TRM photos never lie. There are at least six or seven (?) trout in the photo above. They may not be particularly huge, but they are typical feisty maiden hens on their first spawning run.

These photos of the town pools were taken about 11 am this morning, from beside the Tongariro River Trail during Juno’s morning patrol, about ten minutes walk from TRM. The iPhone camera did not have any Polaroid app. but that was not needed as the spawning redds are so close to the walking trail.

The trout redds or cleaned gravel spots are very obvious.

Note, these are “wild” trout. They have not been raised in a hatchery or released. For the last two or three years they have matured in Lake Taupo and have now returned to the river for spawning in time to put on a show for the school holiday tourists.

Tourist walkers hardly spooked them at all. Immediately after Juno hopped in for her swim, they returned to the same spot.

Where else in the world could tourists watch wild trout spawning activity so close up? The Tongariro River has it all.