(continuing TRM response to an angler’s complaint from yesterday’s report)
Tongariro anglers are so very fortunate.
Tongariro anglers are blessed?.
There are no other trout fishing locations where anglers can feed off so much regular up-to-date information available from so many tackle shops and fishing guides, etc. More books have been written about the Taupo region and Tongariro River than the rest of NZ rivers combined. You do not even have to be here to enjoy it. There is no other trout fishing location in NZ that can compete with the local Turangi advantages of having a choice of such a wide variety of wild rivers open all year and a choice of lakes, with so much easy access, such reliable fishing, such consistent huge (?) size, accompanied by such a wide range of accommodation options, with (possibly most important of all?) well researched comprehensive informative entertaining ‘daily reports’ to keep you informed, etc.
We could report by displaying another beautiful ‘trophy’ (?) dead trout almost every day but that is not TRM’s style as regular anglers report there are many more important issues that need airing as well. SWMBO would be the first to object…
The tourist industry even has their own jargon for “fully leveraging guest intelligence” That is what TRM are about too – in reacting to guests’ real complaints, answer their more important concerns with positive action..
Leveraging guest intelligence
After reporting on the fishing for about ten years we warned readers in 2016 – directly following comments and requests from guest anglers – TRM reports have deliberately had to become more ‘political’ (aka “entertaining?) in trying to update anglers on some of the controversial local injustices that, unfortunately, are ignored or not reported on elsewhere. Tongariro anglers know the fishing varies every week and have confirmed these ‘juicy’ issues are of more interest to them.
These are just some of the more contentious issues TRM have commented on – following guests’ complaints recently…
Tongariro River metal quarrying posing as flood protection?- Trout farming at the trout centre is unnacceptable?
- Deteriorating condition of anglers access roads?
- Taupo Fishery review recommendations being ignored?
- Taupo fishery misinformation on trout condition?
- DOC’s PR communications via facebook to replace Target Taupo?
- Genesis flood control systems threaten to drown anglers – again!
- Taupo Carp farming fiasco supported by DOC, Taupo Council, etc.?
- Waikato Regional Council abuse of the Tongariro River?
- Dirty dairying polluting 100% pure trout streams.
Irrigation schemes ruining famous trout rivers.- Freedom campers dominating Tongariro River car parks?
- Lack of adequate promotion of trout fishing in Taupo region?
- Proposed T2T – Taupo to Turangi bike trail?
- Restoration of Turangi museum to show pre-moari artefacts?
- Why Genesis refuse tourists access to their underground power station?
- Taupo Council’s lack of promotion of trout fishing since 1995?
- Objections to The Lines Coy excessive charging in addition to electricity charges.
- Taupo Council compliance fine TRM for ‘Welcome to Turangi’ tourist signage...
These are all genuine reasons for concern… Who else is acting in a responsible manner requesting answers to these issues? The appointed or elected authorities have failed anglers. Only SWMBO has been brave enough to keep these bureaucratic monsters honest?
What is also interesting is the increased ‘traffic’ when TRM run these controversial issues. No surprise there… If there are other fishy issues you would like TRM to pursue then please advise…
TV is to blame!
Why? What is the real reason for anglers concerns?
Every night (despite TRM having 50 sky channels for when the fishing is slow – just slipped in a surreptitious advert there…) the TV programmes are so boring the guests give up and peruse old Target Taupo magazines instead. They don’t just read them. They study them!
Then they complain to us the next morning – Why has this not been done? This so-and-so is wrong! What are we doing about it? This is pure BS! etc.
For many years SWMBO tried to redirect them to DOC – Taupo Fishery Managers – but more recently anglers have never been able to locate their new Turangi office (situated away from public view, hiding on the 1st floor above the local pie shop. They even have a security guard outside the main entrance, but that is another story) .
So to be responsible to our guests – in the lack of regular updates from DOC – TRM often used this website daily report to keep anglers informed about controversial issues that other (much wiser?) fishing reports dare not mention.
My personal excuse is that I have to fill in time between laundry cycles. (Your wife/partner will explain. As you can see we have another huge load today after being booked out)
What is interesting is the increased interest in these ‘other’ more controversial contentious topics. Underneath their usually contented countenance, most Tongariro anglers are really frustrated, disappointed and some are angry…
Visiting anglers from West Island and North America constantly remind us we Kiwis need to take immediate action as all the signs are there for NZ to follow their mistakes which has driven them to fish here as their own rivers are dry, polluted, irrigation channels, artificial hydro storage dams, dominated by carp or fishless, etc.
Hotel/motel guests concerns:
This is the sort of industry propoganda pumped at motel owner/operators from the Tourist Industry to “deliver better guest experiences” and “act on guest intelligence more effectively, to be able to exceed expectations and improve their online reputation.”….
Only 29% of hotels are fully leveraging guest intelligence……. savvy hoteliers are using guest feedback to make operational and service improvements on property to deliver better guest experiences. ReviewPro, leaders in guest satisfaction improvement, recently surveyed 2,877 hospitality professionals across the globe to gain a better understanding of how hotels manage guest satisfaction and to highlight current trends in the industry related specifically to guest survey management. The findings of the 2016 Guest Satisfaction Management Barometer, the first edition of this industry study, provide some eye-opening insights that could help hotels identify gaps in their current guest feedback management strategy. Although the majority of hotels are already active in this area, the poll indicates there is a clear opportunity for hotels to implement the latest technologies and best practices to manage and act on guest intelligence more effectively, to be able to exceed expectations and improve their online reputation.
Key findings of the study include:
94% of hotels feel that it is important to be able to integrate guest survey data with online review analytics but only 29% of hotels are doing so.
OK? That is all we are trying to do – inform of guests main worries. Perhaps we take the continual guests complaints about these ‘other’ issues more seriously than other motels? TRM have their website blog to advise and follow up on guests (read “anglers”) concerns as a service to our most important regular fisho inmates. Sometimes these issues are more important than a daily dead fish count. We hope you agree. One BOF (Boring Old Fart) currently ‘in residence’ replied to yesterdays complaint as follows:
Ross,
I’m sitting here waiting for a slowing of the heavy rain (6mm in the last couple of hours) so I thought I’d respond to the concerns about the lack of fishing reports in the Daily Report. I agree with you that it would be detrimental to have ‘false’ fishing reports if the fishing has been hard. I can personally testify it has been hard. (Details censored!) Other anglers, tackle shop staff and a guide I’ve spoken to all agree it is hard at the moment. Some people have caught fish but they have had to work hard for them. One angler has been out from about 8:00am to 5:00pm everyday, constantly moving from pool to pool and he has managed a few fish on most days. You mention earthquakes, quarrying, timing of spawning runs as possible explanations. Another suggestion (from a tackle shop staff member) is that it hasn’t really been cold. The Whakapapa snow report indicates this. I’m sure that if you published ‘glowing’ reports about the fishing and people turned up to be disappointed you would get heaps of complaints.
As a West Islander (don’t mention the Wallabies, but I was born a Kiwi) I read your reports for a number of reasons. It’s great to read about 10lb brown trout, or anglers with 15-20 catches in a day, but it’s also great to read the political stuff. I hope anglers get concerned to read about declining water quality, poor environmental management, declining water stocks (South Island rivers), power company hydro flow management etc. These should concern us, not only as anglers, but as guardians of the environment.
When you went on the Great New Zealand Trek in February you entrusted me with the care of the Daily Report. After struggling to write 7 reports in that time I am in awe of your ability to churn out reports every day. Sure, there is some repetition, but the work that goes into each report is amazing. Another regular (fortnightly) report writer told me he didn’t know how you managed a daily report. Also, I don’t think readers want to constantly see photos of dead fish.
I try and read between the lines in your reports. When the fish are on, you say so. When they are not on you write about other things. Keep writing and I’ll keep reading.
Thank you
Murray Cullen
OK I know we ran his letter yesterday but it has been repeated to warn other anglers what the editorial staff at TRM have to endure and try to edit. Avid anglers may have been confused when Murray mentioned – “I can personally testify it has been hard. (Details censored!) Other anglers, tackle shop staff and a guide I’ve spoken to all agree it is hard at the moment. ” etc. He should never claim that in case we caught him out… he should know better.
Therefore the TRM team followed him – Pumpkin knew where he went and I took this photo from the other side of Vera’s Pool and look what I discovered !@#%&???. That great white flapping thing he was struggling to lift was at least five pounds of fresh run prime hen rainbow. So Murray reports to you that the fishing is so hard at the moment – yeah right.! I suspect he was just trying to encourage you all to stay away while he is here.
Meanwhile another regular inmate sympathises with Editorial discretion from Melbourne:
Oh Ross your correspondent email regarding lack of fishy fishing reports makes me think the guy is a flog
Sure fishy stories feed the addiction but if the only reason I come to the Tongariro is to bang a trout on the head will then I think I am missing the whole experience of fishing
As an avid reader of all the reports daily I’m sorry to tell you that the contents do not determine when I must go CATCHING
I don’t have the privilege of reading a report , throwing a sickie and get in the car and drive a few hours north
Flights have to be sourced , rental cars booked , coordinating friends and family availability , work schedules and a leave pass from the leader of the opposition all need to be taken into consideration prior to arriving at TRM
If the trout are running at the same time will I suppose that’s a bonus
A pie at the bakery , a coffee at the roadside van , a pint or 2 at the pub , catch up with family and friends , an early morning flick then a lazy morning reading and recharging , discussing whether to go for a change of light flick or sit around enjoying everyone’s company somehow add to the experience in my opinion
You may recall a few years ago the entire time I was at TRM the mountain was rumbling and no one was catching a thing . Did I have a great 7 days on the Tongariro …….you bet ya I did
Two reports that will never be forgotten where both you and Mike Hughes saying good bye to two special dogs . I’m sure many others will agree with me on this
Keep up the great work and although I may struggle to get over this year the next time I’m at TRM a bottle of Scotch will be left behind in appreciation of “my daily fix”
Trev
Ps Fishing dollars spent on very , very good seats for the Bledisloe Cup in Sydney so I’m sure I will be forgiven for my nonattendance this year