Blue Pool access road to be closed…

Above are the new supports for a barrier gate to be erected at the entrance to the Blue Pool road next to the Poutu River road bridge on SH1. 

Now the Rangipo Prison is closed and the land has been transferred to the local iwi (Maori tribe) as another of Mr. Findlayson’s election bribery Treaty Settlements, the Blue Pool and Boulder Reach access roads now extend over “private property” so they will be charging $50 (cash) per rod per day – the same toll level being charged by other mean-spirited owners in similar trout fishing access roads on the upper Wanganui River and to Flaxy Lakes.  

Apart from Blue Pool, eight other upper river pools access will be cut off including the Boulder Pool, Big Bend Pool, Sand Pool, Fence Pool, Whitikau Pool, the Reef plus Boulder Reach and Poutu Pools.  

This is covered in more detail below so read carefully…

TRM hate being critical at times, but we try to respond and reflect comments from fishy inmates on both good and bad issues affecting their fishing on the Tongariro, or any others they can dream up – such as the appalling road access to Blue Pool, lack of tracks washed out down river, new licence policy, fishing regulations, snags, lack of river fishing guide maps, flooded rivers, windy weather, you name it – anglers are usually quick to complain.  What else can they do when the river is flooded?. 

So we were delighted at receiving positive comments from fishos for a change about DOC’s efforts and perseverance to try to keep Didymo out of the Tongariro River and Taupo region. 

In particular, DOC’s Ranger, Brenda Lawson, has done a tremendous job on this.

The spray bottles are placed at all the main fishing car parks where anglers can pinch them and fill them in the river so they are ready to use.  Every bottle has special anti-didymo detergent in it. 

It is so essential to CHECK CLEAN DRY between rivers. 

The main point is that Didymo is still a risk to North Island rivers.

It is critical to have clean gear with any waterway move.

NIWA have recently published testing regarding cleaning methods for weeds/snails/lake snow.  Main points are that lake weeds are not killed by detergent – the ‘CHECK’ part is very important – remove all weed matter from equipment. 60degree water is best treatment

If you imagine it is not needed then consider that Didymo has been kept out of the North Island for over ten years by DOC’s strict adherence to such awareness programmes.  OK? 

If SWMBO catches you not cleaning your gear then you could be banned from fishing the Tongariro for ever. 

Bridge Pool TLB

The most popular pool in NZ?  The line up of combat casters at dawn is legendary.  They just keep taking fish out all day.  So why do so many spawning runs of trout stop there?  Some blame the vibrations from traffic on the road bridge supports or they are frightened by the shadow of the bridge?  Or is it a compulsory rest stop?

It is probably overdue for SWMBO to finally admit the truth about the Bridge Pool. 

It is the closest pool to TRM so She feeds them there.

Bridge Pool TRB

This northern side of the Bridge pool increases in popularity every year.  It is a good option when the combat casting school is crowded on the TLB. or for access under the Bridge upriver to Daisy Pool.

Stag Pool

This car park is increasingly popular to provide walking access to Stag and Cicada Pools and another which has not qualified for a name on the new map yet, but which locals call the “New Never-Fail” pool. 

 Guess where… and it is no use asking SWMBO. 

Red Hut carpark

Anglers should not be deterred by the number of cars parked as many are tourists and/or bikers.  

 Blue Pool carpark

What a terrible access road.  With the winter wet weather the potholes continue to grow wider and deeper.   It is now only suitable for 4WD high clearance vehicles.  But that will not matter as they are closing the road off with a gate inside the entrance from SH1.

Recently TRM offered $100 towards someone taking on the job of fixing the road.  A TRM inmate booked out on Saturday and asked us to add $100 to his bill towards the road repairs.  That illustrates the difference and generous attitude of TRM guests – they really do care.

The latest hot gossip is the Blue Pool access road will be closed only temporarily during logging operations while they remove the mature pine tree plantation and part of their contract is that they will repair the road before reopening...  Yeh!

The other misinformation introduction above was SWMBO being naughty to make sure you carefully read all the Didymo stuff…  She is so devious.

Boulder Reach 

Access from the Blue Pool Road has the biggest deepest pot hole of all – too deep for your normal family car.  If you make it to the car park you can walk left to Poutu Pool or right to Boulder Reach TLB.
 
If you consider that the CHECK, CLEAN, DRY programme – keeping Didymo and other water born threats out of the Taupo catchment – is a worthwhile cause then perhaps you might also consider selecting motels or other accommodation suppliers in Turangi who are more concerned about our river environment and go that extra distance to show they help to promote conservation values. 
 
With all the publicity about the deterioration of so many of our rivers recently, the continued threat of Didymo and “Lake Snow” and other lake weeds has been somewhat overlooked.  It has been a remarkable achievement by DOC that after about 12 years there are still no known outbreaks of Didymo in North Island rivers.  Long may it continue. 
 
This responsible “attitude” is so important to protect and maintain the 100% pure river environment.   i.e. I just received my new licence from F&G who included this message: 
 
“F&G thanks you for buying your licence – Not only does it open the door to incredible fishing possibilities, it also directly pays for the management and conservation of freshwater fisheries and habitat.  Your contribution helps fund the future for generations still to come…..  Our outdoor angling heritage is something we must not let slip away.”  etc…