Weather: Sunny, 20°C and a light breeze
Tongariro River Flow: 20.9 cumecs (m³/s)
The fluctuating levels following releases over the last week or so, has pushed a wave of spawning fish up through the Tongariro system. Some great reports have been coming in of silver bars surprising anglers and sending the drag screaming once again!
There's still reasonable amounts of dry fly activity happening, notably much smaller patterns, with slimmer emerger patterns from 12 down to size 18 seem to be most effective in these low clear conditions. And size 16 passion vine hoppers during the day, peaking between midday and 3pm on a sunny day.
Wetliners are still having reasonable success by swinging wee wets over big streamers. The best time for swinging would be early morning and evening, or on a cloudy day to align with the majority of invertebrates hatching at these times.
There are good numbers of browns still in the system, bigger are numbers visible in deeper pools but are unlikely to be feeding during the day. The best option is to stealthily stalk the high oxygenated water, looking for feeding brown trout.
The good weather has brought in lots of boaties to the lake and there have been good reports from harling the shallower bays close to the lake shore on the western bays and trolling through deeper water around 30m, still close to the shore. Jigging has still been providing good numbers for those targeting the thermocline at the 35 to 40m mark.
Great conditioned fish are still feeding hard on smelt so for those fly fishing sinking lines at the delta, booby flies and woolly buggers have been providing the goods. It won't be long until the heave and leave egg patterns will be another great menu item.
Lake O has been providing challenging fishing for most, with low flow going into the lake and a bit of algal growth in the top layer, making fish that bit more lethargic. Streamers and indicator set ups have been the most productive methods, and when you put the time in, you might just get lucky with the most beautiful fish, as Gary did here!
Now's a great time to get your winter waders sorted, we have a good selection of Guideline waders in various styles and carrying plenty of sizes for everyone. Check out our affordable Guideline Laxa Waders 2.0 to keep you warm and dry on the river this season! Come and see us in store to get fitted & kitted.
See you out there,
Rosie & Gary