Weather: 8.6° Fine. Gusty southwesterlies.
River Flow: 45.1 Cumecs (m³/s)
The big river was certainly pumping over the weekend. We had been hoping it would drop away as quickly as it often does after a fresh, but persistent rain in the headwaters and around the mountains kept the system well charged. The dams remained high and continued to hold significant volumes of water, well above what we would typically expect to see for this time of year.
Most of the heavy rain fell on Friday, with additional rainfall on Saturday helping to maintain elevated flows. As a result, the Tongariro rose sharply to around 300 cumecs before fluctuating throughout the weekend and into Monday. By this morning, the river had finally dropped back to a nice fishable colour, although it was still carrying a good amount of water.
While the conditions made fishing challenging in many areas, these freshes play an important role at this time of year. High water often encourages pods of fish to move through the system, and many anglers will be hoping this latest rise has helped push fresh fish further upstream. As flows begin to settle and visibility improves, there is every chance that anglers will be rewarded with an influx of new fish moving into their usual winter holding water.
The photo below was taken on Saturday morning and gives a good indication of the volume and colour the river was carrying at the height of the fresh.
I managed to get out for a look on Monday in the hope of finding a fish or two, but unfortunately the conditions had other ideas. Strong winds made casting difficult, and most of my time seemed to be spent donating tackle to the river rather than connecting with fish.
Reports from other anglers were fairly quiet as well, which wasn't surprising given the conditions. The Tongariro was still sitting around 90 cumecs and carrying a lot of colour, making it challenging to fish effectively. The combination of high flows, limited visibility, and gusty winds meant opportunities were few and far between.
With the Tongariro still struggling to clear, many anglers shifted their attention to the Hinemaiaia, which was running noticeably cleaner and offered more fishable water. Those looking to get a line wet generally found it to be the better option over the weekend and into Monday.
Despite the tough fishing, these sorts of conditions can often signal good things ahead. Freshes like this frequently encourage pods of fish to continue moving through the catchment, and as the water drops and clarity improves, anglers should keep an eye out for fresh arrivals. Fish moving on the back of these rises are often aggressive and responsive to well-presented egg patterns and natural nymphs, while wet-lining can become increasingly effective as river levels begin to stabilise and fish settle into the deeper runs and pools.
The wind has continued to howl today, bringing with it a real bite from the south. It has felt decidedly wintry on the river, and with clear skies forecast overnight, frost is almost certainly on the cards for tomorrow morning and likely for the next few days as well. Anglers will be hoping the wind eases off, as calmer conditions combined with dropping river levels could make for some excellent fishing.
Encouragingly, the river is finally starting to settle. Flows have dropped back into the mid-40 cumec range and the colour has come right, leaving that beautiful green tinge that Tongariro anglers love to see. These are often the conditions that get fish on the move after a fresh, and there is growing optimism that more pods will continue to push through the system over the coming days.
Reports from today suggest exactly that. Several anglers encountered small pods of fish moving through, with some fish responding well to larger Woolly Buggers swung through likely holding water. Others found success fishing nymphs, particularly egg patterns and natural presentations, as fish took advantage of the food being washed downstream following the recent high water.
If the weather settles and the river continues to clear, conditions are shaping up nicely. Fresh fish moving through the system, combined with stable flows and improved visibility, should provide anglers with plenty of opportunities. Wet-lining larger streamers and Woolly Buggers could prove particularly effective on these newly arrived fish, while traditional nymphing techniques are likely to remain productive in the deeper runs and pools.
It feels like we're finally turning the corner after a challenging few days. The river is looking better by the day, fish are starting to show themselves, and all the signs point towards a promising week ahead. Whether you're swinging a bugger, fishing eggs under an indicator, or simply enjoying a frosty morning on the riverbank, now is a great time to be out there. Tight lines, stay warm, and we'll see what the next few days brings.
~Niamh (Bluey)