Many thanks to Cynthia Tauarua – image below.

She wrote:

Thank you Ross for your hospitality, true kiwi style! And many thanks for helping out my partner Vaughan with getting started for his fishing. Loved the cabin, loved Turangi and so nice to be back home in NZ.

Vaughan was on holiday over from West Island staying in Rotorua and had not been fly fishing for many years.  He suddenly had an urge to test his skills at fly fishing – to see if could still cast a line.

At first he was hesitant as he had not brought any gear with him, he did not know where to go, what to use, etc.

So we outfitted him with a floating line and rod set up, boots and waders and a smart professional guides vest (to frighten the trout) with all the bells and whistles and scissors and knife and polaroid sun glasses and spare trace and fish bags and wading pole,  etc.  To look seriously threatening to intimidate the other anglers into imagining you know what you are doing is all part of the Tongariro magic…

We pointed him the the general direction of the Bridge Pool where he joined the line of anglers nymphing big glo bugs and he soon whipped the water into a foam.  Despite the challenging cold windy conditions, he reports he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

With first time novices they would be very lucky to actually catch a trout but he reported he was just as thrilled to watch others strike and hook up and loose them or patiently play the fighting fish to the bank.  Five were caught while he was there towards the end of the day so that confirms the trout must have been coming up the river on their spawning runs all day.

There had been a steady queue all day at most pools in the lower river.  For mid week it was relatively quite crowded.