Thank you for your comments re TRM reports last week on 10 & 12 January with images of the town pools and middle river pools after the 700+ cumec flood (instead of more waterfalls…). Anglers have since advised the Cicada Pool and the run below Cattle Rustlers pool fished from the TLB have changed more than the images indicated. So beware…
Following are the Braids images – the Lower River Pools will follow. The delay was deliberate while waiting for the river to drop below 30 cumecs to reveal any changes. But the flow remained hung up – at the time of inspection it was still flowing about 33 cumecs.
Unless you are familiar with the Braids and lower river these pool descriptions in “anglers jargon” may appear quite confusing – so you are warned.
Starting below the Bridge Pool the images show little change in the main river before it reaches the old Braids where it splits into several channels:
The main change is the increased flow in the bypass linking the main flow to the old “Plank Pool” – around past Tongariro Lodge.
(There used to be a plank at the end of the access road/track off Grace Road to prevent cars driving into the river – I don’t think they were too concerned about the cars but did not like the thought of a car landing in the pool – which could affect the fishing.)
Several anglers have mentioned after each “fresh” the trout are holding in there longer and providing better summer sport – for spotting and stalking – than in the main river.
Some have even mentioned hopefully that perhaps the “Braids” might be slowly returning?
The flow down the Council artificial canal on the southern town side of the river is losing more flow as the river makes new channels down the original course on the southern Grace Road side.
The Honeypot may even return one day…
The amount of drift wood and debris thrown up by the flood indicates how violent and high the flood waters were.
The anglers walking (biking?) access tracks have all suffered ‘wash-outs’ and made biking difficult.
Anglers will be relieved that the vehicle track down from Grace Road to the Braids car-park has been improved with a few loads of metal to fill in the pot holes and make driving in much easier.
The anglers walking access beyond the car-park into what used to be known as Bain Pool (?) – now swept away – where the main river broke through to the TRB – has been improved with the flooded track replaced by a new walking track adjacent – see either side of the TRM bike. (Just slipped in a little bike promotion there)
The usual crossing – by wading over to the island to continue down to Log Pool – looks too deep now, but as mentioned above the river was still flowing at 33 cumecs which is about 20% above normal summer flow of around 25-26 cumecs.
This northern arm leading down to Duffs Pool has developed into the main river is also now carrying a greater flow away from the Council canal after every fresh. This is expected to continue to increase.
If you can handle it (?) the commentary will continue on changes heading down to Reeds Pool tomorrow…
View below looking up river towards the SH1 road bridge is the same as before the flood.
The view down river from the wall over the “lower bridge pool” at the end of Herekiekie Street looks much the same. This pool is popular for swinging deadly two handed rods. (hint, hint)
