This fishing report is from the NZ Herald in 2003 – nothing much has changed except the $ prices, so rather than misguide readers, any references to the costs of guides and accommodation have been deleted.

Make no mistake, he is to blame! His reports were instrumental in SWMBO choosing early retirement in Turangi. The photo below is the journalist author on the Tongariro River in 2018.

NZ Herald 30 Oct, 2003

Fishing: Yes, the Tongariro is crowded … with fish

The Tongariro River is often criticised for having too many anglers and not enough fish – mainly by those whose lack of experience, patience and know-how stops them catching anything.
But as any seasoned troutfisher knows, when the Tongariro is “on” – when spawning runs are heading upriver from Lake Taupo and the fishing is hot – no other river can match it for numbers, size and quality of fish.

Where else in the world can you pull over on the main state highway, walk 30 seconds to a magnificent scenic pool and within minutes catch a prime-conditioned 2kg rainbow trout?

It’s not always like that – but often it is.

The river is a self-sustaining wild fishery, and its harvest fluctuates depending on seasonal and spawning factors.

But generally the fishing is hot.

The weather is more boisterous than during winter and liable to trigger more fish movement. This spring has been no exception.

An Auckland father and son landed between 130 and 140 trout in two trips totalling 12 days.

A Turangi guide’s client reportedly landed 60 in three days. A Wellingtonian caught 100 in a fortnight’s casual fishing. A Turangi angler landed 27 in one spot. Others have caught up to eight an hour.

None of those fishers found the river crowded, even at peak holiday times, yet a major criticism of the Tongariro is that it is overcrowded.

Again, this is the excuse of the fishless, inexperienced angler who is getting brassed off because he hasn’t had a strike in two hours and the guy nearby has landed his sixth in half an hour.

What’s the secret?

Experience and know-how, and a sixth-sense that you are born with. You’ve either got it or you haven’t.

You either seriously want to be a troutfisher, or you don’t mind one way or the other, in which case you’ll fail.

The Tongariro attracts more anglers than other rivers, and, although occasional unsporting incidents do flare up, reports of overcrowding are exaggerated.

There is plenty of water and fish for everybody. In spring the river is less crowded and you’ll often have top pools to yourself.

For the beginner who really wants to be successful and has the patience to learn, Turangi lays it all on.

The town is a beginner’s heaven, with four tackle shops, expert guides, lodge accommodation near top pools, and websites (www.sportinglife-turangi.co.nz and Lee Hinkleman’s taupo.com), which give fishing and weather reports, updated daily, and input from local guides (both now retired).

The first thing a beginner should do is hire a guide, through a website or a tackle shop. You’ll learn more from a guide in one day than you will in a dozen weekend trips fishing blind.

The tackle shops all offer special deals.

You can get up at 5am, walk out the back of the lodge to the river for the dawn chorus fishing, and go back and cook yourself a big breakfast at 8am while admiring your mighty catch.

By HARVEY CLARK

Photo above is Harvey at TRM on 1 August 2027.

Harvey is of course better known now as “The Trout Man” in Rotorua.

Another youtube report by Harvey was posted 7 years ago by TRM below.