Tongariro River · hatch chart
Winter run from June to November is the main event; the river fishes all year on some sections
By month
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
| Month | Insect | Stage | Size | Time | Intensity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun | Caddis (Hydropsyche) | Larva and adult | #12-14 | 10:00-16:00 and evening | |
| Jul | Glow bug / egg pattern | Drifted egg | #12-16 | All day | |
| Aug | Glow bug and Pheasant Tail | Nymph | #12-16 | All day | |
| Sep | Small caddis (various) | Adult, evening | #14-16 | 19:00-22:00 | |
| Oct | Mayfly (Coloburiscus) | Dun | #12-14 | 11:00-16:00 | |
| Nov | Caddis and small olives | Adult and dun | #14-18 | Evening |
Flow and visibility
The Tongariro's flow is controlled by the Taupō gates and by the Poutu canal intake, so it can change without any local weather at all — an angler standing in the river has been caught by a release from a dam 20 km away. Below the Poutu intake, a rise of 30 cm can arrive within minutes of the gates opening; fish the first two hours of a rise and get out before it peaks. After heavy rain in the volcanic plateau the river colours quickly with pumice silt and clears within a day.
The insect plate
