ANGLING NOTES

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21656, 14 December 1935, Page 12

ANGLING NOTES

[By BLACK GNAT.] Once Upon a Time Mention of a . number of South Canterbury streams in these notes last week led to a consultation of an angling writer of the early days to find out how good the streams were then. Spackman has put on record some of the remarkable bags obtained, and they were often heavy enough to satisfy even some of the present-day bloodthirsty anglers. To one angler the season on the Opihi yielded 372 fish weighing 691 Jib. and the heaviest fish weighed 141 b. Another took 507 fish with the almost incredible weight of 17991 b, From the Rangitata in 1891-92 season, one man took 17 fish weighing 81§lb in one day, another 14 fish weighing 96Jlb, and a party of three rods, 16 fish weighing 178Jlb. Bags from the Temuka taken during a fly fishing competition show that the size of the fish only were comparable with what can be caught today. The winning bag was of 57 fish weighing 271 b. Others were 19 weighing 12Jlb, and 10 weighing 151 b, Not the least productive was the Rakaia, of which he writes: “Some idea of the incredible sport obtained in this 1 river near its mouth, when the fish are really on the feed, may be gained by reference to baskets of fish made in the season of 1891-92. Before this many very heavy fish had been captured, Mr Brice, who in 1890 was living on. an island at the mouth of the Rakaia, having frequently caught very large trout, up to 181 b in weight. On January 29,1891, Mr L. Mathias and Mr Brice caught eight fish weighing respectively 141 b, 141 b, 91b, 81b, 121 b, 131 b, 111 b, and* 71b: total 881 b. On February 13 Mr Brice, fishing by himself, took 13 fish, weighing 1471 b, the largest being 16Jlb, and the small-

est 81b; February 16, six flab, 711 b, largest 151 b. These takes, enormous as they are, were eclipsed, however, by a party of three gentlemen from Ashburton —Messrs Simpson, Pilbrow, and Shury... On October 30 and 31 these three anglers took 44 fish, weighing 347i1b, out of the Rakaia. Mr Simpson’s take weighed 1731 b 4oz, and comprised 22 fish, three of which were of 121 b. one of 1011 b, three of 91b, five of 81b, two of 71b, three of 61b, and the remainder of 41b and 31b, with odd ounces. Mr Pilbrow’s basket weighed 1241 b 4oz, and contained fish weighing 121 b, 111 b, 101 b, 91b, 81b, 61b, and none lighter than 41b. Mr Shury, who fished only for half a day, took 501 b weight of trout—seven fish in all, one of them 121 b.” Still more and larger baskets of quinnat are being taken in Coleridge and that lake will almost certainly be one of the most popular during the coming holidays. It is as well to remember that access to the peninsula and the mouths of the Righton and Scamander rivers is through private property, and permission to fish there should be obtained from, the landowner. No angler, even in the farthest backblocks, has any right to cross private property without permission, and can only have himself to blame if he is found and asked to leave. Unfortunately for the majority there are a few anglers who have little respect for property, and by leaving gates open and’ lighting unnecessary fires, get all anglers into disrepute with landowners , whose property surrounds some fishable water. It is never any trouble to ask permission to go on to private property, and is ja courtesy every angler should Observe. The gates should never ,l>e forgotten either as untold trouble may be caused if they are leftppeh. Vv A bright red minnow seems to have an irresistible attraction for fish, and has for many years been successfully used for kahawai, perch, and rainbow. Brown trout, though not usually so particular about the colour of the lure offered them, can often by taken on a red minnow when any other colour fails to kill. This season a red minnow has accounted for a number of good fish in the Waimakariri, and is becoming increasingly popular. Certain Selwyn anglers have alsd used it with success for a number of years. An appeal is again made on behalf of the research committee to all anglers to collect scale samples and details of weights and. lengths of all fish captured. Large and representative collections from each river are invaluable' and can be accumulated very quickly if anglers will co-operate by sending in the required details. A few anglers who Jiave sent scales in have expressed disappointment that they have not received a report on their collection, but it is pointed out that the committee’s biologist has so much work on hand that it is impossible for him to send individual reports. Nevertheless, every parcel of scales is of the utmost value, and is eventually used by him.