New Zealand: fishing the Tongariro

[OnTheFly]

The town of Turangi (too-rang-ee) is located near the mouth of the Tongariro River where it enters Lake Taupo in north island New Zealand. The better fishing is done in winter (June through September) when most fish enter the river to spawn, much like our steelhead, however fish can be caught year round in the lower stretches. The river is gin clear and sighting large fish makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. No fish for me yet but my sister caught three fish just before dark last night on dry flies and we will try again this evening too. More later.......

 

[waco]

Photoshop!! :lol: :lol: :lol: I saw him yesterday in the clack!! :lol:

 

[Raincatcher]

Awesome, Jim! :clap: You look like you're having a blast. We're expecting to see that "I got a fish" grin tomorrow.

 

[ninja2010]

shorts and t-shirt in december... luckeeee youuuuu.

is that a bobber in the first shot?

 

[Irishrover]

Looks like a great place to be......

 

[lilsalmon]

wow, Jim...it looks wonderful. Lucky you to get to experience that. Can't wait to see pics of fishys....

 

[eggs]

Bobber fishermen

 

[lilsalmon]

I like the last pic...its perfect.

 

[OnTheFly]

Bobber fishermen

Not a bobber. Check this out...the gear guys may never give the fly guys a hard time again......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaDEBP2K_Do

 

[bigsteel]

excellent pics jim,looks like your having a great time over there.you need to show them new zealand fish the peacock stimulator

 

[OnTheFly]

"New Zealand"..., is that a town out in SE Oregon? I didn't think there were any world traveler fly fishers here amongst the common folk on OFF. :lol:

OTF, embrace the bobber, bobbers are cool! A bobber is a bobber is a bobber no matter what it's made of!

Hope a stillwater guy like yourself can muster enough stream mojo to hook-up a bunch of those fish!

Looking forward to a couple fish photos!


Randy

I don't know Randy, calling it a bobber instead of an indicator to me is like calling a fly rod a fly pole but just for you I'll work on it. lol.

With an our of daylight left, I made my way back to the river. You can fish until midnight in NZ so casting in the dark is common for Kiwi fishermen. (BTW Kiwi, like the bird, is also a friendly way to call a New Zealander) Barely able to see, the rise began. Still no fish for me even with one of Bigsteel's hand tied Peacock Stimulators. We stopped fishing around 10:00 and, using headlamps pointed down into the water, we made our way back to the to the shore then to the car. Driving back at night, in the rain, on the opposite side of the road and opposite steering column is better than any ride at Disneyland.

 

[halibuthitman]

I don't know Randy, calling it a bobber instead of an indicator to me is like calling a fly rod a fly pole but just for you I'll work on it. lol..

the only differnce between a fly rod, and a fly pole.... is about a hundred bucks looks fun, wish I was there!

 

[brandon4455]

awesome pics..that looks like a blast

 

[bigsteel]

I don't know Randy, calling it a bobber instead of an indicator to me is like calling a fly rod a fly pole but just for you I'll work on it. lol.

With an our of daylight left, I made my way back to the river. You can fish until midnight in NZ so casting in the dark is common for Kiwi fishermen. (BTW Kiwi, like the bird, is also a friendly way to call a New Zealander) Barely able to see, the rise began. Still no fish for me even with one of Bigsteel's hand tied Peacock Stimulators. We stopped fishing around 10:00 and, using headlamps pointed down into the water, we made our way back to the to the shore then to the car. Driving back at night, in the rain, on the opposite side of the road and opposite steering column is better than any ride at Disneyland.

those new zealand fish dont know what a good stonefly is:lol::lol:

 

[ninja2010]

time to swing an intruder, jim...

 

[OnTheFly]

the only differnce between a fly rod, and a fly pole.... is about a hundred bucks

Not unless you're a snob like me.

 

[JeannaJigs]

Holy crap, what a lucky turd!!! Looks like an amazing place. New Zealand is a place I have always wanted to travel to. Know why? No snakes.

 

[jamisonace]

This is my dream trip. I've watched videos of huge trout eating mice as they swim across rivers. Saw one gutted and it had a a half dozen or so mice in it's stomach. Post more pics so I can live this trip vicariously through you!

 

[OnTheFly]

This is my dream trip. I've watched videos of huge trout eating mice as they swim across rivers. Saw one gutted and it had a a half dozen or so mice in it's stomach. Post more pics so I can live this trip vicariously through you!

More pictures are yet to come of the river but no fish. The rain blew it out the last day we were there and robbed us of precious fishing time. I will have more to say about this place later......

 

[JeannaJigs]

Jim, I look forward to seeing more photos of this amazing place that so many of us are green with envy of you having the trip of a lifetime to see.