ROD AND LINE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 169, 1 May 1946, Page 4

ROD AND LINE

ASHBURTON FISHING TOPICS Adopting recommendations made by Mr D. F. Hobbs, biologist to the Fresh Water Fisheries Research Department, the Ashburton Acclimatisation Society has decided not to “breed any brown trout at the Tinwald hatchery for next season This decision was reached at a meeting of the society this week. It is expected that stocks for the lakes in the Ashburton Gorge will be received from the South Canterbury Society, and that the tranfser of about 5000 adult fish from the Hinds river to the Ashburton, which was completed before the season ended, will improve fishing there. A limited number of rainbow fry will be hatched during the latter part of next season. In his report, the ranger (Mr M. M. Orton) said that the irrigation race in the Winchmore district had been turned off recently and about eight miles —a distance which included 57. drops —had been inspected, but very few fish had been found.

The Marine Department advised that fishing regulations for the Ashburton district would have to he amended, as at present trout licences exjnred on April 30 and could not be extended jjo include salmon fishing until May 15 (as is the case at present), unless the trout season was opened a fortnight later. This matter will be discussed at the annual meeting of the society. Mr A. J: Millichamp, who reported on a special meeting of the South Island Council, said that the council had decided that in the event of the Rakaia river being dammed for •■irrigation purposes, it would investigate the matter, with a view to safeguarding anglers’ interests and to ensure that fish: could have access to the upper reaches of the river.