GOOD SPORT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 303, 23 December 1939, Page 8

GOOD SPORT.

ANGLERS' PROSPECTS.

ROTORUA DISTRICT PATCHY.

EFFECTS OF OKBBjW BEETIX.

(By Telegraph—Special to " Star.")

ROTORUA, this day.

Anglers visiting the Rotorua district during the holiday season have prospects of enjoying good sport -within a restricted area. Present indications are that the fish are commencing to shoal off the mouths of .the cdld, spring-fed streams tributary to Rotorua, but in other paTts -of the district the large hatch of green beetle has made the fish difficult to take. This condition of affairs has beefi accentuated by the generally light winds prevailing. During the past week or 10 days there has been an appreciable rise in the temperature of the lake waters as usual, this has had the effect of bringing the fish into the cold water surrounding the stream mouths. Several limit bags have been taken during the past week at Hamurana and Awahou, while Ngongotaha and Waitete have also been fishing well, although at the last two places the hatch of 'beetle has been so large that, for the greater part of the day, it has made the fish difficult to take. Tarawera Difficult. While .the beetle Is on the water in such lprge numbers it is unlikely that the fisii will rise freely to the inanga and smelt conditions which best suit fly fishermen. Lakes Tarawera and Rotoiti have not been greatly fished. Tarawera still continues to be extremely difficult, except in the early morning when occasional fish are taken, while Rotoiti has been patchy. One experienced angler, fishing one of the best-known night fishing spots on this lake on four successive nights when conditions were favourable, took three fish. Kerewhakaitu, which provided splendid sport earlier in the season, has now become more difficult owing to the quantity of beetle on the water. Nevertheless, fair bags of fish are still being taken there both on the fly and spoon. In the Rotorua area trolling results have been disappointing, due possibly to the fact that the light winds and rather sultry atmosphere have not been conducive to good eport. Praia® For Okataina. { The Conservator of Fish and Game, • Mr. A. Kean, in his fortnightly report, 1 states that 500 fish have been taken • 1 from Okataina since the beginning of 1 the season. Mr. A. Samuels, a wellknown visiting angler, took 33 fish during five days ou this lake, his bag ineluding one of lOJlb, one of IOJb and five of 91b. Mr. Samuels informed the conservator that he considers Okataina the best fly-fishing lake in the district. The conservator states that the fishing on the Waikato River in the vicinity of Fuljames camp has been very satis- i factory and that the Waikaremoana i fishing has been fair. The Bay of Plenty ' rivers had not been very much fished. ' The Taupo section of the report states ] that few anglers have been fishing in the * Tokaanu district, but that some good ' fishing has been experienced at the 1 Delta where the condition of the fish 1 has been excellent. There had also been i very few anglers at the Taupo end of * the lake but those who had been out * were enjoying good sport. 4