Weather: Sunny, light winds and 22°C
Tongariro River Flow: 40.5 cumecs (m³/s) There has been a recreational release today 8am - 4pm.
The river turned an unexpected chocolate milk for many anglers on the water today after a recreational release for the river riding rafters today which should be settling down this evening after 4pm. On the Genesis website, we can see another release forecast for tomorrow between Rangipo and Poutu, between 8am and 4pm. We expect slightly higher flows on the Tongariro tomorrow (Sunday), but as the release is higher up, the sediment might not cause chocolate milk, but still with a bit of colour and flow to it. Time to bring out the wetlines for the rest of the day and tomorrow.
We have a great selection of woolly buggers, nighttime flies and wee wet flies landed fresh in store, so we are ready for the change in conditions and keeping everyone stocked up for chasing those nighttime brown trout.
Gary has been having some success at the river mouths at night. We desperately need some good rain to encourage the fish into the mouths, with more river flow, as it has been hit and miss but always worth giving it a go as you can see!
Aside from the slight spikes in river flow following rain earlier in the week and releases, the river has remained low and clear, with all the usual tricks performing, of light long leaders, smaller nymph patterns & wee wets for sub surface and passion vine hoppers and mayflies for those fishing the top.
Passion vine hopper fishing has totally consumed me when I've managed to get out there and I have been having a ball! I think it's well up there with my favourite time of year for dry fly fishing.
There's some beautiful conditioned rainbows around who have been feeding well for the coming breeding season, and others nearly there but still providing a great fight, especially on the light gear! 5x RIO Fluoroflex Freshwater Tippet on the end of my 12ft Rio 4.5X tapered leader to those tiny dries has really added the needed edge to get those drift-free eats.
See you out there team,
Rosie & Gary