ANGLING NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 13937, 10 January 1911, Page 8

ANGLING NOTES.

' ♦ As was only to be expected, the fishing rivers this week-end wore not in good fishing order, and consequently nothing sensational has been reported. Accounts of the Selwyn vary considerably, some fishers getting nothing at all, and others only small fish. Two good fish were landed, ono a twelvepounder and one 61b. The larger fish was in excellent condition. During the holiday the Rakaia was in bad order. One angler, who spent ten days down at the mouth, stated that on one day only was fishing possible. Two rods grassed eleven trout, ranging up to Olb. Another angler landed half a dozen, averaging between slb and Olb. Some fair baskets have been reported from Ashley, but all the fish were small, the largest being a,bout 31b. The Waimakariri is not fishable, and nothing of any moment has been reported from Little River. With the rivers in such poor condition, it is, only natural that the fish should deteriorate. An experienced angler states that the fish in the rapids of the Rakaia are comparatively poor, but that at the moutn they are in excellent condition. The following panegyric on trout angling in New Zealand, by Professor Rentoul, of Melbourne, is published in the Australian "Anglers' Guide": — "For the expert, or would-be expert, angler, New Zealand is the ideal realised. No land, except Canada, can m this respect, at present, compare with it. This is due to the unique geological and climatic conditions of Maoriland. Through tho main islands, from south to north, runs a splendid chain of snow-capped mountains. These present in the Middle Island a splendour of Alpine scenery, rivalling in variety and grandeur the mountain chains oi Switzerland, while the fiords opening seawards (of which Milford Sound is the noblest) surpass in "romantic beauty those of Norway. The elevated snowfields and glaciers gave rise to a vast number of rapid and wide-channelled rivers, running east and south,'known to tho angler distinctively as 'snow rivers, and theso are continually replenished and kept fresh in summer by the melting snows and ice of the mountain ranges. At the same time, on the more level lands, and by the bases of the lowlier hills there run the ordinary 'rain rivers/ as in the old lands. Add to this the 'thermal region' of the North Island, resulting in lakes and streams of a warmer temperature than that of customary rivera. You will find, thus, in New Zealand, a quite unique union of conditions fitted to the multiplication, nurture, and rapid growth of the various kinds of trout." Both branches of the Waimakariri and the Rakaia were reported to be clear at nine o'clock yesterday morning, but the Rangitata was stated to be dirty, and the Waitaki discoloured.