Yesterday TRM Daily Report tried to compare the Tongariro style of fishing to canal fishing in the deep south.
Not unexpectedly it raised howling protests from Otago fishos (Crusaders and Highlander supporters). How could we (Chiefs and Hurricane supporters) possibly compare their salmon, fed on pellets from salmon farms, with wild trout from Taupo?
TRM inmates know what they would rather eat. Salmon pellets are manufactured from waste products spiced with growth hormones (?) at the freezing works. Taupo trout live on whitebait (smelt) and koura (fresh water crayfish). Fish are what they eat.
So we compared the happy responses from the first two inmates – Ross Faulkner & Chris Devine from Napier – images above – returned with their morning catch. Their total landed was somewhere over thirty. As indicated above the old fish bins are not big enough any longer for Taupo trout…
One other inmate – Miles from Taranaki – left here on Tuesday loaded up with 25 trout.
As usual TRM’s security policy strictly applies – we cannot reveal which pool they were fishing until after they leave – and then only to visiting TRM inmates after I have researched it thoroughly as we would not like to mislead you.
They did not even keep their limit – too heavy to carry. They kept four each as they hoped to go fishing again later in the evening. Therefore 4 at over four and a half pound plus average = 18 pound x two anglers would exceed the weight of the salmon at Twizel. But we repeat – they landed about thirty. So where or what would you prefer?
Below are the photos of the canal fishing environment to compare to images I took yesterday on a beautiful winter day spent exploring the upper river. Where would you rather waste your recreation hours?
As these are both tourist towns, can you spot the environmental differences between the hydro canals and the Tongariro River? No contest…
Poutu Pool – not a single foot print to be seen. The trout were tired of waiting…
Freedom campers parked on the Ohau canal near Twizel
TRB above Waddells Pool.
TRB Boulder Reach
What an exciting fishing environment?