It is a long time since TRM commented on the TT. There is a good reason…
It usually performs best for a few days after a ‘fresh’ and has it’s own regular devotees who try to keep quiet about it and will be annoyed with TRM for promoting it on the web. So please note that we are only passing on the comments from a TRM inmate.
The TT has its own special charm. They treat it more like their private river to get away from the combat casting clinic on the Tongariro. So it deserves more exposure just to encourage anglers away from the over popular pools on the Tongariro.
If the car park is full then it is also ‘fishable’ by casting directly from the curved Heuheu Parade – the road on the TLB leading from SH1 to the mouth at Oruatua. But you may need a long handle landing net to land them and need to keep a wary lookout for traffic driving through your back-cast.
We particularly recommend it for novices as it is not quite so intimidating as a larger river flow i.e. casting to the seam becomes so much more ‘doable’.
As indicated in the images the TT is a “gentle” river with easy wading (compared to the Tongariro!) and easy access, therefore it is preferred by many more ‘mature’ (i.e. older than me) anglers who carry spare parts in their anatomy – replacement knees and hips.
You are also warned there are usually a lot of snags which are weighed down by all the hare & copper bombs and woolly buggers clinging to them.
It is even better in the summer months for sight fishing when it is neglected by the mobs fishing the spawning runs.