Once again the publication of the TRM Bucket List map – “Fifty Pools to Fly Fish Before You Die” has been postponed. In 2022 we revised the ratings just in time for the 600+ cumec flood at the end of August to blow out the Braids and ruin any easy wading into the Bridge Pool etc. to make the assessments redundant. Then we called in the heavies to do it again properly – Jason at Creel Tackle Shop. Almost every pool had to be reassessed.

The anglers wading in below from the island indicate the more normal flow level. This is usually a good place on the Tongariro River for tourists to enjoy watching the trout, with the Jacks guarding their spawning redds and waiting for the hens to arrive. Photo was taken last November.

But then, just as the revised updated third edition with 2022 ratings were ready for Jim’s Cartography Services ... the Auckland Anniversary flood arrived. So another review is now needed.

Photos of the top of the Island Pool were on Sunday morning when the flow had retreated from over 500 to a mere 300 cumecs, so there is no sign of the island. Over the last week or so it was flowing at around 25 cumecs so it is still about twelve times the normal level.

Anglers are anticipating good conditions when the flow returns to normal levels to encourage plenty of Brown Trout spawning runs. After the rain eased off, the squadrons of cicadas were bombing tourists walking across the Koura Street swingbridge. The trout will be switched into nothing else now.