Quote for the week: The trout do not rise in the cemetery, so you better do your fishing while you’re still able. (‘The Dean of American Fly Fishermen’, Sparse Grey Hackle also know as Alfred W. Miller.)
Fishing the Tauranga Taupo River.
Greetings fellow fly fishers,
Well, it has been a bit of a different week this week. The wind is still around but the week has generally been fine and quite warm. There are not too many anglers out on the water at the moment so if you decide to come down and chance your arm you are likely to get a lot of water to yourself. At time of writing (Friday afternoon), the Tongariro River is running at about 27 cumecs and the “TT” is about .3 making for good fishing conditions with many areas able to wade (with care).
I managed to get my boat out a couple of times this week in very pleasant conditions. I checked out the lower end of the lake, i.e. The Tokaanu Hole/ Tongariro Delta areas. There are quite a few fish about in this area as the fish finder wasn’t having any trouble picking up fish and there were a number visible on the surface. It didn’t take me long to hook up and in a short space of time I had some good action. The trout have started smelting so any smelt fly will work although I had some luck with the ever-reliable woolly bugger.
Often the Tokaanu Hole receives very little pressure and indeed often isn’t much known about when the much more fancied Tongariro Delta is close by. But if you anchor up on the edge of the hole and fish the slope, often this area will out fish the Delta. There is a lot of food in this area and therefore fish numbers are high. The fish patrol around the drop off of the hole continuously, you just have to be positioned to intercept them in their beat. The hole is pretty deep (about 30 metres). The best way to position yourself is have your back anchor at about 4m and your front anchor at about 8/9 metres. That way you know that you are fishing the shelf and from here you can adjust back or forward if necessary, knowing that you are pretty much in the right area.
Fishing the Tongariro River.
I haven’t been over to the Whanganui/ Whakapapa yet, but I have heard that it is fishing OK over there with the Whanganui River running at about 22 cumecs at Piriaka. This level also tells me that the Whakapapa will be in good order. No special flies at the moment although with the warmer weather upon us now, the dry fly will come more into use from now on.
Well, that’s it from me this week so until next time.
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,
