11AM Update:
Herbert returned with a limit bag of superb conditioned trout from Lake Taupo.
Thanks to Michael Rowntree from Something Fishy (www.troutfishingnz.com)
Guides updates:
What a beautiful day in Paradise.
This was the day the bikers wanted for their ‘Round Lake Taupo’ race yesterday. Fine, warm, no wind so far…
After light rain yesterday the Tongariro has fallen overnight from 30 to 27 cumecs.
Even Herbert from Austria has grabbed the fine day to go boating out on Lake Taupo today with guide Michael Rowntree from Something Fishy’ (www.troutfishingnz.com) so we are waiting for his report. He picked the perfect day for it.
Luke Boddington (RaftingNZ) (http://www.raftingnewzealand.com) reports yesterday of heaps more trout in the upper Tongariro River compared to previous seasons. The raft fishing season starts on 1 December. They are the closest rafting company to go to for the complete wilderness upper river raft fishing trip which has to be on your bucket list.
Chris & Lizzie Miller from Auckland are already booked in waiting to go on their annual raft fishing trip in the upper Tongariro.
RaftingNZ have generously again offered TRM a free raft fishing trip to give away to some lucky fishy inmate(s) this season. The usual rigorous qualifying standards apply – to qualify they have to be seen fishing the Tongariro River wearing a TRM lucky hat. SWMBO will do the draw in February 2016.
Kenny Drummond (local fishing guide) www.troutfish.co.nz reports he has already discovered his first cicada shuck for this season. MET office is forecasting a dry summer. It is early to find cicada shucks in November, so some more experienced locals suggest we could be in for a BIG Cicada season. A good cicada season is overdue on the Tongariro. It is eagerly anticipated by anglers. Once the BIG Tongariro browns have tasted cicadas that is all they will focus on. It makes ‘dry fly’ fishing so easy and so productive. Just the sound of a cicada plonking on the surface is enough to make them strike. Can’t wait…fingers crossed.
Mike Hughes Tongariro guiding specialist, (http://tongarirofishingguide.co.nz) called in yesterday, fully recharged again after his recent R&R, and concurs it looks like we are in for a ‘ripper’ summer season. All the signs are there for a dry summer and for a BIG cicada season…
Book now. TRM’s bookings from anglers for February are already at record levels so do not delay…. SWMBO hates saying “No, sorry, we are full again”…
Stephen Mattock (Tarata Fishaway) (http://www.tarata.co.nz/guided-fishing.html reports last week his first big day catching trout on dry flies this season – rafting down the Rangitikei. (Highly recommended) Summer dry fly fishing was postponed by the recent wet colder weather but now the warmer temperatures and hints of humidity should bring on summer conditions. Can’t wait…fingers crossed.
Every season TRM are asked when the cicadas start chirping. Watch this space. More cicada info below:
Cicadas story from NZ Encyclopedia:
The hot days and balmy nights of summer wouldn’t be the same without the chirruping of cicadas. It’s the males that make all that noise – they are often visible on lamp posts and tree trunks. But they have actually spent most of their lives in the dark, deep underground.
Full story by John Marris
Main image: Chorus cicada
The Short Story
Appearance
Cicadas have a wide head, big eyes, four wings and six small legs. Unlike other singing insects, such as grasshoppers and crickets, cicadas do not have large hind legs for jumping.)
New Zealand species
New Zealand has 42 unique species and subspecies of cicada. The biggest is the chorus cicada, with a wingspan as wide as your palm. In summer, the males sing in chorus for a mate.
Habitat
Different species live all around New Zealand, from forests and grassland, to swamps, sand dunes and riverbeds. The chorus cicada also lives in cities, perching on fence posts and buildings. The small, black Maoricicada species are the only cicadas known to live high up in the mountains.
Life cycle
Cicadas spend most of their life underground, and emerge to become adults. You might see their empty skins on tree trunks.
- The female lays her eggs on plants such as grasses or trees.
- Cream-coloured nymphs hatch out. With claw-like legs they dig about 40 centimetres down into the earth.
- Underground, they shed their skins several times as they grow. Most species stay there for three years or more, and then burrow back up to the surface.
- Then, at night, the nymph climbs a tree or other support, and its final skin splits open.
- The adult comes out, with crumpled wings. In the morning it flies away.
- The adults mate, and the females lay their eggs. Adults live for two to four weeks.
Feeding
Under the soil, nymphs suck sap from plant roots, using needle-like mouthparts. Adults also feed on sap.
Singing
Only male cicadas sing, to court females. The sound is made by membranes known as tymbals on each side of their abdomen. The tymbal is pushed out, causing a burst of sound. Then it pops back in. By rapidly repeating this, the cicada makes its song. Some New Zealand cicadas also make clapping sounds by flicking their wings against the branch on which they are sitting.
Both males and females have hearing membranes called tympana. Through these they hear the sound of the males.