Image above is another TRM hero – Brian Felton donating surplus fly fishing gear – two rods, reels, tunic, etc. for Didymo Dave’s youth team.

His contribution is that much more notable as Brian is another West Islander from Queensland who flew his surplus gear across the ditch.  He acknowledges the importance to attract young anglers to try fly fishing on the Tongariro River.

He is in good company with other anglers – images on right – who have been so generous in donating surplus gear to encourage youth in the Taupo region.

The following demographic profile from Taupo licence sales clearly demonstrates the problem looming for the future.

Taupo Licence Sales History:

YEAR                TOTAL          ADULT SEASON  

1986                   83,829                12,635

1996                   68,285                11,848

2006                  55,160                 12,429

2014                   39,513                   8,965

2016-17          ??? (still waiting for DOC to advise…)                                 

Demographics

The woeful lack of young anglers was emphasised as a matter of concern in the 2013 Taupo Fishery Review.