Winter fishing on the Tongariro River

Some estimate that between 60,000 and 80,000 trout leave Lake Taupō to ‘run’ up the Tongariro River to spawn each winter.

Sometimes it feels like there are just as many lining the banks trying to catch them!

After several seasons of winter family fishing, we’ve come to understand how this is a place like no other. There is a harvest mentality that is unusual in New Zealand’s fly fishing culture, and this leads to different behaviour on the water.

The Tongariro is a big river, and there is plenty of room for everyone. However, you do get to know favoured spots where pods of running rainbows will hold and feed before their next push upstream. These ‘lies’ will also been known by other fishers.

You snooze, you lose

More than once we’ve wandered to the river as the sun hits the water to meet fishers returning from their session – with a brace of big fish in hand. We admit to struggling to keep these early hours – usually stymied by enjoyable, lengthy conversations over beer, then wine, and maybe a whisky to finish the evening before.

Be prepared

Be a good scout – take time to set up your gear so it is absolutely ready to go. In one example we were headed by car downstream, and while travelling over the SH1 bridge noticed that there was no one fishing underneath. A quick change of plan and we turned into the carpark to setup. As we chatted and geared up, a local parked beside us, already in waders, grabbed his rod and walked purposefully to ‘our’ spot. Bugger.

Assume the position

No, not that one. But grab the best looking water if it is available – immediately. On any other river, at any other time of year, you’ll likely start downstream and work towards a pool, rapid or riffle that is most likely to hold the bigger trout at the top of the food pecking order. In the Tongariro, you’re likely to watch someone come in and start fishing in that prime spot (as long as it isn’t really close).

Finally, if you simply don’t want to join the rush, allow as many hours and days as possible. Have options – if someone is fishing in a spot, you can move on. Also unlike other rivers, those tens of thousands of trout are not lying still, but continuously moving upstream. Wherever you are, with patience, they’ll find you, and you’ll find them.