You never know who or what you might meet on the Tongariro River.

Most people take a fly rod but there are always the exception.  Walking along the Tongariro River Trail I thought I was hearing strange noises – music from Major Jones Pool (?) so I had to investigate.

As you can see, Pumpkin immediately responded to the guitar strumming by Nick from Massachusetts.  He had sneaked down there to find a peaceful setting in a little slice of heaven to practice his guitar.  You don’t need to be an angler to discover inspiration on the Tongariro River.

I had escaped the laundry to take Pumpkin ‘walkies’ – for a quick local lap – up to the road bridge and then up river to Judges and back across the Koura Street Bridge.

I took my rod just in case, you never know… We needed to check out a couple of usually overlooked places before the browns arrive.  The survey was almost successful, only ruined by the wind hooking me twice, so it might need further exploring.

I particularly wanted to check out the runs below Judges Pool This entire area has changed so much from last season with nearly all the flow now down the TLB.  When the browns arrive we will know whether it has improved (?) although on first impressions I do not think so…

I was more than a little intrigued after a TRM inmate, the old master Tony Bishop from Auckland, (better known for his website Bish ‘n Fish and his book “Fishing Smarter for Trout”) had landed a fresh run 7 pound brown trout below Judges in the slower true right – eastern side – bypass.

Instead Pumpkin led me up beside the faster riffles along the true left – western side – bypass just to make it more challenging and interesting.

Again these little exploring trips confirm plenty of trout in the Tongariro system and particularly between the named pools…  Hint, hint.

Spring is such a wonderful time on the river.

So is Summer and Autumn and Winter….

Note to SWMBO – I really must explore the Tongariro more often…