Can you see it?  Look closer…

We went for a wander around the upper river pools on Friday when I took the photos below.  So few anglers?

We were supposed to be looking for any little changes from the two recent flash floods but generally it is much the same.  Plenty of trout sighted everywhere. 

The anglers may be discouraged from the rough access road to the Blue Pool – the pot holes are getting worse every week. 

It has been explained to TRM that the land is ‘private land’ (?) owned by the Justice Department (being part of the much larger 8000 hectare prison farm property which extends north of Turangi village – with access from Waiotaka Road). 

Most of the prison is now closed (as the accommodation was no longer suitable being too far for offenders families to visit from Auckland?) so the local Maori tribe now have a claim over it. 

With the land tenure uncertain there is nobody willing to take responsibility to help out a few anglers and rafters with road repairs. 

It was not too long ago they closed the gate and anglers had to walk from the main road car park across the Poutu anglers access bridge (see July 2007 photos on left – now removed up to the National Park somewhere near Whakapapa) past the Breakaway Pool – it took an hour just to walk up to the limit pool.  Then they had to carry all the huge trout back…  Anglers must have been younger and much fitter (or more desperate?) back then.

The river is looking in great shape up there.  Everyone we met had a story to tell, usually about the one that got away.  We always remember those.

Best result was Huw from Nelson (skillfully guided by Jim Rowland?) who landed seven and lost one in his Saturday morning shift, but not knowing the river too well he had forgotten the name of the pool… 

I would have too.

Now you can see it!  A well hidden duck nest on the island below Boulder Pool.

Other upper river images below… (See if you can pick the locations?  Answers below.)

The head of Big Bend was looking inviting.  The angler is Keith Boast from Ballarat.  Below him another young Australian angler was concerned about the rules after Keith had moved in ahead of him as he was nymphing his way up the pool.  Fortunately Murphy’s Law applied as the young guy landed two fiesty Rainbows to compensate…

So it is time for the annual lecture…  As the silly season approaches with many more tourist anglers competing for the same pools we can expect the number of complaints about “anglers ethics” will increase, so we have posted the usual Tongariro rules below.

It is very simple.  If you do not agree with these basic common sense rules then do not stay at TRM – otherwise SWMBO will have to ban you.

Please be considerate to all other river users… 

 Etiquette

Always be considerate. Never wade in above another angler who may be nymphing up-river.

• Similarly never walk in below a wet liner working their way down river. Just ask first.
• Courtesy costs nothing and makes such a difference to the enjoyment of your day.
• Know your regulations – minimum length 40 cm., maximum take home 3 per day, fly fishing only…

River Manners:

(From Sporting Life’s web site)

As the rivers get busier, the need to adhere to some form of rules is necessary to make it fair on all anglers. Once again anglers seem to be standing in one spot and not “moving through” a pool.

The idea is to have a few casts, move, have a few more casts, move, and when you either get to the head of the pool when nymphing, jump out of the river and go back to the tail of the pool behind everyone and work your way back up river.

 

If wetlining once you have got to the tail of the pool, get out and go back upstream to the head, slip in behind the last angler and work your way downstream again.

Also if you get to a pool, ask the angler who is already in there if you can have a fish if they are conducting a different method than you.

Most times anglers don’t mind.

If one is nymphing and the other wetlining then you generally agree to cross over in the middle.

If someone is not moving, then ask them politely if it is ok to go around them to carry on.

Failure to adhere to these so called RULES will result in tension, causing anglers to get angry and then eventually an exchange of expletives will result, then finally we will get fisticuffs.

Before yelling and screaming at someone, go up to them and have a quiet word to them to see if they know what they are doing as they may be new to the river and unaware what to do.

Imagine how you would feel if you were new to an area and someone was going off at you like a raving lunatic.

It would put you right off fishing.

Pool Locations:

Top left:  Big Bend Pool

Top right:  Looking down Fan Pool towards Cliff Pool.

Next left:  TLB above Fan Pool.

Next right:  Looking down TLB of Boulder Pool.

Another important reminder…

(from Brenda Lawson)

• The Tongariro River and Taupo fishery is free of the invasive Didymo which threatens most South Island rivers and lakes.
• Be sure to CHECK, CLEAN, DRY all your gear before arriving from any other waterways and practice the same between local rivers.
• Any responsible accommodation will supply you with Didymo spray bottles and a bin to soak your waders between rivers.