Update 2011:
Tongariro Fishing Guide Andrew Christmas revised all pools for inclusion in the new Tongariro River pools map – “FIFTY POOLS TO FISH BEFORE YOU DIE” – aka the Tongariro Bucket List – so the pool ratings below are of historic value only. To get the latest pool ratings you will need to collect the new 2011 map at TRM or from Sporting Life tackle shop in Turangi. In the meantime we will alter the individual pools – when we find time. As the pools keep changing the ratings will change so check with us next time you stay at TRM.
During 2009 most pools were updated following many changes from numerous floods in 2008 and more recently the bulk of pools were reviewed by ace Tongariro River fishing guide Andrew Christmas (go to links). TRM record your gratitude to them.
TRM will continue to update individual pools using the knowledge and experience of fishing guides as and when appropriate – i.e. when any physical material changes in lies are noticeable.
Update 20 February 2009 - The proposed review of all river pools was postponed until after the river flow returned to controlled levels – for two months, November & December, the Poutu Canal was closed, so the river was flowing naturally at about 47-50 m3/s. This physically changed many pools. In addition there were many small floods during the winter months.
Update 2008: This review was supposed to be finished by now but every time we got organised in 2008 it rained and
flooded and the pools have changed again. In winter 2008 it was almost impossible to publish changes before the next flood. So now in 2009 we are going to do it regardless of conditions….
By announcing this comprehensive review, we are committed…
Many Aussie anglers advise they use these pool reports to look up the location of the pools after reading comments from these fishing reports. If this all goes according to Pip’s master plan (nothing else ever does…) TRM will have fully revised Pools Reports finished by end of November.
The reports take longer than you might imagine as you understand that all the pools then have to be thoroughly tested – again. Some anglers, often politely described as BOF’s (Boring Old Farts), appear to have mortgages over certain pools and kindly provide TRM with a comprehensive summary – if you can believe them. If you would like to contribute too it will be very welcome. Then the updated report will be more robust reflecting many opinions. Any current info you have on particular pools will be gratefully received – particularly if you do not agree with the pool rankings that were posted last week. There are certain pools – like Waddells, Poutu, etc. – which we are just guessing on. If they are not fished regularly then we have to reduce their rating. TRM will remove all the older photos so that it will all be 2008.You may also have noticed that following anglers’ feedback TRM have increased the number of pool ratings to include some previously missed as not thought to be of sufficient importance. Wow! That was a mistake identified by anglers comments.
Tongariro River Map (Map courtesy of nzfishing.com, the complete guide to NZ fly fishing.)
Map by Geographx
Tongariro River Pool Ratings
The ratings of the Tongariro River pools shown here are based on feedback from anglers staying at the Tongariro River Motel during 2007 season.
Scoring System (Since updated on individual pool reports – i.e. check Boulder Reach – 2007 = 16, 2012 = 13; or Smallmans-Bends Pools changes…)
The seven categories were scored as follows:
| Category | Description | Out of |
|---|---|---|
| Access | 3 indicates good car and foot access; 0 indicates poor access. | 3 |
| Difficulty | Reported difficulties getting the fly to the fish or finding the lie. | 2 |
| Setting | Scored for natural beauty and pure enjoyment. | 3 |
| Reliability | Indicates reliability as a top producing pool all year round. | 9 |
| Snags | No likelihood of snags scores 1; if known for snag(s) score 0. | 1 |
| Wading | If waders are not needed, score 1; if difficult to wade then 0. | 1 |
| Pressure | If a pool is too popular and regularly crowded, score 0. | 1 |
| Total | The closer to 20, the better overall rating the pool received. | 20 |
| Pool | Access | Difficulty | Setting | Reliability | Snags | Wading | Pressure | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marks out of | (3) | (2) | (3) | (9) | (1) | (1) | (1) | (20) |
| Upper River Pools | ||||||||
| Fence | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| Sand | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| Ledge | 2 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 17 |
| Blue | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Boulder | 0 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| Big Bend | 1 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| Fan | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| Cliff | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| Boulder Reach | 2 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| Poutu | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| Waddells | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 |
| Middle River Pools | ||||||||
| Red Hut | 2 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| Shag Hut | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| Shag | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| Duchess | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| Silly-RHS | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Upper Birch | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Sly Grog | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Lower Birch-LHS | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13 |
| Barlows-RHS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 14 |
| Cattle Rustlers | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Stag | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 |
| Cicada-LHS | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 |
| Admirals-RHS | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Kamahi | 1 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 |
| Never Fail | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| Town Pools | ||||||||
| Hydro | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Breakfast | 3 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Major Jones | 2 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Island | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Judges | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 17 |
| Lonely | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| Trolls | 3 | 2 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Lower Bridge | 3 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Swirl | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Honeypot | 2 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Vera’s | 1 | 2 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| Spot X Bypass | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 14 |
| Honeypot | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Stones | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| Plank-LHS | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Lower River Pools | ||||||||
| Bain | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Lower Island | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 11 |
| Log | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Reed | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Jones | 1 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Smallman’s | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| Parade | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| Bends | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Delatours | 0 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| Downs | 0 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 |