Weather: 16.4° Periods of heavy rain, with localised downpours possible. Northeasterlies.
River Flow: 38.8 Cumecs (m³/s)
The rain has come and gone for the time being, but the heavy downpours we've been experiencing are starting to show on the Tongariro. The river has been on the rise over the last couple of hours, and I've been keeping a close eye on the levels throughout the day. At this stage, it doesn't look like things will get too out of hand, but we'll continue to monitor the situation. It has been definitely very fishable at the levels it's been reading.
If we do see any heavier downpours, we'd encourage everyone heading out to take extra care. While the Tongariro is dam-controlled, water levels can still rise surprisingly quickly. Avoid wading too deep, keep an eye on changing conditions and always stay vigilant when you're out on the water. A little extra caution goes a long way!
Reports coming through the shop have quietened down a little while the heavier rain has been around. However, those who braved the conditions have still managed to get into a few fish, although it sounds like things have been a little more challenging with the water colouring up.
Once the river settles and the levels start to drop, I expect it to clear up relatively quickly, hopefully settling into that lovely healthy green tinge we like to see.
Looking ahead, there's still a bit more rain on the cards for tomorrow, particularly during the early morning hours, before things begin to ease. We could also see some localised downpours and the possibility of a few thunderstorms, so keep that in mind if you're planning a trip out.
The good news is that Thursday right through to Monday next week is looking much more settled, with fine weather expected and just a few scattered showers about. Hopefully, we'll see the river settle into some nice conditions!
A few important service announcements-
Anglers heading out on the Tongariro this week should be aware of a temporary closure at the Red Hut Bridge car park.
The car park will be closed to anglers and other recreational visitors from Wednesday 11 November at 3pm until Friday 13 November at 5pm. This closure is to allow preliminary work to take place ahead of scheduled tree removal operations.
Please make sure you plan accordingly if you're heading out to fish this area.
We also wanted to give everyone a heads-up that we will be closed for the day on Wednesday 17 November due to scheduled power maintenance work at the mall.
Unfortunately, this means we won't be able to operate for the entire day. If the weather doesn't play ball, the maintenance work may be shifted to Thursday 18 November instead.
We'll confirm which day closer to the time, but we wanted to give everyone plenty of notice in case this affects your plans. If you're heading our way, make sure to pop in beforehand and get yourself sorted with everything you need!
Apologies for any inconvenience this may cause, and thanks for your understanding.
Tight lines everyone!
~Niamh (Bluey)