As the OTA’s (On Line Travel Agents) still claim TRM has a restaurant a group of tourist anglers decided to turn it into one, except we did not cook a thing – they brought their own Indian take-aways.  Also an interesting fishing group from Units 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 & 10 illustrate a typical age range of Turangi anglers – youngest at 39, oldest somewhere over 80.  Of course the real reason they arrived was they were so concerned about the temporary manager’s welfare as SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed used to manage TRM before She went missing earlier this year) had not returned yet.   

The dinner table subjects varied widely and sorted out the political system to sorting out Taupo fishing regulations.  But the main topic was how the fishing and weather have been sooo unpredictable. 

Last Sunday, or was it Monday (?), TRM tried to assemble a brief schedule of a typical daily result from the various units – without naming anyone in particular (TRM are so PC!!!) – to indicate where they were fishing and how erratic the trout fishing is.  Only one failed to score on the day (but don’t feel sorry for him as he had caught 8 in the afternoon before).  These results would be typical of February so far.  Some were trying cicadas but most had reverted to traditional nymph rigs after a cold snap.  In brackets we have added the number of days they are booked in to indicate how serious they are about fishing the Tongariro and Lake O….

Unit 1 Australian Kiwi fishing upper Tongariro landed and released 8 rainbows (7 nights)

Unit 2 Australian angler having a rest day after a big week at Lake O  (21 nights)

Unit 3 Australian angler had not arrived – eventually reported for duty on Monday, went fishing Monday night and landed a seven and a half pound Brownie….  (16 nights)

Unit 4 Auckland couple landed 2, lost 1 at the boat on Lake O. (14 nights)

Unit 5 American tourist angler landed 1 on his first time fishing the Tongariro River (2 nights)

Unit 6 Auckland couple landed 4 lower Tongariro (10 nights)

Unit 7 Hamilton angler landed 1 released “several” (whatever that means?) on Lake O  (30 nights)

Unit 8 The only tourists booked in from USA checking out the region. (2 nights)

Unit 9 Whangarei fisho caught his first Tongariro Rainbow in evening rise. (3 nights)

Unit 10 Anon angler with zilch result experimenting at Lake O (7 nights)

Unit 11 Auckland angler hooked 8, landed 4, lost a monster at Lake O. (3 nights)

Below is Maggie Cadogan’s keeper from Lake O yesterday – a superb trout.  She needed both arms to lift it.  Look at the width of the tail…