2007 Update:Boulder Reach pool is unchanged from 2005 & 2006. It is probably the most popular pool in the upper river. Although fish are found in most places throughout the pool, anglers often stand in the lie and cast into the main current. If you are first into the pool on the LHS make sure you fish your feet first as the trout rest in the shallows. You hardly need to get your waders wet. Later on the usual enthusiastic angler pressure, testing their chest waders, forces them all out towards the central gut.
The foot access from the carpark has deteriorated further from flooding. A walking track to the pool leads through the small side stream rather than down the previous road leading to the Cliff Pool. The track from car park to Boulder Reach leads across a small by pass from Cliff Pool.
Boulder Reach can be crossed towards the tail, usually being about waist deep if you find the right crossing, but we recommend a buddy to hang on to, or stout wading poles, or both.
(Anglers crossing the tail of Boulder Reach supporting each other. )
Once you have made it to the RHS, you can also continue further up river into no-mans land to check out the following – also covered in 2005 report.
1 Check the small swirly pool below the Cliff and by pass,
2 Check out the by-pass into the narrow gut,
3 Check the Cliff Pool, cast from the shelf at the top of the pool,
4 Check the new no-name pool above where the by-pass leads from the main river.
For nymph fishing each of these, review the leader length and weighted natural at each spot. If the river is clear, small natural patterns are reported to be more successful.
Brian Batson from Atiamuri with a typical fat prime conditioned winter run rainbow at Boulder Reach, 11 August 2006
Alternatively, if you are like me and don’t like wading on greasy cannon balls, you can access the RHS by crossing the Red Hut Bridge. From the Red Hut car park cross the swing bridge and take the fork to the right – upriver. After three minutes descend down a dug out staircase to the sound of tuis and bellbirds and emerge in a grotto with stunning native trees fauna. Veer left at the base of the steps. The right track leads across the bypass to Poutu Pool. Take left fork at delightful native trees in grotto to follow by-pass to Boulder Reach. Then take time to enjoy a delightful stroll along the bypass. Lookout for trout in the bypass. A few years ago fishing the bypass was frowned upon to avoid upsetting the spawning redds, but subsequent floods have dealt to these.
The by-pass is always worth checking out..
Have a peep from the high cliff and have a flick where the bypass flow narrows and hits the cliff – there are often hungry trout watching underneath – in summer as well as winter. A good place to practice your stalking skills.
Hint – During the winter glo bugs appear to work better in the lower river but as you proceed further up – to Boulder Reach – the trout have become more river educated and start looking for natural bugs. Well, so we are told…although no one has interviewed the trout yet…
Boulder Reach – August 2005
Access:
Car access is through Justice Department land after crossing the Poutu River, 7 km south of Tongariro River Motel or from Turangi shopping centre. Then after about 1 km., veer left down towards the Boulder Reach car park.
Park at the T junction where the original vehicle access has now been washed out. The track to the left leads to the confluence of the Poutu Stream. The track to the right leads to Boulder Reach.
For safety reasons in these reports we always prefer the Red Hut Bridge access as the Tongariro is subject to rapid increases in volume without warning.
If you are first – you will need to be early – we reiterate, make sure the shallows are fully covered first. This pool produces through the full length. Wading is easy – only knee deep to cover the main lies. It is fishable from either side although the true LHS appears to be the favoured side.
Usual ammunition is a standard Tongariro nymphing rig – weighted hare & copper bomb with a smaller, say size 12-14 bead head pheasant tail or prince nymph patterns. If they do not work, try glo bugs. Traces need to be over a rod length but it is not deep or fast. It has been described as an optimal nymphing pool, ideal for training muscle memory for perfecting your casting.
The current is even and not too fast for mending practice to achieve a natural drift. Perhaps that is why it is targeted so often by professional guides. Even my cast looks good on this pool.
It seems so basic – nymphing for dummies – spoilt only by everyone else targeting this pool too. There are other options, if you arrive to find a traffic jam:-
1 Cross over (take wading pole in case) below the Cliff and fish Boulder Reach from RHS;
2 Cross over and stalk the Cliff Pool – keep a low profile so as not to spook trout lying deep;
3 After crossing head up river to Boulder Pools – a 20 minute cross country tramp;
4 Return to carpark, head left 10 minutes to Poutu confluence – again longer leader needed;
5 Wade up the Poutu? Popular after rain as this tributary from Lake Rotoaira remains clear;
6 Continue on to Blue Pool, Sand Pool, Big Bend, Boulder Pool, wherever the crowd isn’t.
NOTE: Pool Reports for the Tongariro River are prepared from guest/anglers experiences. As such, Tongariro River Motel do not accept any responsibility for the opinions of other anglers who are traditionally acknowledged liars about their best fishing pools.
