Turangi Fishing Report 12 May 2022

Brian Willson, professional guide, 021667867, brings us his weekly fly fishing report from Turangi for the Central North Island lakes and rivers.

Hello fellow fly fishers,

Well, it’s beginning to sound like a broken record but we have just completed another week of beautiful weather. We did have some rain on Monday but that didn’t do anything to the river levels around here. All rivers remain low and clear making fishing a bit up and down. Being in the right place at the right time seems to be how it is working at the moment.

Unsettled weather conditions are forecast for the weekend, however, and this will surely trigger the start of the winter runs.

I am guiding 3 Australians at the moment and today I took them over to the Whakapapa and Whanganui Rivers. It was a real culture shock for them with the temperature starting at minus 4 degrees!!

I swear the first fish that came out of the water was shivering!! 🤥

They all had some success throughout the day and had a few trout smoked them as well.

Welcome to fishing in NZ. A nice brown trout was caught in the Whanganui and a lovely 6.5 lb Rainbow was accounted for in the Whakapapa.

There are plenty of rainbows around the stream mouths now and I like targeting these at night. The moon is getting quite prominent in the sky now but this will not be a factor when the overcast skies roll in and effectively hide the moon.

There are good numbers of trout up the Tauranga Taupo and they will be much more receptive to a well-placed nymph or egg pattern when the rains come. The Hinemaiaia, too, is sure to improve after the forthcoming rain.

So a busy week ahead with a lot of guiding and hopefully a few more happy faces on punters, I’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime,

Brian Willson

NZPFGA member. Tongariro River Flow Tauranga-Taupo River Flow

Brian

My name is Brian Willson and I have been a fly fisher for over 50 years. I am a professional fishing guide and current NZPFGA member of which I have served at executive level and have guided anglers of different skill sets, ages and gender from all over the world. I have also written two books on fly fishing and am a keen artist. I am passionate about fly fishing and the therapeutic qualities it offers and enjoy sharing this experience with people on and off the water. Over the years I have made some amazing friendships that continue to this day. I have partnered up with one of these friendships, Barrie Barnes from I Love Fly Fishing, and I sell exclusively, quality, affordable fly fishing gear at my premises at 8 Wiremu Street, Turangi, the designated I Love Fly Fishing shop in Turangi which is open all hours— just ring 021667867 anytime. I take a serious interest in my clients and freely offer advice when asked and am happy to talk fishing anytime. Tight lines, Brian Willson

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