TROUT FISHING.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 260, 1 November 1909, Page 3

TROUT FISHING.

SEASON OPENS TO-DAY. ENCOURAGING PROSPECTS

The trout-fishing season, -which opens in this part of the Dominion a month later than it does in the South, began to-day, and will extend till the end of May—a month longer than previously. Each year sees an accession to the ranks of those "Who care not they to fish in seas, fresh rivers best their minds do please," and each year a larger number of visitors from other lands who ha-vo been attracted by the tales o-f brothers of the angle—"fish stories" which astonish those who only know the trout in his Old World habitat, but which are none the less true. With transplanting, this famous fish seems to have altered his nature, and to some extent his habits, and the sport afforded by a really good specimen from Lake Ta-upo or the Rαngataiki is a revelation to the overseas sportsman. This year the prospects of a successful season arc good. Unlike shooting, there is no rush for the opening of the season with the anglers, and it is generally a week or so before the eeason can be discussed with any degree of cer.tain'ty. A "Star" reporter had a conversation this morning with Mr. Fred Earl, an enthusiastic and successful fisherman, and he gave some interesting information of the .best known districts.

"The early spring we have experienced is in favour af the trout, and the few hot days we have had lately are bound to have an efl'ect on the hatching out of the water-fly, one of the foods cf the trout," remarked Mr. Earl. "The outlook for the season is encouraging, and I should say generally speaking it will be an excellent one. From Wellington I hear that fish are fairly plentiful in the immediate vicinity of tho metropolis, but they are rather small, and not in the best of condition. At Rotorua there is sure to be an enormous quantity of poor fish, ravenous and eager to take anything, and no skUl will be required in getting a big basket. Tha lake is admittedly overstocked, and it will take some time for the fish to get into better condition—they improve generally as the season progresses. The Rangataiki river, at Galatea, about thirty-five miles from Rotorua., is absolutely the favourite stream for fly fishers, and Uβ a rule affords fair sport throughout the season. This river, which rises in rhe Alumanawa Range, and flows through about the centre of the Bay of Plenty, is a very fine stream, but the fishing depends on the state of the water, which is very liable to flood. The rainbow trout will not feed when the water is discoloured, and anglers who intend making Galatea their objective would be wise in sending a telegram doivn to Mr. Williarj Bird, the host of the 'Angler's Rest,' a capitally-run place wheTo they can put up. There is no better place than this when the river is right, and I believe a good many anglers intend going down this season. Atiamuri, on the Waikaco river, where thp old Rotorua-Taupo-road crosses, is another spot ■which depends on the etata of the river, and the fish here do not get into really good condition till December in a normal season. I believe the prc&peets at Taupo are attracting a lot of attention. The Tongariro river

:_ said to be lull of fish, and again at ■icaanu, and in the Waikato where it , L aves ihe Lake at Taupo, down towards Aratiatia Itapids, are specially well spoken about. Lake Taupo itself, especially round the western eide, as a rule teems with lish of a large size. Taupo is principally noted ior brown trout, but there are larger rainbrow trout to be obtained here than in any other part of the Dominion. A number of parties are going up to Tokaanu this season, and probably by this time have had their camps fixed up by that valued friend of anglers, Captain Tom Ryan." With regard to Lake Takapuna, which it is hoped will afford good fishing for the Auckland followers,, of the sport, Hγ. Earl pointed out that there were no breeding streams running into that sheet of water, but the lake had been kept stocked by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society putting in regular supplies of yearling trout, and he thought there was no reason at all why -there should not be good sport theTe, always providing fchat the trout have not formed thd habit of ground-feeding. The weed which has taken possession of a large area of the water will always be a source of trouble to anglers, but there is plenty of water where one would be able to get comfortable fishing. "Ofcoroire," Baid Mr. Earl, "attracts a number of sportsmen who combine golf with angling. If the experience of past years is repeated a large number of small fish will be found there, and later on big ones will drop down froni the upper waters of the Wai'hou."