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Tongariro river update.
Mon 3rd June, 2013
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Those of you that have been out and about on the upper and middle Tongariro may have noticed a couple of changes this week.
A little while ago I mentioned how shaky a few of the pines above the Cliff Pool were looking. The image on the left was taken in June 2011 and even back then you can already see them leaning. You often get slips here and the continuing erosion had exposed large parts of the trees root system.
Well ... the inevitable has happened and some of them have found a new home ... in the pool below, effectively cutting it in half.
This is a shame because over the last year this pool had become much more angler friendly and with the build up of a gravel bar in its center it was possible to wade out and easily reach the deep run and lie on the TLB.
The next flood will probably alter things but in the meantime fish can be caught in the slower water created downstream of the fallen trees, in what was the fast flowing tail out of the pool.
Further downriver you'll spot another change if you normally access the TLB of some of the middle river from the small car park just north of the Trout Center.
When you get to the bottom of the steps that end above the Waihukahuka stream that flows behind the Trout Center you'll spot something different about the old fish trap ... its gone !
The top of this V shaped structure was often used as a convenient way of stepping across the narrow but slippery stream that passed through it.
But I have to admit the first couple of times you tried it with studded boots on you were more apprehensive than a pig in a bacon factory !
Anyway they've done a great job here replacing the grids with some new planting and a shallow leveled crossing with steps leading out ... much nicer and easier.
As expected a lot more anglers around over the holiday weekend and with some club competitions also taking place you had to be up pretty early to have any hope of fishing some of the more productive spots.
Leah and Matt were out at the crack of dawn and were still too late, with competitors already occupying most of the better stretches upriver. Undeterred they fished some of the less popular water and Leah in particular did quite well landing a few trout that had already spawned. Unfortunately she hooked but then "released" her best fish of the morning when she was caught off guard with the power of a fresh run rainbow that picked up her caddis in a shallow run.
Not an easy week with only small numbers of silver fish turning up.
The Bridge Pool is a pretty good indication of whats happening elsewhere and as we head into winter the picket line continues to grow. But most of the time there were more anglers there than fish.
The locals were getting a few but some of the visitors were struggling again simply because they weren't fishing anywhere near heavy enough.
As the runs gradually build its that time of year when it pays to get down and stay down especially with a little bit of rain on the way which should help encourage more fish to move.
Next time the final part of Choice as Bro - New Zealand.
Tight lines guys
Mike |
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