Now the real weather forecast…
At time of writing the barometer is plummeting, temperature has dropped, rain still only threatening, a top quality fresh run 8 pound brown landed early this morning, Venus is in line with Mars, you should be here, etc. The Tongariro is still waiting for the heavy rain that Jim – on TV1 news – forecast for Saturday, Sunday & Monday.
So SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) asked me to repeat Her annual message.
THE BEST TONGARIRO RIVER ANGLERS NEVER WATCH TV WEATHER FORECASTS!
Turn the TV sound off and re-read your daily fishing report (?) instead. Taupo is about 50 km north of Turangi. The weather pattern here is entirely different.
Taumaranui (50 km west) weather would be a better guide.
During winter months Taupo’s temperature suffers from the freezing prevailing winds off the great lake. SWMBO puts on an extra layer plus a coat to go there. True!
Turangi is tucked under Mt. Pihanga which protects Turangi from the colder southerlies and westerlies. Compared to Taupo She lives in the tropics.
So if you really want to know what the weather is here in the Trout Fishing Capital of the World, dial up that wonderful website at TRM, go to links and click on either:
Tongariro River Cam : Live images of Tongariro River (Kindly provided by River Birches) updated every half hour to see for yourself, with wind speed & direction, barometer reading, temperatures and view over Hydro Pool, or:
Mountain Cams : Web cams for Mt. Ruapehu, Mt. Ngauruhoe, and Lake Taupo.
OK?
The winter ski bunny play ground at Whakapapa is about 50 km south west of Turangi with an entirely different alpine weather pattern too.
It is frustrating for SWMBO and fishos. Every weekend TRM has to turn away bookings for accommodation from regular TRM inmates only to then receive last minute cancellations from wannabe ski bunnies after they are misled by Thursday night met office weather projections on TV. They always predict the worst scenario.
There are not many constant factors about trout fishing but there is one rule you can rely on – when the Turangi weather turns dirty, the fishing ALWAYS improves.
Attention Didymo Dave: Interesting tag on a pair of Orvis boots seen on SWMBO’s shopping trip to England. Even Orvis have been taking notice of Dave’s message:
“Inspect, Clean, Dry. Help stem the spread of aquatic invasions. As the threat of Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) such as New Zealand mud snails and Didymo grows, anglers wonder what’s the best way to care for gear to help stem their spread. Because chemicals such as bleach used to clean gear are harsh on gear and environmentally harmful, most leading conservation organizations and Orvis instead promote an “Inspect, Clean, Dry” regime. etc. learn more at orvis.com/invasisvespecies”
Q&A - Thank you for the continuing interesting questions sent in for our guides to answer each weekend. The best question will win a half day guided trip on the mighty Tongariro and runners up get TRM hats – now officially recognised as collectors items due to their mystical charms at improving your catch rate.