The Boulder Reach Tongariro River, top end.
Brian Willson, NZPFGA member, is a professional guide and I Love Fly Fishing close friend and Ambassador, brings us his weekly fly fishing report from Turangi for the Central North Island lakes and rivers. For up to date info, for what flies are working call Brian, 021667867. Euro/Czech, Dry Fly, Trout Spey, Nymph and Wet Fly.
Greetings fellow fly fishers,
Well, we are now into October and all sorts of things have happened this week. Yesterday it was President Jimmy Carter’s 100th birthday and it resonates with me because a few years ago I guided his cousin on The Tongariro River. He was a very humble and appreciative man, just as would assume Jimmy Carter to be and needless to say it was an enjoyable guiding experience. Jimmy Carter himself was a very keen and capable fly fisher who fished the Tongariro River in the mid-eighties and was guided by Tony Hayes of Tongariro Lodge. It must have been quite an experience for Tony as it is not every day that you get to guide someone flanked by 20 or 30 government agents. 😀
Anyway, back to the fishing, and the fishing has still been very good and most of the week the rivers have been reasonably low and clear although as I am writing (Thursday), it is raining heavily, and the rivers are on the rise. This is not meant to last too long and I’m picking the fresh that comes with the rain should provide excellent fishing for the weekend. The last couple of days I checked out The Tongariro River above the SH1 bridge and had some great action with a mixture of average and really good fish. I spent a bit of time in the very bottom end of The Boulder Reach and had several hook ups and also several dropped fish. The trade-off fishing here is you should get plenty of action but if a fish decides to high tail it for the rapids below you then you have a real problem in landing the fish. Of course, you can strengthen your breaking strain but then you will not get as many hook ups. I enjoy the challenge of fighting the fish and testing my skill to manoeuvre the fish upstream where I can land it in calmer water. Although I lost a number of fish, I had no break offs which is always pleasing because I hate it when fish have unwanted trace and/or hooks in their mouths.
So, when a fish gets the better of me, I am not too despondent as I was going to let it go anyway and I have already had the adrenalin buzz. The drug is the tug as they say. I was nymphing conventionally, but the wind died down a bit, so I started fishing euro style. Not everybody’s cup of tea but it is very effective and, in my view, will get more hits as presentation of the nymph to the trout is just that much better. Still sticking with what has been working for me pretty well with a Tonga Bomb at the front with either a Cleardrift Egg or small Gold bead Pheasant Tail nymph (or both) at the rear. One of the trout I hooked (and lost) took off down the rapids at such a rate it made the 1 weight Czech line cut into the top groove in my middle finger which I am feeling the after effects today. Quite a decent cut). I saw the fish briefly and yes it was a beauty, bright silver and big.
The aftermath of Cyclone Gabriel are still apparent in many areas. – The Hinemaiaia River. – Fresh snow on Mt Ruapehu.
The Hinemaiaia River has also been fishing well this week with a regular I Love Fly Fishing client texting me stating that he was having some good success with a dry fly and a dropper. I haven’t been to the “TT” this week as it has been quite low which can make it quite hard at times in this river, but this rain will juice it up and it could well be the pick of the rivers come the weekend. Well, a full weekend of guiding this weekend so I hope I get a bit of a break in the weather and can take advantage of what should be some very good fishing.
Well, that’s it from me this week so until next time, tight lines. For all I Love Fly Fishing gear check it all out out on-line at www.iloveflyfishing.kiwi and order what you need. Feel free to call Barrie, 021-925006 or barrie@iloveflyfishing.kiwi. You will receive your goods in quick order and at a great price.
Brian – NZPFGA Member,
