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Another fresh.
Tue 12th May, 2015
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The clouds rolled in again late yesterday and it poured down for most of the night. The steady rain and gusty winds have now eased but are set to return for a time later today with an improving situation as we head into Wednesday.
We often get these moist north westerly weather systems in May and its not uncommon for the level of the river to be up and down like a yo-yo all month. This usually has a positive effect on fish numbers and the fishing in general and there are all kinds of theories put forward to explain this ... but these are likely to be the top three:
* The colored water associated with higher flows affords them some protection from the dangers of the outside world and makes them less wary.
* Scents and smells washed down from spawning redds further upriver stimulate the fish and trigger them to move up.
* Fish pick up on the falling Barometric Pressure of an approaching Low.
Its probably a combination of all of them but one thing I think we all agree on is that the fishing generally improves as the levels fall back and the color drops out after a fresh.
The flow chart currently shows the Tongariro at 130 cumecs but dropping fast. This should keep the fish coming and once it gets back to fishable levels we'll likely get a repeat of the excellent sport we experienced after the last flood, as the fish gorge on prey items forced into the drift.
 
Since the last fresh, mayfly hatches have been few and far between. And even during the settled weather separating the rain and squally showers they are very short-lived affairs.
Plenty of caddis larvae in the river though and at the moment they're the predominant species amongst the stones and rocks on the riverbed.
Whichever method I've been using when nymphing, green, olive or off-white caddis patterns seemed to be the way to go.
Fish them through riffles, or immediately below riffles where the faster water tumbles into the head of a pool.
If you choose patterns tied with well defined body segmentation you'll increase your chances of a hook up because they look more look like the real thing.
 
The browns that have been holed up in one of the town pools for the past few weeks may have moved on. Its been fairly easy to spot them in the head of the pool and I had a couple on the weekend when I fished with Kent. But the next day not a sign of them anywhere.
A lot more anglers on the middle and upper river on the weekend but reports were mixed.
More kelts and juveniles around probably helped down river during the last flood, and although there were some good fish amongst them most of the fresh run rainbows were smaller than they have been lately.
Another brief spell of wet and windy weather coming up before things begin to settle down again by the weekend. But its going to be much cooler as winds turn southerly for a time.
UPDATE 13th MAY 4.00 am
The Tongariro is already back to manageable levels and flowing at a very fishy 37 cumecs. The trout will have moved around a bit but expect some great fishing as the color begins to drop out over the next couple of days.
Tight lines guys
Mike |
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