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More browns move up.
Mon 6th April, 2015
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With temperatures still well above average for the time of year as March gives way to April the Tongariro still appears to be in summer mode.
The river is literally crawling with bug life and the patchy drizzle and overcast skies of the last couple of days have provided perfect conditions for hatching insects.
As they make their way through the water column to the surface, fish of all sizes have been picking them off and the dry and dropper has really come in to its own. This one even smashed the indicator fly in some broken water at the head of a pool.
The brown trout fishing is the best I've seen it for a while but I've always said hooking them is one thing, landing them is another. This morning was no exception, out of three hooked I only managed to get one in front of the camera ... thanks Greig.
Mind you I wasn't the only one ... I watched two other anglers playing browns in the same stretch and they also ended up losing good fish.
Ever since brown trout were first introduced to New Zealand in the 1860's they've had this mystique attached to them and a reputation for being difficult to catch. But if you can read water and target likely feeding spots with a well presented fly I think the "difficult to catch" label is sometimes a little unjustified ... its landing them that can be a problem.
Some anglers would disagree and others would dismiss their fighting abilities out of hand too. There's no disputing the fact that you do come across browns that can almost be lead like a dog. But most of the time they use their bulk and large pectoral fins to good effect and in order to stay in touch you'll often end up chasing them up, down, or across the river to get some line back on the reel.
If there are any snags nearby they'll find them and they're masters at using weed covered rocks to help throw the hook.
For me this is one of the attractions of fishing for browns because you never know how they are going to react. I think rainbows are much easier to read. And once you get used to handling those first blistering rainbow trout runs everything else should go according to plan.
For most of us a brown trout will be the largest fish we're ever likely to catch on a fly. Which only serves to increase the buzz and satisfaction that we get from hooking and landing one of these big fish, particularly after a long scrap.
They're amazing looking fish too, especially the jacks.
A little while ago I dug out a dozen or so images of browns caught in the Tongariro to illustrate the huge color and shape variation between fish. I don't think there were two that looked alike. Color and markings depend largely on their environment but studies show its also influenced by their mood. If they're wound up or aggressive they tend to be darker whereas if everything is right with the world they're a lighter color. If only wives and girlfriends had the same capability ... "OUCH! I didn't think you were looking my love".
Browns have better low light vision than other trout and many will continue feeding through the night. I've noticed over the years that most of the ones I've caught have been between 11.00 am and 2.00 pm. Personally I've never done particularly well for Tongariro browns before mid-morning. May be if they've been stuffing themselves all night they take a little break for a few hours before they resume feeding again.
They can be pretty wary and spook at the slightest hint of danger so have a good look before you begin wading or you may have blown your chance before you've even cast.
The Tongariro is best known for its winter runs of spawning rainbows. But you soon realize there's a lot more to this river than trawling the bottom with globugs.
Anglers prepared to think a little about their methods and approach can also experience several months of fantastic brown trout fishing. I doubt there are many places on the planet where you can so easily access public water and have a realistic chance of catching a trophy ... little wonder overseas fly fishers dream of visiting New Zealand and the Taupo fishery.
 
More fish have moved through since the last report ... both browns and rainbows. Reg Tapping had come up from Hamilton for a few days and caught this one on a lightly dressed green caddis.
I bumped into Reg again the next day but this time I had Blue with me. If you've met my delinquent Border Collie you'll know all about his annoying desire to train humans to take the stick from his mouth ... and throw it for him to fetch.
WHATEVER YOU DO DON'T TOUCH THE STICK!
I warn everyone we meet about this routine but as soon as I turn my back he gets to work and the combination of that cute wagging tail and hypnotic blue eye ropes in another stick throwing victim.
Unfortunately for Reg he was trying to tie on a new fly when his training session began and was gripping the tag end with his teeth. Blue set off to find a suitable stick complete with Regs' fly line wrapped around his paw ... and that's how super dog caught his first ever angler on a fly!
 
An unsettled outlook for the next ten days with plenty of rain and showers. The warmer than usual temperatures and north westerly air flow is set to continue until next week. Then a brief change for a few days as the winds swing round to the south, bringing with them much colder air.
So it looks as if we'll get some proper rain at last but how much is anyone's guess.
The fishing is already pretty good out there as more fish move up and there have been a lot more browns reported over the last few days, especially around the town stretches.
I think the river will continue to fish well with more small runs during the week ahead, after that it will all depend on how much rain we actually get.
Tight lines guys
Mike |
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