Since the “cyclone” (?), angler pressure on the Tongariro River appears to have eased, despite the school holidays still being in effect. As expected, most headed off downriver, although some preferred the natural scenery and isolation upriver for their “soul food” fix. The trout up there had not read the book and were fresh runners after the cyclone. One regular tourist angler sent in his photo and summary of his last three days:

Hi Ross,

I spent 3 days fishing the Tongariro in mid-April 2026.  I found it a bit slow, only landing 7, including this nice fresh run hen in the stretch of water below Cattle Rustlers.

As always, my secret spot yielded 3 nice fish, 2 one evening on the first and second cast and 1 the following morning on my 3rd cast.

An annoying westerly wind over the 3 days put a bit of a dampener on things … but just being on the river was absolute soul food.

Paul