Quote for the week: I think it’s time for me to get out, because at the moment I’m only thinking about fishing 21 hours a day, and they’re the waking moments. And even when I close my eyes I’m thinking about it (Quote from Aussie fishing legend Rex Hunt adnits he’s well and truly hooked…).
Lower Tauranga Taupo River. The place to be when everyone else is at work!
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, it has been another good week on the river and fortunately it has remained fine all week since last report except for rain last Friday that just juiced the rivers up a bit without raising the levels too much. There has been a bitter wind earlier in the week (especially Sunday) which made casting a line a bit tricky especially on exposed rivers like The Tongariro. I was guiding a couple of newbies on Sunday, and it was bitter. While demonstrating how to cast a feisty trout grabbed the line and headed downstream at a rate of knots. It was that cold that I could almost be sure that I saw the trout had a Sandri on, but it broke the line before I could confirm this 😬.
I moved station to the “TT” where there was a bit more shelter and it was good to see some good size fish moving up. I am finding now the rivers, while still busy, are starting to get times when not so many rods are on the water. I have been fishing mainly from lunch time on and finding a lot of gaps on the river. Yesterday I had the Cattle Rustler’s Pool and Mill Race on The Tongariro to myself and today I had the Judge’s Pool and Hydro Pool on the Tongariro to myself. Today was a great day. There was very little wind, and the sun was shining brightly. I knew there were a number of fishermen up there earlier from what I could see in the carpark, so I decided to have a look at The Hydro Pool which was absent of fishermen.
I fished for an hour with no luck and as time was limited I decided to go back and try The Judge’s Pool again and if there were a heap of fishermen up there, so what, there is always room up there to throw a line and if I have to fish the extreme tail of the pool, it is not such a bad place to be although it can get interesting if a trout decides to hoof it down the white water downstream. I arrived to see the pool had no fishers anywhere. I decided to start at the head and was hooked up almost immediately and soon landed a nice hen that had a decent wound in her side, but this did not affect her fighting qualities.
Hydro Pool – Cattle Rustler’s Pool – Stag Pool Area (Tongariro River).
I don’t see a lot of wounds in hens. It is normally the Jacks that sport these at this time of year when they are scrapping each other for hens. This hen must have got a bit close to the action. The Cleardrift Egg is my best fly at the moment, size is up to the individual, but I find 6mm on a size 10 scud hook works pretty well and I sometimes increase the size to 8mm if the water has had a bit of a fresh. Fine weather is forecast to the weekend with a wet spell likely to hit perhaps Sunday evening. The Hinemaiaia River is fishing well and if the wind gets really strong it is the best river to go to for shelter.
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,
