After the TV weather warnings of getting drenched, the reaction from prospective anglers was cancelled bookings. Then they worry and contact us, just in case, to check whether the conditions are suitable. This is normal.

The Judges Pool photos below should illustrate the answer. By 2 pm today the Tongariro was flowing around 35 cumecs when the soupy images were taken.

The darker threatening thunder clouds and crappy pumice colour effect encourage it to look more threatening than it is. Also note the blue sky after the experts warned of heavy rain…

Compare to the 100% pure blue flow recently at 25-30 cumecs. The pumice shading is not inviting for wading but the trout usually oblige by moving out to the edges.

SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed is the Manager of climate change and weather at TRM. She is a soul with infinite patience for weather men, but is now fed up with the TV weather forecasters , (like Dan) who always try to sensationalise with the worst possible scenario.

The graph below clearly demonstrates the flow over the last month, the peak holiday period. The flow hardly changed, but the gloom-and-doom forecasts continued every week, ruining plans and cancelling holidays and scaring fishos away.

An excellent article, revealing how misleading TV weather forecasts are, was recently published by top investigative journalist, Ian Wishart. It should be compulsory reading for all trout anglers.