Lower Tongariro River.
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, a lot has happened this week and we can expect some interesting fishing in the coming weeks. Firstly, we did not get any of the rain that has battered the North and East of the North Island, therefore all rivers remain low and clear. The cicadas, however, are out in big numbers and making a hell of a din. I was out on the Tongariro today to see if they were going after the cicadas but there was very little surface activity. This will change in the next few weeks when bows and browns will rise regularly throughout the day.
There is a fairly good evening rise on the “TT” and Tongariro from around 8-9pm. So, since the trout weren’t interested in feeding off the surface, I decided to try and spot some fish from high up on the bank and perhaps drift a nymph to them somehow. I spotted a number of big browns sitting dead still in an area and decided to have a go for them. On my first cast I struck a solid fish that did not rise. A brown perhaps, no, a fairly reasonable rainbow caught and released. Soon after, I was on again, a stronger fish this time and once again, didn’t surface – surely a brown but no, another rainbow in absolute mint condition.
Shortly after I was on again and there was no doubting this one as it jumped all over the place- a rainbow of course. And then soon after, the unthinkable happened. A huge brown rose and swallowed my indicator 😖 before adequately spitting it out again.😬. I spent another day out at the Whanganui River with a couple of Americans after my last report and we had another successful day in beautiful weather. The condition of the fish over that way is consistently top draw and they fight like Kingfish. I’m keeping an eye on my grapevine at the moment because it tells me when the passion vine hopper is about. Nothing yet but can’t be far away and this brings another type of food on to the rivers once the trout have dealt with the cicadas.
Some good bows from the lower Tongariro River..
More rain is on the horizon and is expected to hit the Taupo region by the weekend, but I will believe it when I see it. That’s it from me this week but I have a very busy period coming with 6 days straight guiding from Saturday so there will be plenty to report next week.
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,
