For anglers to study up on days when they cannot fish, like during the recreation release yesterday, TRM keep old copies of the Trout Fisher magazine spread throughout the units. Their comprehensive newsy articles never go out of date and confirm how fortunate we are to be located in the middle of the Main Island, halfway to everywhere. If the Tongariro River is flooded, there are so many other fishy options.

A few years ago, before iPhones arrived, there was a wider choice and we could leave a current copy of various magazines in every unit. These included the Target Taupo published by DOC which is now published only in digital form. For Taupo anglers it is more to warn about changes in regulations – such as the new regulations on Lake O in 2022 and changes to Lake Rotoaira licensing system. The other glossy was Fish&Game which disappeared a few years ago and is hardly missed – judging by our inmates. We judge how good the publications are by how frequently they would go missing…

Fish & Game NZ, who issue licences for the rest of NZ, also has its digital Reel Reports. Anglers can keep up to date with all the freshwater fishing action, news, events and comment from across New Zealand by signing up to ‘Reel Life’ – the official monthly newsletter from Fish & Game New Zealand. They also provide regional reports to provide a more comprehensive news service to freshwater anglers.

But the problem is that many inmates at TRM are often elderly (although perhaps that is no excuse?)and not savvy enough to know how to scroll down to find many of these digital articles. We are not being rude. Most of them have to get the local tackle shop to renew their licence as even that is too difficult. Many limit their iPhone use as a camera to record their trophy trout rather than to access updated license information.

That brings us back to the Trout Fisher magazine, which continues to publish hard copies for trout fishos. Their high standards have been maintained, and we are indeed fortunate that somehow they have managed to survive the digital era. Full credit goes to the editor Peter Storey. Their contributors are the pick of NZ’s trout fishing journos. So please support them.

MAGZTER’s summary:

NZ Trout Fisher-

Trout Fisher has been New Zealand’s only dedicated trout fishing periodical since 1991. It’s 100% Kiwi Owned & Produced. AIM: To promote New Zealand trout fishing in the spirit of public ownership. Its owner, publisher and editor describes himself as “a classic fly fisher but atypical magazine purchaser”, meaning that he fly fishes impulsively but only buys magazines deliberately, and very few at that. Typically, he feels, magazines are 66% advertising and 33% reading, offering little value to the reader. Although advertising is always welcomed then, it’s fair to say Trout Fisher remains a deliberate attempt to achieve the reverse. The magazine began when the publisher contracted rheumatoid arthritis and was forced to create new work. He had never published anything other than reports before, but a trout fishing magazine looked a fully viable (not to mention highly attractive) solution. The initial intention was simply to produce a retirement fund but as the magazine’s scope expanded and publishing knowledge grew, that intent rapidly became something much larger. Originally a single folded black-and-white A4 newsletter, New Zealand Trout Fisher has steadily progressed to the 48-page full colour magazine it is now; firstly entirely through direct sales and currently, a combination of direct and distributor sales. Subscriptions are handled in-house and are available in both print and digital form. Maybe one day the publisher will retire then, but it’s hard to see that happening when producing the magazine has become such an integral part of our lives; not to mention, so much fun. So for now the intention is to keep going until either old age dictates or, if he wishes, his son takes over.