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Braids Update
Sat 16th April, 2011
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Steady rain falling in Turangi this morning – just what was ordered to flush a run of big fresh hungry trout up the river before Easter…
Update on the Braids:
The recent quiet spell on the Tongariro was not wasted and I spent some of the time catching up on the changes caused by the late January flood. Most but not all of the well known and more stable pools came out of it comparatively unscathed with only minor differences but one area that always takes a beating is the Braids. This whole area is unlike the rest of the Tongariro and is made up of un-consolidated, smaller stones and sediments washed down from the rest of the river.
For the past couple of years it has remained relatively unchanged but with the flows of this particular flood peaking at over 650 cumecs it was unlikely to escape this time. As the levels subsided my biggest disappointment was to view the mess that used to be the Honey Pot. This pool had been a favorite of many anglers who made the annual pilgrimage to fish for spawning rainbows. It often threw up some good browns as well but was now almost un-recognisable.
The once reliable tail had been replaced by a log jam of up-rooted trees and branches. The resulting changes in flow had dumped tons of deposit material from the rest of the river forming an island which had effectively split what was left of the pool. For weeks after in most of the Braids you could still see sediment being moved around and you had to be careful when wading or you would suddenly find a soft spot and be up to your thighs. But all is not lost as things have settled down and the Tongariro has continued to carve out its new course in this popular stretch of the river.
I won’t describe in detail every tiny difference but concentrate on the more well known possies.. Starting with the right-hand by-pass that includes Spot X . Even taking into account the river is flowing at 23 cumecs there seems to less water coming down this side. Both banks of Spot X are also silting up and the flow especially in the tail has slowed but its as you continue downriver and arrive at the old Honey Pot that it really gets your attention.
The new island which splits the river has created two distinct channels each with very different characteristics. The one along the TRB is fairly fast flowing and at the bottom end a small new pool is forming. Just above this is an already well worn crossing point to the island itself which has replaced the tail and middle of the old pool. This left side has some slightly slower but much deeper water and looks the more “fishy” of the two…but there are problems.
Both sides of this new run are lined for most of its length with fallen trees and other debris and is quite deep. I’ll bet there are a few snags down there too but fish that have chosen to run the left by-pass are using it as a resting place before continuing upriver. I’ve also seen some reasonable browns in amongst the tree roots. If you can handle plenty of tungsten and a long leader a good chuck straight up the middle should take your flies to where the fish are. You will have to strip back pretty quickly to stay in touch and then if you hook-up there’s the small matter of getting them out of there.
Despite all this its definitely one to keep an eye on this winter. The rest of the Honey Pot up to the bend has more changes, more silt and more snags. A pronounced shelf has formed in the eye and you can see fish moving in the deeper water of the drop-off . But the back flow buries your line and makes presentation difficult so a better option is the faster water at the head and this is already proving to be popular.
Returning to the island the only real differences to the left by-pass are at the top end and more of the flow is now taking this route. The middle of the river directly below the Honey Pot has also altered because of the new island and looks very different. Its when you approach the top of the Plank near the pines that the changes are more noticeable. It has become more braided with lots of attractive little spots that are well worth investigating but will need a slightly different approach…my advice stay well back and have a good look before you leap. The Plank itself…well very little has happened here…may be a little wider but otherwise much the same as before the flood.
Turning back upriver the shallower water well above the Plank that extends to the bottom of Spot X has changed in places. Most people know this as the Stones and a lot of anglers use it purely as a crossing point but during the spawning runs this stretch can really kick-off. The fish are easily spotted and its possible to take several fish without even getting your feet wet .Unfortunately time after time you will see anglers march straight through this shallow water on their way to “fishier” spots without even looking first. It’s a shame because keeping an open mind combined with a little observation and basic river craft puts more fish on the bank and helps elevate anglers into the “ten percenter club.”.
Another place worth a mention is the main river that flows from the Lower Bridge between the old Swirl Pool by-pass and the fast water above the elbow at the very top of the Honey Pot. This stretch is always worth a go and the main route for spawning fish before they hold in the Bridge Pool there is a nice run along the TLB which the fish may favour.
Of course as soon as I put a full-stop at the end of this piece it will bucket down with rain, the Tongariro will flood and we’ll all have to start over again. Its a bit like a giant jig-saw puzzle just as you get half-way through it someone comes along and tips it all over the floor. I think its this ever changing challenge that keeps us all coming back… year after year.
See you out there
Mike |
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