Yesterday TRM blog casually mentioned how shoals of wild spawning trout could easily be seen from the riverbank. We have been challenged about this previously and usually succeed in finding them within a metre of the bank. Often the enquiries are from wives of frustrated anglers visiting from West Island. Tourists do not need a guide, but just need to know where to go.

( I could clearly see spawning trout but the view without polaroid sunnies is as above)

There are some basic rules. If the river is coloured up and it is overcast, then it is usually a waste of time. But when the sun is shining and the river is low and clear around 30 cumecs or less, then it is easy peasy. Make sure you wear polaroid sunnies and no bright coloured hats and stay calm – no pointed fingers to frighten them off. Just be sneaky and sensible, if that is not too much to ask. Remember these trout have not been raised in a hatchery to be released. These are completely “wild” trout from Lake Taupo that swim up the river on their spawning migration every season.

The best closest accessible spot is identified in the photo on the river walk behind Creel Lodge. Visitors often get quite exhausted by the close-up views of nature at work, so Creel generously provided a seat to speed their recovery time. There are narrow side tracks down on either side of the seat from where tourists can sneak down and watch the mating games nearby. The trout are not as shy here as they are too revved up, ignoring all the danger signs, like teenagers showing off to all the competition.

This is a shallow bypass where the jacks prepare the redds and wait to abush the hens as they proceed up river. Years ago it was considered illegal to fish in this small stream but those rules do not seem to matter these days. A similar view can also be seen at the top of the bypass, about 20 m upstream, in the main river below Major Jones Pool. Look out for the cleaned gravels where Jacks have cleaned the redds and are usually seen waiting in an excited aggressive state of anticipation.

A couple of seasons ago a team of West Island anglers complained to SWMBO about the lack of trout in the river, so I led them down there – less than a 10 minute stroll from TRM across Taupahi Park. Afterwards they confessed they spotted more trout than seen in two weeks “guided” fishing in the deep south of the South Island. They have been returning to the Tongariro River ever since.

Warning: This river walk is compulsory for TRM inmates.