Weather: 14.7° Fine to start. Some cloud from late morning, then a few evening showers. Southwesterlies, turning northwesterly in the afternoon.
River Flow: 20.7 Cumecs (m³/s)
The rain eased overnight, giving us a beautiful sunny morning here in the Central Plateau. There has been a light breeze throughout the day, but overall, it has been a stunning day to be out and about.
The river was looking fantastic today following the recent rain, settling back to around 20 cumecs with just a slight green tinge to the water. The weather held nicely for most of the day, with only a brief shower passing through before the sunshine returned and a breeze consistently about.
Reports through the shop have been very encouraging, with plenty of fish being landed and even more being spotted. Things are looking positive out there, with another great day on the water for those getting out and making the most of the conditions.
Luke went up for a wonder on Lake Otamangakau the last few evenings. Walking the banks searching for some cruising browns. There were a few boats out and about and some great reports of fish being caught. There was a good few big browns along the weed edges, but he would have needed a kayak or boat to go get to them.
He said that it was really cool to watch them as they cruised around working their beats. They are really finicky fish and can get spooked really easily and they like to tease you by coming straight over to take your fly and then last second change direction.
He found little green nymphs were working the best under a dry and reports coming in were saying that the fish are starting to take damsels. It's a really humbling place but when it all comes together it's unreal and the senary up there is something else. 
Today, I thought we’d have a little look at another option in the RIO leader lineup: the Powerflex Plus tapered leader, which comes in a handy two-pack.
I like these leaders for those windier days when your fly seems to have a mind of its own! The material is a bit stronger than the standard Powerflex at the same diameter. For example, a 3X Powerflex has a breaking strain of 8.5lb, while the 3X Powerflex Plus comes in at 9.5lb.
Now, there’s a bit of a trade-off here. As you increase the strength while keeping the diameter the same, you lose a little of that softness and suppleness, making the leader stiffer.
But that stiffness can actually be a real advantage. It helps the leader punch through the wind and turn over larger dry flies more easily, rather than everything ending up in a tangled mess halfway through your cast!
That’s why these are a popular choice for anglers dealing with plenty of wind, whether you’re fishing in the South Island or battling the breeze here on the Tongariro. Sometimes, a little extra stiffness is exactly what you need.
Looking forward this week, we are seeing some more showers developing tomorrow which could have heavier periods before easing towards the evening. The wind is also meant to hang around and is meant to pick up towards the evening. This is much the same for Friday. As we get into the weekend the wind is supposed to ease.
Tight Lines Everyone!
~Niamh (Bluey)