THE FISHING SEASON.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15751, 18 November 1916, Page 13

THE FISHING SEASON.

(•PECIALLT WRITTEN* FOR "THI TRESS.") (By 11. A. 15.) After a 6omewhat unsatisfactory period, fishing conditions in this district are showing distinct signs of improvement, particularly in respect to fly-fishing. This state of affairs is doubtless due to the fact that we have had a run of more or les* warm weather, which, it was generally recognised, was required to give the sport the necessary fillip. An angler who is thoroughly acquainted with the Selwyn, in the region of the Kilesniere bridge,, reports that he has recently enjoyed very good fly-fish-ing, both at the bridge and down as far as Coe's ford. He mentioned al»o, that his captives, which did not run to particularly heavy weights, were, without exception, in excellent condition. Another angler, from Cireendale, states that there are plenty of fish in the Hororata, about one to two miles >!p from the mouth of the river. These, trout also appear to be taking tho fiy freely. Comparatively little i.s heard of the doings of anglers at tho mouth q£ the HalswclU and although, o» account of I its situation, this is not one of the most I pleasant rivers to fish, sundry groups of enthusiasts have repeatedly visited this wnter, and obtained good baskets. The usual procedure is to fish live bait at night. In conversation with an angler who resides in the vicinity of the Opihi, I gathered that the fishing in this locality is not all that is desired, as yet. My readers are probably aware that the various streams thereabouts were thoroughly scoured by floods shortly before the season opened. This was regarded at the time as a most auspicious occurrence, but in view of tho comparative scarcity of decent-sized fish, anglers are inclining to the opinion that the floods washed out practically .all the feed, and it is to this that they attribute the present conditions. .Nevertheless, dry-fly enthusiasts from Temuka arc fishing most industriously. and we may therefore safely conclude that my informant has taken a rather too pessimistic view. By a strange whim of fate, it seems that tho schoolboy manages to get a very fait* share of 6port on a|l occasions. This is particularly apparent in connexion with the Avon and its tributaries, which arc regularly and successfully fished by numerous individuals of the "small boy" species. Try as they wi") adults seem to bo handicapped in some, inexplicable way, as the experience of a local angler clearly shows. The enthusiast in question -was busily ' "'whipping'' the Wairarapa, and getting rises innumerable, but nothing further. Shortly, there happened along a youthful angler, sporting an extremely crude outfit. He performed certain weird operations with his rod. "flopped'' in a fly, and almost immediately was playing a fish of about one and a half pounds. The disgust of the adult can better be imagined than described. Kow that the brown beetles arc hatching, "Red Palmer," "Marlow BuaJi,'.' "Goch-y-bondhu," and "Hunt's Favourite" flies are_ in demand, both for the Avon And North branch. In this latter stream, I might mention, there is an nbUndanco of sizeahlo trout, fiut it requires a great deal of skilful coaxing to persuade them to take tho fly.