Weather: 16.2°C – Rain with heavy falls easing to scattered showers this afternoon. Northeasterly winds, strong in exposed areas this morning, gradually dying out overnight.
River Flow: 95.9 cumecs (m³/s)
The much-needed rain finally arrived after nearly three to four weeks of dry weather, during which the Tongariro had dropped to summer-like flows and was running exceptionally clear.
What initially looked like a modest bump quickly turned into a more significant rise, with the river now sitting at 95.9 cumecs and rising. The Waipakahi catchment has received around 116mm of rain over the past two days, contributing to the sudden increase in flow and colour.
While the fresh water should help get fish moving and kick-start the early winter runs, the river is currently running high and anglers should take extra care when wading. At these levels, stronger currents can make conditions challenging and potentially hazardous. The flow is increasing as I write this so being cautious is crucial.
If you're heading out, focus on the softer water along the river edges. Fish will often move out of the heavier currents and hold closer to the banks when the river is up. Swinging streamers or stripping flies along these margins can be particularly effective in coloured water.
One advantage of the Tongariro is how quickly it can drop and clear after a fresh. We'd ideally like to see flows settle back towards 50 cumecs, or even into the 40s, over the coming days, which generally provides much more comfortable fishing conditions while still encouraging fish movement. Keep an eye on the Genesis flow data, as levels may continue to fluctuate as water moves through the catchment and the hydro system upstream is managed.
Tongariro flow, level and rain data | Genesis NZ
We had a busy weekend here at the shop, and it was great to see so many anglers out and about. There's plenty of excitement building, and we're hearing from lots of people preparing for winter fishing trips in the coming weeks.
Looking ahead, scattered showers are forecast throughout the week, with another spell of heavier rain expected on Friday. If the river begins to recede after that, the weekend could shape up nicely, although anglers should be prepared for a bit of breeze.
Rosie was out this morning when the river was at around 55 cumecs swinging with her two-hander and pulled out a nice brown!
Tight Lines everyone and take care out there!
~Niamh (Bluey)