Following facebook comment on Sunday:

Willy Young from Lower Hutt tested his lucky TRM hat after one hour in the Bridge Pool on Sunday afternoon. This was after a very busy weekend with three fishing clubs all thrashing it, combat casting all Saturday and Sunday morning. Interesting to see they were mainly jacks all caught nymphing on naturals. That means there are still heaps of BIG hens waiting to start their spawning runs. The boat anglers out at the Delta tell us they are catching all the hens. Up until now we have been praying and hoping but now we can confirm – from the condition of these trout – that this is definitely, absolutely without a doubt, the best season for the last ten years. OK? Book now…

This generated comments and questions of TRM’s speculative suggestion “best season for the last ten years”. Anglers want more evidence… They are wary it might just be TRM hype to improve occupancy rates? They have heard all this before. How can anyone suggest this BS halfway through the season? Fair enough!

If only one individual guest had suggested this it would usually be balanced by others saying how hard their fishing was. The results vary every week. When two suggest it we have to listen and take notice. This is not just one person’s opinion. When three have made this claim it has to be considered more seriously. Then we need to consider their “qualifications” for their aspersions. They need to have had appropriate experience of the Tongariro spawning runs over the ten year period.

The inmates making this claim do not suggest it lightly. They have been fishing here for many years – during good and bad seasons. They are regular visitors who know every pool on the Tongariro. They are not just nymphomaniacs – they include other expert casters – even wet line trawlers and Euro nymphers and dry & droppers experts, traditional and roll casters, single hand and two-handed poles, etc. They visit many times each year, summer and winter, for several days each time. From their catch record, I believe they are all better anglers than the average weekend once a season visitor. That means I respect them and take their opinion more seriously than just the occasional fisho.

Then there are other small factors to take into consideration. This year I have had to replace the smokehouse Manuka chips half way through the season. Previously these would last until the end of the year. This indicates how many more trout have been going through the smoker.

Then there is the condition factor. The trout have really been superb. The biggest complaint every week is how many “busted off”. A landing rate of about 50% has been normal. We take that as a very good sign of the strength of the fresh run trout. Wonderful stuff.

But after full consideration of all the factors we do need to correct the “ten year” claim. We think it is the best for fifteen years – ever since we have been here at TRM. OK?

DOC (Department of Conservation) are Taupo Fishery’s managers. Their trap located about 12 km up the Tongariro on the Waipa Stream is their main guide to measure each season. Anglers are aware many more trout, particularly Rainbows, spawn lower down the river or in any of the other tributaries, but this trap provides accurate historical statistical data year after year. After June’s count they advised:

DOC commented: Tables and graphs offer a side-by-side comparison. The Condition Factor of fish is better this year than 2018.