ANGLING NOTES.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13249, 17 October 1908, Page 5

ANGLING NOTES.

: « THE UPPER WAIHI. (Bt Ikon Bute.) Now that the season, has fairly commenced, the effect of last rammer's drought is only too evident. For instance, there is a strictly preserved stretch of water on the Upper Waihi, where formerly a basket of takoablo fish, with one or two makeweights, in the shape of honest pounders—was fairly certain. After several recent disappointments, 1, yesterday, visited this part of the river, only to add another bad day to tho increasing list. I happened to bo near, and so I walked, but even the journoy was not auspicious. To begin with, I had to make a long detour to avoid a lively-looking bull, and tore my coat and got the landing ! net in a hopeless tangle on a barbedrwire fence. Then, just as with tho aid of a pair of scissors, I was agairn free, the one man 1 did not wish to see hove in eight. I do not owe him money, nor is ho in any way an enemy, but he is an enthusiastic "beginner," and as I oxpected, had endless questions for mc to answer. When one is in a hurry it is a nuisance to bo asked to rig up a oast, even for a. friend. I think it is to my credit that no signs oi impatience wore visible, but when j at last ho was satisfied, 1 was very glad—that I had been able to be of use. The inquisition over, I hurried' on. Here is the story of the afternoon. *j A stream in perfect fishing trim, ripples and pools just as they should be, a perfect fishing afternoon; only a lack of fish to prevent the making of a record bag. As a matter of fact, there was not any lack of trout, of a sort, but they wore of sardino and sprat-like size, and takeablo fish wero very few. From a long eddying pool, sheltered by sombre bush, splashed white with clematis vines in flower,, I landed twenty-two, and returned them until the operation became monotonous. The water was swarming with small ones, and at length I resolved to imagine myself in Devon, and try to enjoy things as they camo. It was not easy to pretend that a babypounder was worth playing carefully, and netting as a prize, but among the crowd of his small companions ho was as much a giant as he would havo been in the far-off county, where trout throng the streams, and the servants of his Majesty on "Dartymoor, - ' sometimes roam at will. In Devon one may meet all sorts of wild things, but on the prosaic Waihi I met with nothing more alarming than a wild duck, who had laid the foundations of n future family beneath a clump of toitoi. This misguided bird, sprang out with a great deal of unnecessary fuss, close to my head as I knelt by the bank for a cast on a liQcely ripple, and to bo frank I thousjht it was the devil. Greatly relieved to find it was not, I investigated, and discovered the nest with its ten greenish, eggs, and passed on quickly to allow her to return. I wanted the eggs to put under a hen, but they were in such, a snug place that it seemed a 'pity to disturb them, though two-thirds of the brood will doubtless fall victims to the ever poaching hawks. There is (generally a chance piece of lock, to bo appreciated by the angler if !b» can. make use of it. Amd after a score or so of sardines —I mean breakfast fish.—had been put into tbo bag, I went on to see if haply I might find an old acquaintance at homo. He lived in a comer behind a pile of drift, where the branches of a leaning totara tree swept across the water, and first and last had captured about four of my flies. The stream was always flowing through his home, even 1 m the driest weather, so I had hopes that he bsm escaped from the search of the numerous "lamplighters" who haunt the neighbourhood. Behind tho pile of drift is a space of deep harbourage that might be covered with a blanket. and as I cautiously approached, there was a rise in the accustomed spot. A few flies were sailing down, and obviously a March Brown was the appointed lure. A cast was essayed, and by luck tho fly alighted in exactly the right place. The trout rose confidingly, and, hard held, was worked down, away from his old; home into tho net. ,> At a guess, he weighed considerably more than two pounds, and early in the season as it ia, looked in very bad condition. We) l I had my sport, but be was an old friend, and though it may have been a silly thing to do, I put him oack. Further, I held' him carefully head to tho ourxent until h© had recovered strength, and darted vigorously to his—l should say her: —hover, and in spite of having to be content with a few half-pounders, and, as I said, a few breakfast fish ; I have still the satisfaction of knowing that there is at least one decent fisn in the Upper Waihi. A curious incident happened last week, when I was playing a four-pound fish in a pool on the Rangitata, near Peel Forest. The trout in that part of the river are very shy, therefore fin© tackle is necessary for their undoing, and they nrust be humoured when hooked. My only connection with this particular fish mas a Tiny No. 0 " Greenwell" at the end of a many x cast, and he had put up a long, deep-boring fight. At last, having been persuaded near tho edge, ho woe becoming amenable to reason, when I 'noticed another of about the same size keeping him company. Wlrether the second fish was a mate or merely inquisitive, is of course only a matter of conjecture, but ho followed my captive most persistently—even within reach of the gaff—-during his final efforts. Afterwards "I-:tihought what an ass I had been not to have gaffed the free fish first. Of course, I could not havo done sudh a thing: yet if the idea had occurred to mc in time, who _nows what might have been ? The whole thing wornod mc for the rest of the day.