New revised Tongariro River “Bucket List” fishing maps – “FIFTY POOLS TO FLY FISH BEFORE YOU DIE” are now available at Sporting Life, Creel Tackle Shop, Greigs Sports, Turangi iSite, not forgetting TRM.
An interesting feature of this map is the Tongariro Pools Rating Chart which has been updated by the experts at Sporting Life to score each pool out of 20 for physical characteristics such as access, difficulty, setting, reliability, snags, wading and angler pressure. The pools below the Bridge Pool have been excluded as they continue to be subject to major changes after floods and from WRC (Waikato Regional Council) flood protection works, although many anglers would differ…
Thank you to the generous sponsors –
Sporting Life tackle shop,
RaftingNZ,
Turangi Tavern,
Fishing & Outdoors newspaper
In May the Government announced DOC would receive $76 Million extra in funding in the 2017 Budget. Unfortunately that funding did not arrive in time to contribute to their new maps for Taupo fishos. DOC are the Taupo Fishery Managers – in case you did not know.
After abandoning their Turangi offices a few years ago and transferring to Taupo, DOC have now announced they will have a much stronger presence in Turangi with 18 staff moving into the Taupo Council offices later this year. However not all will be involved with the fishery. But at least they will be seen and accessible and by working with local council they will become more aware of local concerns.
The Government also announced a $102 Million infrastructure fund for partnerships between local councils for projects like new car parks, toilets and freedom camping facilities. So hopefully the Taupo fishery and Tongariro National Park – Tongariro Alpine Crossing etc. will receive more attention.
Now anglers have received their 2017/18 Taupo fishing licence to discover DOC have their own A4 sized map to cover the entire Taupo Fishing District.
This extends from Lake Moawhango (near Waiouru) in the south up to Huka Falls in the north – over 100km! – with all the Taupo tributary rivers and other places such as Lakes Otamangakau, Kuratau, Rotoaira, etc.
On the back is a summary of the Taupo Fishery Regulations and other info.
Tongariro and Taupo anglers cannot help but compare DOC to Fish & Game, who manage the rest of NZ’s fresh water fishing regions, and complain to TRM that their new map is quite inadequate.
TRM seriously wish some of them would direct their concerns and complaints directly to DOC instead of to TRM, but they have never been able to find their present offices located above the pie shop in Turangi.
So the move to new offices will be welcome.
In case you think Tongariro anglers are being too judgemental or harsh on DOC, tomorrow we will compare the range of brochures produced by Fish & Game! i.e. below are some of F&G maps/brochures for the rest of the North Island. These have been prepared by fishermen for fishermen with everything anglers needs to know about the regional regulations and where the best access points are and other useful local info.
Taupo region is so blessed and fortunate with some of NZ’s best and most popular trout fishing rivers – in addition to the Tongariro are Hinemaiaia, Tauranga-Taupo, Waitahanui, etc. plus a real trophy lake at Otamangakau, etc. but sadly anglers maintain the Taupo fishery managers fail to provide adequate information for their licence holders or to encourage visiting tourist anglers.