The Tooma is described as shallow and clear, and it can run slow and warm in a dry spell. If so, that tells you the fish are most comfortable where there is some depth, shade or a bit of current. In the upper river that means the pools and the pockets in the gorge section. In the long weedy water downstream, fish tend to hold along the weed edges and channels between beds.

Storms matter more than the season. A small rise freshens the river and can switch the fish on. A big overnight flush makes the Hell Hole Creek stretch hard to fish.

Brown and rainbow trout are both recorded in the river, so expect a mix. Mountain galaxias are the small native fish living in the same water; they are a reminder that a small, slim baitfish pattern belongs in your box. Redfin and European carp are also recorded.

Lower down, the river is reported to hold Murray cod that can be fished from the bank. Murray cod have also been stocked, though how well they have taken is not clear, so treat cod as a bonus rather than a sure thing.

For trout, think terrestrials in summer. Locals are said to favour the later part of the season, when grasshoppers are along the banks, and a hopper pattern in a natural colour is a good bet. For the evening rise in the slow pools, carry a few small dry flies and fine tippet, since the water is clear. The brown trout and rainbow trout pages cover those fish in more detail.

Late summer is the time the locals are said to prefer. Grasshoppers are said to be abundant on the banks, and the river is a good fit for a hopper dropper or a plain dry. We would add the evenings as the time to be at the slow pools above the Dargals.

In a dry spell the river can run slow and warm, and fish may be harder to find in the middle of the day. Early and late are better, and a small storm rise is a gift. If the river has had a big flush overnight, give it time to settle before you walk in. It is a long way to go to find it coloured.

In the slow pools, approach low and quietly, fish the evening rise with a small dry on a long fine leader, and rest a pool if you spook it. The water is clear, and the fish see you.

In the gorge sections, work the pockets and winding runs methodically. Short casts, a dry with a dropper, and moving on after a few drifts will cover more water than staying put.

In the weedy stretch below Hell Hole Creek, fish along the weed lines and the edges of the channels. A weighted nymph through the gaps or a streamer along the edge are sensible choices for the larger fish said to live there. Expect weed on the hook, and check it often.

For cod from the bank, use a heavier outfit than you would for trout, with a large streamer, and fish close to cover and drop-offs.

The upper river is reached on foot or by mountain bike, along marked trails from the Dargals or Snakey Plains trailheads. The country is declared wilderness. Tell someone your plan, carry what you need for a long day, and expect the walk to be a large part of it.

As on any bush river, check the weather before you go. A big flush can come overnight, and a pool you waded easily can be hard to cross the next morning. Do not plan a crossing you cannot reverse.

Near Tintaldra, the access card lists the sites. Check with the landholder or manager if you are not sure of the status of any access point.

No water-specific rule was found for the Tooma River. Check the current NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development freshwater fishing guide before you fish, including its closed-waters list and the rules for trout and Murray cod.