(Above photo of Creel Tackle shop in 2012 before the cafe was developed.)
Extract below copied from Facebook last week has resulted in questions which we cannot answer. Apparently the lessees, Jason & Tracey Bethune have gone and a change of management is underway.
Hey, is Creel Tackle Turangi still operating, or closing
Facebook · Turangi Noticeboard 10+ comments · 1 week ago
Still open as far as I’m aware. … Anahera Tutumahurangi Eru the new owners have a great menu planned. … Ellie Drummond new owners will ensure …etc…
Another social media comment:
Unable to provide lunch at lunchtime
Came for lunch on 16 March and told there was no menu food, only pizza or cabinet food. Disappointing. Sign said menu closed at 11am and cafe closing at 2pm despite 2 staff on site. Decided to go elsewhere
Anglers have returned to TRM over the last few weeks asking what is happening? The cafe was closed – again…
To TRM inmates, this is much more important than just another retail business closing due to Covid or hard times. In Turangi amongst many Tongariro River fishos, Creel is regarded as a historic institution. Read the previous TRM blog below.
Anglers who have relied on Creel for their fishy supplies for many years need to know what is happening? The only other remaining retail tackle shop, Sporting Life, must be loving it!
TONGARIRO RIVER MOTEL blog from January 2014:
An interesting new fishy cafe opened along the road on Boxing Day.
TRM welcome and encourage such competition providing such facilities for angling folk. It all adds to the overall quality of the fishing experience on the Tongariro.
But as TRM do not have a cafe, we need to advise where SWMBO will most likely be found if you can’t find Her in the garden. The iconic Creel tackle shop is well known internationally along Taupahi Road. The historic structure dates from the 1920’s having been originally operated by the legendary Joe Frost with many other famous anglers and guides following like Brian Scott, the Franks – Frank Harwood and Frank Schlosser, Geoff (Pop) Sanderson, (and from 2013, Grant & Deb Allen).
This was originally the main (SH1) road through the small fishing village known as Taupahi before MOW (Ministry of Works) arrived about 1960 and built their new town to develop the hydro power scheme, and called it Turangi, located on the western side of the realigned Main Road now designated State Highway 1.
(That is why Tongariro River Motel reception is at the back fronting the old main road (AKA River Road) which shifted about 60 years ago but we have not had time to move the reception office yet.)
The new cafe is located through the back of the tackle shop which has been renovated as well but to provide access through to the seating and cafe bar. Fortunately the old tackle shop is such a delightful simple structure – good bones – so still maintains the folksy mature character and style appropriate to the best fly fishing environment in the world.
Below is a copy of the interesting entertaining informative never-to-be-missed TRM Daily Report from last September 2013 when Scotty – Brian Scott – retired, and to welcome Deb & Grant who were planning to open their cafe as an extension of the tackle shop….
Deb & Grant Allen have a huge background owning and operating up-market lodges so we look forward to their new ideas. They could not have chosen a better location with so much history.
Below is the TRM report on Creel Tackle Shop which was posted in October 2013 last year.
Simply, there are no other tackle shops in New Zealand which enjoy such a rich trout fishing history.
Today it is one of three tackle shops serving anglers fishing the Tongariro River – the other two are located over on the western side of SH1 in the more modern Turangi shopping centre.
So TRM and Creel Tackle House are the sole ‘commercial’ survivors remaining from the original sleepy little fishing village, from the good ol’ days on Taupahi Road.
The tackle shop and guiding business had originally been established in 1921 by Joe Frost – a famous guide who operated out of Taylors Camp – previously also known as Hatch’s Camp.
Joe Frost guided and tied famous dry flies and sold fishing tackle from this store for some thirty years – 1921 to about 1950 when he sold out to Geoff “Pop” Sanderson.
Back in 1941 Geoff Sanderson created a trout fly, the Red Setter, that was probably responsible for catching more fish than any other wet fly used on trout waters in the Taupo region during his time – just fractionally ahead of Parsons’ Glory, which was just ahead of Hamill’s Killer. Now the Woolly Bugger has clearly taken over top spot. You can see some Sanderson-tied originals at Creel Tackle House. (That was added to qualify this historic buildings survey lesson as a fishing report.)
Such was the fame and reputation of this tackle shop, the structure was bought and shifted down the street and restored in the present location outside Creel Lodge. The tackle shop and guiding business was then bought by Frank & Frank – being Frank Schlosser in partnership with Frank (& Carol) Harwood – both famous trout fishing guides who have operated from Turangi for many years..
Then in 1997 Brian Scott (Scotty) bought the business and has been there for the last 15 or so years. Each of these angling tackle shop operators has been a local legend. They each deserve a book to record their experience operating from the Creel Tackle House. If the rustic walls of Creel Tackle House could talk, they would certainly tell several volumes of extraordinary trout fishing stories.
(Steven & Scotty on duty)
The images illustrate how the building was restored with fibro panels covering the original weatherboards and window joinery replaced and a verandah added. Despite the additions, it retained all of its simple cottage charm. It is soooo ‘Tongariro’. So it is much more than just another tackle store. Locally, it is a fly fishing institution. They talk a different fishy language there. For any visiting anglers it is worth a visit purely to pay homage to the past (and buy some genuine Red Setters). They should charge admission…
Anglers from overseas in particular, return from Creel Tackle House and rave about it with that emotional far-away look and tears in their eyes. They recognise and value a genuine heritage building reeking of such a rare combination of qualities which distinguishes it from all the other boring retail businesses and makes fly fishing so special. As usual, Kiwis just take it for granted…
If only for its contribution to fly fishing lore on the Tongariro it should be registered on Council’s protected buildings list? (So should all the deciduous trees along Taupahi Road… ) What anglers love is the complete lack of any architectural integrity or merit. It is just a delightful simple functional structure oozing charm. Wonderful.
There are no other buildings in Turangi that have so much fishy character and so many stories to tell. Even TRM almost appears sterile and modern alongside the Creel Tackle House. But I said ‘almost’. OK? We are working on it…
Did you recognise TRM or Creel in the 1960’s aerial photos? Note no Link Road – now renamed Piri Road, no main highway…