it feel like we were right back in the middle of winter. A real change from the heat and sunshine we’ve had over the past week. We thought the river might come up a bit more than it did, but it only peaked around 78 cumecs before dropping back nicely through the morning. The water’s still got that bit of brownish colour to it, so brighter nymphs and egg patterns are working well for now. It should keep clearing as the day goes on.
The warm weather over the weekend and into the start of the week had the Tongariro and the smaller rivers running nice and clear. Plenty of good numbers have been caught, with a real mix of recovering and fresh fish still about.
Things have definitely quietened down on the water this week. With the in-between weather, holidays wrapping up, and the season about to kick off in other parts of the country, a lot of anglers seem to be staying closer to home. Those who’ve been out have found smaller, more natural flies doing the trick. When the water’s been clear, wet-lining has also been producing some solid results.
Hamish took a few clients out during the week, got them onto some good fish, and snapped this awesome photo while they were at it.
Over the weekend, Women on Fly were here running introductions and lessons for a great group of women, including many who had never picked up a fly rod before. The event was a real success, with plenty of smiles and some impressive first casts and catches. It’s fantastic to see more women getting involved in the sport, and we hope this marks the start of a lifelong fly fishing journey for many of them.
I took my brother out on the boat on Saturday, and we had an absolute blast. Jonte hadn’t been out for a proper fish since he was about 12, so it turned into a real adventure. The weather was mint, a bit breezy here and there, but nothing we couldn’t handle. We fished away all day, and he managed to land a stunning brownie, as you can see in the photo. Pretty proud of him for that one!
I didn’t quite match Jonte’s effort this time around, only managed a little guy myself. But that’s fishing for you! Still, it was an awesome day out on the water. The sun was shining, the laughs were flowing, and it was just good to be out there doing it. Sometimes those slower days remind you it’s not always about the size of the fish but the time spent chasing them.
Looking Ahead:
The forecast is looking pretty good heading into the weekend. We’re in for another run of settled weather, with no sign of heavy rain or those gloomy skies until about Tuesday next week. That should mean great conditions for anyone planning to get out for a flick. The rivers are holding nicely, and the lakes should be in top shape too.
We’ve been busy restocking the shop, plenty of jig rigs, harling set ups, and all the fly-fishing gear you might need for the weekend. Whether you’re heading out on the boat, walking the riverbanks, or planning a quick cast after work, it’s shaping up to be a great few days to get amongst it.
Lost Item
A wading pole was lost over the weekend near the Boulder Reach by one of the women participating in the Women on Fly event. If anyone happens to come across it, please drop it into the shop. The owner would be very grateful to get it back! There are photos of the pole available below to help identify it.
Tight lines, everyone, and enjoy the weekend out there!
~Niamh (Bluey)