Fishing Report:
Tongariro is still difficult according to TRM fishos. We need some rain… The river is still low and clear with lots of trout seen but conditions are too spooky to open their mouths. Yesterday there were few anglers on the Tongariro (apart from the usual scrum at the road bridge), 6 cars at the TT, 5 cars at the Hinemaia Bridge, and none at Waitahanui. What has really happened to the Waitahanui. Seriously, it is a shadow of it’s previous form. Any ideas?
Meanwhile, for your submission to TRM on the review of the Taupo Fishery regulations (see front page), here is some local history copied & pasted off TRM’s Links.
TRM’s Brief History of the Taupo Fishery
1887 – Brown trout introduced to Lake Taupo
1898 – Rainbow (steelhead) trout introduced.
1904 – Brown trout of 23 kg (50 pound) speared at Kuratau.
1907 – Rainbow trout of 17 kg caught at Waitahanui. (Typical was Charles Percival [SWMBO's Grandfather?] landing 354 trout av. 3.9 kg – 8.5 pound)
1912 – Koaro population cannot support expansion of trout – size & quality decline.
1913 – Netting undertaken to reduce trout numbers.
1924 – Perhaps the best years of Taupo fishery. (i.e. J Painton catches 11 trout at Waitahanui 10 of which exceed 9 kg.)
1926 – Act of Parliament entitled licensed anglers access along either bank from Delta to Whitikau River. ( Maori Land Claim Adjustment Act)
1930 – Trout quality and size deteriorates.
1934 – Smelt released to become main trout diet.
1958 – Largest flood of century reshapes Tongariro River.
1960 – Fishing all year round permitted..
1963 – Trout condition and size improve.
1973 – Tongariro flows reduce from hydro project – TPD.
1987 – Season fishing licences peak at over 83,800.
1990 – Fishery declined to lowest point.
1998 – Minimum size limit increased to 45 cm after Ruapehu eruption. Another “once in 100 years” flood.
1999 – Another “once in 100 years” flood.
2000 – Size and condition best since 1920’s, largest adult population for several decades.
2003 – SWMBO buys TRM.
2004 – Another “once in 100 year” flood peaked at 1490 cumecs. (Usual flow about 24 cumecs)
2008 – TRM won the Tongariro v’s Waitahanui fish-off.
2009 – Minimum size reduced to 40 cm. (TRM won the fish-off again.)
2010 – Might be the best season ever.
2012 – Access tracks extended above Fence Pool to double the length of the accessible fishable river in summer.
2023 – SWMBO retires.
BASIC RESTRICTIONS:
Taupo fishery requires a separate license from the rest of NZ.
Season is open all year round.
Daily bag limit of three – then stop fishing or catch & release after two landed.
Minimum size 40 cm. No maximum.
No fishing from 12.00 midnight to 5 am.
Maximum 3 flies or lures. Bait fishing prohibited.
Tongariro River is fly fishing only.
TRM smoker maximum capacity is 20 trout per day.
BASIC FISHING FACTS
Taupo is a wild fishery with Rainbow and Brown trout.
Tongariro River spawning runs are usually from end of March to end of November with no distinct pattern.
Rain and falling barometer pressures usually trigger a run.
Average time to run up to winter limit is 30 days, but varies between 18 and 80 days.
Migrating trout hug the bottom so dredging methods (heavy nymphs or wet lines) are the most successful.
TRM fishos are always the most successful on the Tongariro River.
Summer dry fly fishing for brown trout is the Taupo fishery’s worst kept secret.
Winter limit at Fence Pool was to prevent inmates on Rangipo Prison Farm getting too excited if they saw women anglers in waders.
Tongariro River provides the best fly fishing conditions in the world.
Most trout are landed in pools closest to TRM – Major Jones Pool, Bridge Pool & Braids.
