Recently TRM featured young 5 year old Felix from New Plymouth with his first fish. 

So we asked if anyone else had any similar experiences to share.

This week we have done better.  Felix has a long way to go to match this one.

Alex Cornock has a holiday home nearby and invited his brother, Norman, out to NZ and took him fishing for his very first time.

After a couple of days learning how to cast and present a fly he caught his first trout.  So…

Many anglers have never caught a big brown like this after many years of trying.

I showed his big brown to some TRM inmates, to encourage them.  They strongly recommend Norman should give up now while he is so far ahead.

The image below is of Alex with another BIG trophy brown he caught locally in the Tongariro after dark on the same day – just to make sure his brother wasn’t having all the fun. 

He can’t remember which pool as it was too dark…  Yeah right.

We have several reports of similar BIG browns being caught and released.  They are now sneaking up the Tongariro, particularly in darkness.

Guides have reported that the recent Tongariro River fishing since the rain last weekend has been just like the good old days.  BIG browns have been caught in the usual pools – Judges, Hydro, Braids, etc.  These are late but in very good condition. 

But it has been the number of 4-5 pound Rainbows that has surprised.  Several reports of  fresh run rainbow trout of around five pounds have been received.  Some hens  have tiny eggs already.  The ‘war stories’ of the battles from these trout have been most encouraging.  As usual, more have been lost than landed.  That will be why it is called ‘fishing’, not ‘catching’.  SWMBO loves to see so many happy fishos.

This looks good for the winter rounds.  Now we look forward to some fine weather for the next week to enjoy the last of the summer weather…