2012 Update – view over Judges Pool from track – looking up river on 12 January 2012:
2011 Update:
Judges Pool just keeps changing. We cannot keep up with the TRB which is the favoured side for casting. Access by wading up from TRB of main road bridge, cross over to island before the deep corner pool and wade back again to TRB. Take a wading pole as the stones get slippery. The TLB accessed from Te Aho Reserve is only recommended if you are desperate as it has too many snags.
The view across Judges Pool has changed significantly with the removal of wilding pines along the TRB (True Right Bank). The pines have been removed off the knoll and the track realigned to provide good views over Judges pool. Now anglers can view the Kaimanawas in the distance. Thank you DoC. The established route to the TRB of Judges Pool is by wading up river from the road bridge on the TRB, wade across below the cliffs to TLB, then cross back again to TRB around the corner beyond the Lonely Pool. An alternative is to walk the track from the bridge over the hill and at the base of the hill find the faint track to the head of Judges Pool.
2010 Update:
All Town Pool and Lower River Pools are likely to be subject to major physical changes in 2011 as the result of substantial river bed works for erosion control & flood protection with a resource consent application for up to 150,000 m3/year to be removed from below Hydro Pool to the Delta.
Refer to comment below by the Advocates for the Tongariro River:
Tongariro River Gravel Extraction Consent
December 7, 2010
There has been much interest in the Advocates position on the Gravel extraction consent which has been applied for by Environment Waikato.
Turangi experienced a 1 in 100 year flood in February 2004. The flood of 1958 was slightly larger and caused much damage within the river environment. Should another flood the size of 1958 or 2004 return then Turangi is in danger of flooding. Apart from moving the town to another location which is not a realistic option, the town can be protected by increasing the size of the stop banks or removing material that has built up and which endangers the town.
Given this option the Advocates support the removal of gravel and volcanic ash from the river bed to assist the river to move the bed load through to the lake. We do however have reservations about the consent document.
Our concerns are:
1. The action is piecemeal and not part of an overall plan for the river. Our desire is for an Integrated Catchment Management Plan (ICMP) to focus on the whole river and not just a section of it. We want to see an ICMP.
2. The consent period is for 35 years. We see a period of 3 years as reasonable at this time.
3. The consent document is too broad and lacks detail. Many who have seen the document think that 150,000 cubic meters per year will be removedeach year for 35 years, which is not the case, but can be read into the intent of the document. There is concern at the meaning of “diverting the river from the area of the Hydro Pool” by many.
4. The river as a fishery is seen as threatened by many. We don’t see the threat given that the fishery was not affected by the gravel removals at the time of the construction of the town and again recently when some 30,000 cubic meters were removed. We wish to see the consent spell out more strongly the protection of the fishery
The full consent document can be read by clicking on ftp://tongarirorivapps:PrUkcflx@pubftp.ew.govt.nz
It is a big document and takes time to load.
The Advocates will make a submission on these points and other such as an opportunity to dredge the mouth of the river. If you wish to make a submission then it must be with Environment Waikato by the 17th December.
An opportunity exists for you to give us your opinions through this website and we would welcome your opinions.
Eric Wilson
Secretary/Treasurer
2009 Update:
Following blog by fishing guide Andrew Christmas:
(Note: Judges Pool on left of photo is the closest pool to TRM on SH1 corner Link & Taupahi Roads…)
(Note the new surge wave now developed in the middle of the pool)
This weeks pool report is filling you in on the latest of a pool which last summer was fantastic for me and I spent over 70% of my guides on, this was the famous Judges pool.
Last summer season this pool was fantastic with both nymphing for summer rainbows and dry fly with big Cicada patterns when they were in full force. I was lucky enough to guide in here on most occasions and we very rarely came back without a fish or two on the bank.
The Judges has changed a lot in the past ten years and those of you who fished it years ago will remember it to be very different to what it is today. This pool holds a huge force of water and is one of the pools of the Tongariro which is prone to changing with every flood. Sometimes this pool will change dramatically visually and it is obvious that where you fished on your last trip will be no good this time with rocks and curents all moved about. Sometimes the judges looks fine and you nymph or wetline your favourite part of the pool and hook up a solid snag on your first cast which was not there last time.
As all the water in the Tongariro must pass through this pool and has no bypass nor braided piece it is prone to having trees or logs left in here which turn into fly hungry snags. Currently my favourite which is the true right is almost un-fishable as the winter floods have wrecked it for nymphing and you will loose plenty of flies in here. Dry fly will be fine in the summer.
The Judges is a very good holding pool for fish on the move and generally you will always be able to pull something out of here with enough patience and the right method. Fish are usually still very fresh when they reach here and are generally schooled up in good numbers if they have moved in from a fresh. Brown trout live in here for quite sometime in the summer spawning months and this is one place I will target them when they are about, espicially on the dry and dropper.
(Photo taken this morning with angler in the top spot – but look out for snags…)
If you look back at some of the big browns that my clients or Mike Hughes caught last year 70 % of them would have been from here. Paul Dyson who is forever famous and features on this years fishing permit caught that wonderful fish while fishing with me on the true right of the Judges pool.
Most of the pool is very good for holding fish and you will have good sessions on both the true right and the true left depending on your casting ability and sense of adventure. I prefer the true right as fish seem to sit just off the current and quite close in on that side and the length of the pool gives plenty of time to muscle fish out of the current and into the side. Nymphing and wet lining can be performed but as I said this side is quite hard to fish at the moment as it has some terrible snags that need removing.
The true left is also very good at times and is the perfect piece of water to wetline as it is quite deep close to the bank and has a good strong rip following it which fish like to follow up. Nymphing is great as well but you need to be a good caster not to get caught up in the shrubbery behind you on your back cast. I remember fishing from this side not so long ago by walking out on the rocks here for ten metres in my gum boots and not getting wet, this is how much it has changed. The river really channels down this side and when fishing the tail of the pool many fish are lost down river as eventually a rapid will stop you from following any further. Fishing is good throughout this pool and you should always start at the tail and work your way when nymphing or using the dry as fish will be where you least expect them, especially those feeding in surface film in the tail of the pool.
(Dee Taylor from Hamilton with a fresh run rainbow from head of Judges landed in dirty weather when river is running high)
Access is pretty easy to both sides of this pool but one is a darn site easier than the other which makes the true left far busier usually with anglers. If you wish to fish on the true left or simply can only fish here due to mobility issues you can almost park at the pool by following the road down Te Aho Street (opposite TRM) and parking in the turning circle at the bottom. There are a few tracks heading down to the river and by following one of these you will always hit the river and see the Judges pool.
True right of the pool is a little more tricky but still very easy if you know the way and you have the fitness to walk for 15 minutes or so through un even ground. I park my truck at the north side of the road bridge and begin to walk the true right of the river under the Cliff with those horrible pine trees. When you have passed that pool without being squashed you will see a fairly worn track heading into native scrubb which will again wind it’s way up on the true right of one of the by pass running out of the main Judges pool, eventually after ten minutes you will come out on the rocks of the Judges pool. Most of the time if you are reasonably early you will be yourself and have first lines in this pool, as most anglers will fish the true left to avoid the hike.
There are a few other ways to get to this pool but these two are by far the preferred way and easiest on everyone. I suppose if you are feeling adventurous and you find yourself in the Major Jones and want to walk down you can access this pool from crossing the Major Jones bridge and taking the track down the river on the true right. This again will take ten minutes or so and then you will come across a track which diverts of the main track and down to your left or right depending which way you are coming from. This track is fairly steep and fairly rough and was overgrown with blackberry and the last guy I saw pop out on the river bank after using this had a broken rod and looked like he had come across a tiger in there, I don’t advise this way. (Ross from TRM prefers another access further along at the base of the hill where he drops over the bank as Boof refuses to walk up under the menacing overhanging cliffs.)
This pool holds a lot of potential and should always be looked as one of the more productive pools in the Tongariro in all conditions for all methods. This Labour Day weekend will be busy on the river. So if you are out and about lets get out early and don’t forget your river manners.
Till next week-Tight lines
Andrew Christmas
This alternative has been preferred by others lately – hence this update – to walk and wade up the RHS river bank from the main road
bridge. Advantages are the additional fishy looking pools on the way and a flick in the old Sportsman’s Pool on the corner – see photos.
But do not under any circumstances look up or you might lose your nerve. If you have seen the high pumice cliff crumbling above you
would understand why Boof prefers to use the established walking tracks for access – despite the additional distance.
But
back to Judges Pool – this pool is special being the closest to TRM within 2-3 minutes walk in waders for a quick flick before brekki. The only consistent feature about Judges Pool are Jimmy & Jenny – resident Paradise Ducks. (Boof is frightened of Jimmy.)
Some of the changes are evident in the new stone beach exposed with the old river edge marked by the grass verge. The extended beach has narrowed the channel considerably and increased the flow which now features standing waves. So far we lack real fishy evidence from TRM inmates to comment on whether this has improved fishing? It has certainly limited the available beach for casting from the LHS.
Thetrue RHS is definitely looking more promising but is handicapped bymore difficult access. The current swirls in an “S” pattern from the RHS above the island to much closer along the LHS which will make it easier for short casters (like MF).
Above the main pool on the LHS is the bypass – photo right – above Judges Beach – which you thought nobody else knew about – which
produced so well when the river was running over 40 cumecs. Bad news – it is now back to a quiet backwater with hardly any flow at all.
Another indication of the extent of changes after the flooded period is from the bypass on the LHS below Judges Pool, leading directly to the main road bridge.
This is like a new stretch of water which is below the river walk and must have reduced the main channel through the Lonely Pool under the cliffs. It has at least doubled in
volume as seen in pics above and below.”
flood on 15 April rose to over 500 cumecs and
will have affected many of the pools and river crossings. So take care!
The top of Judges has changed with another new island forming above the riffles. Generally Judges Pool area, from below the road bridge up to the old Island Pool, continues to suffer from excessive silting up after each flood. The local Turangitukua Committee advised in 2007 they intend to remove all the sand and metal from the river above the road bridge up to the old Island Pool. This will dramatically affect this part of the river in the future and may partially restore the flow to the pre 2004 flood conditions. Tuwharetoa advise negotiations with EW (“Environment Waikato” ) over many years in respect of the deteriorating state of the river and the danger of flooding Turangi have resulted in them taking this initiative. So watch this space… 
Access:Close car parking is available in Te Aho Reseve, Judges Pool has good access from the LHS and the RHS can be accessed by wading above the shallow rapid above the pool. August 2008 update above – access from the riverside track – see photos.Judges Pool – August 2006 Update
(Photo at right taken from river loop track on RHS – July 2007)
We take notice of experienced veteran anglers, (Hi to Hugh Latimer from Auckland) who have written to warn how other pools often took a full season to settle down and recover after flood damage, before they became productive again. i.e. Admirals Pool went through this transition, from being barren in 2005 to produce well in 2006.
walk up to the Birches swing bridge or down to the road bridge or the
round trip) Judges Pool – 2005 ReportTongariro River Motel (TRM) have chosen this first as it is the closest pool and one of the most regularly visited Town pools available. Judges Pool was one of the most reliable classics for many years but changed considerably after the 2004 flood.Guides like to introduce their clients to fly fishing the Judges as it had good close vehicle access, easy level walking approach, plenty of room for back-casting and can be wet lined or nymphed with equal success. 4WD vehicles were often previously parked on the stoney beach beside the river but in April 2005 this access track to the lower pool area has been blocked off. The main foot track to Judges Pool from Te Aho Reserve is where trees and debris from the 2004 flood were buried)
Summary – Judges is a well regarded pool and has a strong following. The main advantages are easy access (particularly from TRM!), plenty of back-cast space, and equally suitable for either nymphing or wet-lining..
Updated Pool names and information sourced from the booklet by Barbara Cooper – “Pools of the Tongariro”.
Note that on the 1928 river map Judges extended further downstream to the Groin Pool immediately above the road bridge.
Named after Judge Ostler, appointed King’s Counsel in 1924, knighted Sir Hubert in 1939. His sporting interests not only covered fishing but also deerstalking and big game hunting in Africa. He owned one of the first houses built in Turangi in the river area that was then called Taupahi
