Poutu

Poutu Pool
Rating: 9/20 (Guestimate only based more on history than present form?)

(2007 Googled images of Tongariro River Pools with Poutu Pool in centre at Poutu River confluence)
28 May – Poutu Canal
maintenance programme postponed until 2009. Canal re-opened and
Tongariro River now back to the managed level of a minimum of 16 cumecs
below the dam which, after additional flows from various tributaries
such as Waipa, Whitikau, Poutu, Mangamawhitwhiti, etc. results in
approximately 23 cumecs at Major Jones Pool.
March 2008 -
Note:
The Genesis Energy proposal to close the Poutu Canal for the first four
months of 2008 (which was cancelled after January) is now back on
track. The Poutu Canal is closed as it is subject to Genesis’
maintenance programme for the next few months. This means that for the
first time in over 40 years the Tongariro River is running at natural
levels – with no water being drawn off for hydro power purposes.
As such, the
Tongariro River is running higher than you may be used to and all
anglers are warned to be more careful at crossing and wading.
22 April 2008 Update: The
flood on 15 April rose to over 500 cumecs and
will have affected many of the pools and river crossings. So
take care!
2008 Update:


These Pool reports are based on a wide range of comments and stories from anglers who fish the Tongariro River regularly. The traditional problem with devious anglers is that some have been know to bend the truth, or worse, mislead us or not tell us anything. I mention this as over the last three seasons I am not aware of a single report from Tongariro Motel inmates on the Poutu Pool.

Poutu Pool on right looking up river. Anglers need to wade to the island to be able to cast into the deep pool under the cliff.

That means they are either not telling us or it has deteriorated from it’s previous reputation. Prior to the 2004 flood we knew of anglers who only fished the Poutu – their catch rate justified their faith in this pool. The proximity and numbers of fish in the Poutu Stream would indicate this has to hold fish. And it looks superb.

So in the dearth of any accurate information we regret we have had to guess the rating above. As such, we plead to any anglers who have fished this pool recently to correct our “guestimates” if we are wrong.
Our most recent inspection was on 31 March 2007. The footprints indicate the pool is visited regularly. A second inspection on 14 August revealed many footprints but BP’s wet lining was not successful. Some have reported the pool does not hold like it used to, others have had success.
However the by-pass requiring wading to the centre island may have discouraged many?. I did not attempt it. Perhaps that is the problem. There is no doubt the pool still holds spawning trout but they may be inaccessible.
Access
RHS – The Poutu Pool used to be accessed from Red Hut car park. Cross the swing bridge, turn right to follow the track about 300m to the base of the steps, turn right and find the crossing over the bypass, continue to main river where a track winds along the RHS emerging at the Poutu Pool. This corner is rarely fished now.


LHS (Lower Pool) – Park on State Highway 1 – a large car park is available about 50 metres south of the Red Hut car park. The track entrance is at the southern end and emerges into the shallow bypass.

Follow the footprints across the gravel fan aggradation past Waddells Pool (worth a flick on the way if deserted) to wade and climb onto the narrow ledge below the bank extending along the LHS. This should only be attempted by experienced anglers as the pool is very deep. Extra long leaders and heavy bombs needed for nymphing.

Anonymous elderly fisho hooked up on LHS above the Poutu Pool – 14 August 2007)

LHS (Upper pool) A better easier option is to take the Justice Department road from over the Poutu Stream to the Boulder Reach car park. Then go left – instead of right track to Cliff Pool – and follow that for about 15 minutes to emerge above the confluence. The Poutu Stream can also be waded from this point. But alas, again we have no reports on the reliability of this pool. That may suggest it is either useless or perhaps it may be very good? Just to confuse you, another option is to drive in the track signposted Dreadnought Pool and take the left fork to end of tar seal (old SH 1 in 1960′s), take track on RHS leading to footbridge over the Poutu River, then turn left at main track down to river.

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.