Euro Nymphing the Tongariro River in Early Winter

I set out with Chris and his two black labs for a morning's fly fishing on the Tongariro River here in New Zealand. I'm euro nymphing while Chris has a double nymph indicator rig. It is early winter and the runs of rainbow trout from Lake Taupo have not really started yet. The trout don't come easy but I manage to get a few good ones in the net before I have to head home in the afternoon.
#flyfishing #flyfishingnewzealand #tongariroriver #rainbowtrout #euronymphing #2021
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[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

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[@seafly845]

Great video, great river, great fish! So nice to see these regularly now, especially for those of us who cannot always get out. Well done!

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thank you so much and glad you enjoy these. I'm trying my best to keep them coming regularly and always working on making it better. Any ideas of content you would like to see in the future is always appreciated. Thanks for watching

[@AboveWorryLevelFlyFishing]

Nice edit Johan. Those extra camera angles don't do any harm - we should do it more often! Catch you next time you're down...

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

It certainly makes for more pleasant watching the a Gopro strapped to my chest. Catch up next time

[@pierevojzola9737]

Hi Johan, nice to see you in your favourite posy just above the bridge! That run is a very productive one as long as you don’t mind the traffic noise. Keep the videos coming as we all seem to enjoy seeing you learning about Euronymphing. Cheers mate. Harera

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

That spot above the bridge can be very productive. I see there are a few new snags in there though so hopefully that will discourage the competition 😂 I'm going to try my best to keep up the content over winter but we will see how it goes with my wife back working full time now the latest addition is getting bigger. I have the next few weeks filmed but won't get out fishing again until early July and looks like it will only be once month or so from then on till summer. Might have to focus on less frequent better content. Time will tell.

[@pierevojzola9737]

@@CrazyAboutFlyFishing Hi, I know what you mean. I and my son were due there next week but it will be just him this time as I am looking after my better half who has just come out of a hip replacement operation. So, I tied some more flies for him to try out on his new Euro thingmy system of snagging fish and the lucky bloke is off for a weeks fishing. Cheers mate. Harera

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

@@pierevojzola9737 Hope your better half gets well soon and by the time you get to go fish the runs are in full swing and you catch bucket loads of strong fresh fish

[@AdriftFishing]

Good to see you getting right into the euro man 🤙

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Yeah it's been fun, hard not to choose to pick up that rod

[@johnshand6176]

The pure magic of the Tongariro, Well portrayed. Sorry to miss meeting up with you on the Waioeka River. Hope you had a successful few days?Regards from Gisborne.

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks John, much appreciated. I think you will enjoy thursday's video if you like this one. That trip went well. Not many big fish but some solid ones and a good weekend with friends.

[@FishingFinatic5438]

Great video so happy when you upload

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks so much, that is always great to hear

[@troutboynz]

What a fantastic clip, sensational!

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks very much that's awesome to hear. Hopefully it won't be long until I have new content. I have some backcountry trips planned soon as they let me out of Auckland. Can't wait to go fishing again.

[@OutdoorsWithCWest]

Nicely edited video Johan

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thank you very much, enjoyed your Opalus tent camping vid mate. I should take you with one of these trips some time. Do a hike up in the bush.

[@OutdoorsWithCWest]

@@CrazyAboutFlyFishing yea ild love to see some freshwater fishing. I know nothing about it really

[@keepingitreeltv]

Good comment about the 6 metre leader for Taupo, just be aware the regs state it must include the tippet in this length. "leader means the nylon, fluorocarbon or other material attached directly to the end of the fly line. It must not exceed six metres in length including tippet." Not that I've seen a Ranger check the flyline yet when they're checking licences...

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Yes, that is indeed correct. Something I didn't show in the video (because it became too long) is that I actually had to cut down my whole leader and tippet to around 12ft otherwise the connection between the leader and the euro fly line is constantly in and out of the tip guide and it is not currently a smooth connection. With that setup I could always keep the connection out of the guides even when fishing short which made casting much more efficient. I will probably look into a smooth connection like a superglue splice in future.

[@cliveevans9948]

My brother and I have booked to stay in Taupo a few days in the first week of July and would love to try the Tongariro. However, as newbies to the river, I can see it taking much of our short time available trying to find good access points/sections to fish/car parking etc. Obviously you wouldn't want to reveal 'Spot X' but any advice/pointers would be gratefully received.

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Hopefully the runs have started by then and if that is the case you won't need a spot x because the fish will be throughout the river. I have no trouble sharing spots on the Tongariro anyway because there are really no secret spots and the fish move around so much that there is no guarantee they are in a particular spot. My advice for newbies is to start by fishing the lower river especially if you haven't waded and crossed big bouldery rivers like the upper parts of the Tongariro. It can be very daunting. If you are just new to the river but comfortable wading and crossing the upper river is very scenic and pleasant and has heaps of access and tracks. The fish will be where you expect them to be. Just fish it like any other big river. The braided section around the Grace road car park and lower river in general is easier wading since it's mostly gravel and in the braids it splits into multiple smaller streams that you can fish like a small river. My spot X is a little side channel 3 mins from the car park and if you go looking you will soon find it. Take the first side track off the path that leads downriver and go to the river. Look to your left and you should recognize it. I have filmed a video about access and general info for anglers which should hopefully be online before you go.

[@cliveevans9948]

@@CrazyAboutFlyFishing Many thanks for your reply. You mention wading, but is that to cross the river to reach certain pools or runs, or simply to get out from the bank to aid casting to the fish? And do you nymph exclusively or try wet-line/streamer fishing?

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

@@cliveevans9948 mainly to get away from the bank closer to where the fish are but also in certain spots to cross but that's only if you are experienced and know where to cross. The boulders are big and the current fast. In the lower river the need for wading is reduced and its also easier and safer during normal flows. Avoid wading in high flows and dirty water where you can't see. Don't try cross unless you know 💯 it is safe. I nymph more than I streamer fish but both are very popular and effective methods. The key this time of year is making sure you are getting down to the bottom where the fish are with whichever method you choose.

[@cliveevans9948]

@@CrazyAboutFlyFishing Thanks for all the info. If you are Auckland based and fancy a snapper fish when they are schooling up in the Hauraki Gulf (October the prime month,) give me a shout.

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

@@cliveevans9948 thanks for the offer, I might just take you up on it. Keep in touch and let me know how your trip goes.

[@fisheatrepeat]

Love the different shots and the b-roll mate very cool. Definitely amusing with the dogs too!

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Haha yeah the dogs were funny. Thankfully I kept the fish away. Lovely animals.

[@fisheatrepeat]

@@CrazyAboutFlyFishing yea man definitely

[@FishingForeverFilms]

Good going mate, enjoyed it

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks mate, glad you did

[@waynenaylor5734]

You are definitely getting the hang of the Euro style, well done! Some really nice fish landed and you reversed your dropped vs landed ratio significantly this time 👍😁

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Thanks Wayne, it certainly feels better now casting wise, drifts and detecting fish. Far from any expert yet but really enjoying the method and looking forward to pushing the limits a bit this winter on the some big fresh run Tongariro fish once the runs start.

[@MarkCotton]

Mean spot dude

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Yeah it's a lovely river

[@pauloalexismolinatorres2471]

Buenas capturas sobretodo con pesca a ninfa saludos desde Chile

[@CrazyAboutFlyFishing]

Muchas gracias, saludos desde Nueva Zelanda.