Summer Fly Fishing on the Tongariro River

Fly fishing on the Tongariro river can be very productive in summer, especially sight fishing for feisty rainbows and big browns. While the river is crowded in winter with anglers chasing the spawning run, in summer it is often devoid of anglers but with plenty of opportunities.

The Tongariro also offers a good backup when other rivers are flooded as it clears quickly and is less flood-prone. This is what brought me here on this trip. My backcountry plans were canceled due to heavy rain in the days before. First stop the state highway bridge to check on the state of the river.

The upper river is my favorite section in summer and above the Pouto stream, the river was low and clear. It pays to keep your eyes open in the shallows as big rainbows and browns often hang around in shallow backwaters ready to pounce on a well-presented fly.