Lower River, Tongariro River.
Brian Willson NZPFGA member, professional guide and I Love Fly Fishing shop partner, 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 and if you want to call to the shop – 8 Wiremu Street – call Brian on 021667867. Brian fishes Euro/Czech, Dry Fly, Trout Spey, Nymph and Wet Fly.
Greetings fellow fly fishers,
Well, another week has past again and there is no doubt about it, some of the past mornings have had a bit of chill about them which means the early winter runs are upon us. I have found this week the Tauranga Taupo River has produced the best of all the rivers in the region as it has for the last few weeks.
The Hinemaiaia River remains quiet as does the Tongariro with its higher water flow caused by the maintenance work by Genesis Energy up river. The maintenance work will finish mid-April but watch this space. Maintenance work or not, I am expecting the Tongariro River to improve soon enough with the cooler snaps that we are having and some good action with nice fresh fish is imminent.
All methods of fishing have worked for me this week with the trout coming on to the lacewing moths at certain times, small nymphs like pheasant tail and the olive woolly bugger has been my number one streamer. I noticed walking up the “TT” yesterday that more trout are now holding in a lot of the pools than say a month ago. This will improve in the weeks to come, and I am picking a good early run in all rivers is on the cards after a particularly unsettled summer.
The “TT has produced some good fish this week as it did last week. I have had some very happy clients getting into some great scraps with some angry bows. One client from the USA fought (and unfortunately lost) a very big fresh rainbow in the lower Tauranga Taupo River. He had it on for a good period of time and it broke the surface several times, so we got a good look at it and it was a substantial fish. My client did not do a lot wrong, but the fish leapt one time too many and gained his freedom. I was gutted for him as I knew deep down that it would have made a great photo but there again, he had the adrenaline rush that he will remember for a while as one does when hooked up with a big fish.
Night fishing this week has been very good at all the stream (and river) mouths with both browns and rainbows coming to the net. It appears that the condition factor of the fish is improving every week with some fine specimens caught. The I Love Fly Fishing shop at 8 Wiremu Street in Turangi has been quite busy with fellow fishers stocking up with tackle for the coming months.
Night fishing this week has been very good at all the stream (and river) mouths with both browns and rainbows coming to the net. It appears that the condition factor of the fish is improving every week with some fine specimens caught. The I Love Fly Fishing shop at 8 Wiremu Street in Turangi has been quite busy with fellow fishers stocking up with tackle for the coming months. Well, that’s it for now and I hope you are looking forward to a productive April. I always find that autumn fish are perhaps the hardest fighting of all the seasons.
As always, all your fly fishing and fly tying needs call and see me at the I Love Fly Fishing Shop in Turangi, 8 Wiremu St, phone 021667867. If there is anything you need, give me a ring and I will open up anytime (within reason of course 
), just call me and I’ll sort you out. 021667867.
