I was away when the lockdown was signalled. I’d taken the chance to grab a weekend to target big brown trout in the Tongariro. For context, the boys had been getting stuck into the brownies but I’d been on other tasks for a couple of weeks, so couldn’t really do much. Karl’s place was free, and Rob had made contact as he’d be staying there as well. Rob’s more or less full time guiding now, and the closing down of borders had put paid to his season with customers pulling out. Its been the same across the whole guiding industry here, overseas customers drawing a line through their trips with cancellations abounding. Rob’s one of the most talented anglers getting around the place and we’d never fished together so decided to team up for a spot of relaxation. With half a day off work I got into Turangi early enough, grabbed some groceries and headed to the Pest Palace (as we know Karl’s place). Rob rolled in soon after and with the dog fed and watered we got ourselves ready for a swing mission.
We chatted about anything and everything as we pulled on waders and set off down the track. The water was cool, low and clear and I set the Sage Troutspey HD #3 up with a skagit head and slow sink tip, a 10lb leader and a lightly weighted fly to swing the soft edges. The stars were brilliant and Elon Musk’s satellite chain soared across the sky, brilliantly lit against the unspoilt darkness. We swung the pool from top to tail. I felt sure that if a brown was present, then surely it would have taken. Having said that, the Commonwealth Fly Fishing champs had just concluded, and our pool was definitely a beat in the comp, so maybe every fish in the pool had been disturbed. We made our way back to the truck and set off for the lower river for the final 2 hours. As I waded out to fish the Troll Hole as we call it, a sizable brown swam slowly from the shallows in the glare of my headlight. And that was the only fish I saw all night.
Back at base we had a cuppa then hit the hay. Neither of us were keen for too early a morning so it was daybreak before we emerged. We headed to the lower river. The crossing had changed since summer, with a deepened gut that will be troubling come high winter flows.
. perhaps this part of the river will now be cut off? Immediately and despite overcast skies, we began to spy large browns, deep torpedos under the banks and mostly safe from our attempts to get flies to them. The banks were overgrown with tall grasses and blackberry and as we smashed our way upstream our energy was sapped.
. perhaps this part of the river will now be cut off? Immediately and despite overcast skies, we began to spy large browns, deep torpedos under the banks and mostly safe from our attempts to get flies to them. The banks were overgrown with tall grasses and blackberry and as we smashed our way upstream our energy was sapped.
At the deeper pools we stopped and swung flies deep into the emerald green, where eager and fresh rainbows took the flies and raced downstream. After the reticence of the browns, fat and fresh rainbows taking the swung flies was a welcome break in the hunt. By the time we returned to the car we were ready for coffee.
The coffee stand serves a high standard of caffeination, and with coffee and a muffin onboard we were ready for the next part of the day after a rest. As darkness approached, I made my way to the chosen. At the head, a chap was already in position with a Spey rod in hand – the Speymeister himself – Greig was already in position. We elbow bumped per COVID precautionary greeting #4, or something like that. As we chatted, another bloke approached and promptly set up in the tail of the pool. That’s the Tongariro for you. Greig had a slow sink tip and very lightly weight black rabbit tube fly. I set up with a lightly weighed sculpin with a yellow body. As the sun dropped, we combed the water. Skagit casting in complete darkness requires consistency and trust as you can’t see the anchor form, and as we were river right a reverse snap T sufficed to get the fly out. The first hint that Greig was hooked up was the surface splash of a weighty fish. Greig, also fishing a #3 Sage Troutspey HD, laid into the fish and reeled in and stepped downstream to help him. I tailed the beast in the shallows and we set to work with the tape measure, laying it along a healthy 26.5” jack fish before attempting to secure some photos. I didn’t do a very good job of that and was quite disappointed in the result. We fished on and soon I had a hit and played a smallish rainbow to the bank where she promptly spat the hook. After another hour the effect of the day (and previous night’s) activities was taking its toll and I reeled and walked back to the car parked near the town bridge. I knew Rob would be there somewhere lurking around and he called out.
The next morning we’d decided to keep close so we’d be able to get out of town early. Overnight, NZ Government’s COVID-19 plan had been enacted, non-essential travel would be closed down under later phases. Swinging the own pools coughed up a couple of fresh little ‘bows, while a couple of fish attacked the fly but missed the hook point. It was pretty relaxing with not another angler in sight apart from Rob. We caught up and wandered back to the house. Packed and tidied it was road time.
Great weekend Rob
