Each Sunday in 2016 TRM Daily Reports have been prepared by anglers reminiscing on their Tongariro experiences.

These stories from anglers have been most entertaining and instructive.

Many thanks to all contributors.

TRM invites any other anglers to provide their memories of the Tongariro. 

As a guide only to maintain a consistent pattern inmates were asked the following questions:

1    Name, brief background, where do you live. age, etc.?
2    When and where did you start fishing the Tongariro?
3    What was your reason to start and keep returning to the Tongariro?
4    Which is your favourite pool?  Why?
5    Your most forgettable and/or unforgettable Tongariro incident?
6    Your best Tongariro achievement?
7    What do you like most about the Tongariro?
8    Which is your favourite fishing style – dry? nymph? streamer?
9    Your favourite Tongariro fly fishing trip?
10   Anything else would you like to add?  Please include photos…

TRM Fisho Experience

Jim Rowland

Name is Jim Rowland from the U.S. 15 miles  southwest of Philly, Media exactly, county seat of Delaware County. Currently aged 72 and trout fishing at my club in the Pocono Mountains on the Brodhead Creek where fly fishing originated in America.

After many years of a 40 per rod per day limit of Brook Trout the streams were done and the fishers moved north to the Catskills where they now claim the original fly fishing destination. (Reminds me that I played 3 golf courses in NZ last year that all claimed to the “the oldest” in New Zealand.) Also have a camper on the West Branch of the Delaware River (Google: Hancock, NY) for the best wild trout fishing east of the Mississippi River.

·       I stumbled onto the TRM after a week’s farmstay in Hastings at the end of November, 2014. I had bought a car and was to drive 18,000km in 5 ½ months with no fixed agenda but to SEE New Zealand and meet Kiwis. Golfed each Wednesday to learn where my golf partners fished, then try it and golf again on Saturday with the same intention, and the move on to another town with a golf course and streams nearby.

I had only booked the first 5 days in Auckland and used the iPad to book ahead. Ross took me in for a fortnight, then proceeded to show me many river accesses and pools, etc. I enjoyed another fortnight at the end of the sojourn and added another 7 or 8 weeks this year, December, January & March.

·       The Turangi area rivers, besides the Tongariro, are definitely some of the best wild trout fishing in the world, in my experience, thus the reason to continue returning.

·       My favorite pool is probably Boulder Reach. The top third is very productive and favorable to my left-handed cast (gauche?). For the Evening Rise my gaucheness works well in the Daisey Pool casting up to the riffle out of Judges.

·       My most forgettable incident was in December, 2014 and took place in the Potou Pool.

I usually leave the iPhone in the car but forgot my camera so had it in a breast pocket. I had a large fish, probably Brown due to the hug of the bottom and the head shakes, when my phone rang. It was my son from Chicago so I reached for the phone thinking there was an emergency back in the States. He merely said “How ya doin’” as the fish got off….

·       Best Tongariro achievement was on my first day on the river. I was at the Blue Pool with a #12 Hare & Copper with a #14 Quasimodo dropped off. Hooked 3 in 3 casts and landed the first 2. Decided to return to TRM for a beverage as this thing was EASY.

Never been close since….

·       What do I like most? The ambience. (I thought he would say Hannah? See photos…)

·       My favorite fishing style is nymphing as 85% or more fish are feeding under the surface, so better odds if you can figure out the varied flows in the water column.

·       My favorite Tongariro trip is every one, every day.

·       I am planning 2 months on the Tongariro at the end of this year and perhaps another fortnight on the way up from Wanaka in March, 2017.  (SWMBO will warn Hannah…)