FISHING SEASON OPENS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22830, 2 October 1939, Page 15

FISHING SEASON OPENS

CATCHES NOT LARGE The opening of the, fishing season at midnight on Saturday was not followed by noticeably large catches during the week-end, according to inquiries made among fishermen last evening. It was considered, however, that there were'plenty of fish both in the rivers and in Lake Ellesmere, and that the lack of large bags "during the week-end, especially on Sunday morning was caused by the full moon. The average bag in the Selwyn appeared to be about two or three. Most of the trout weighed about three pounds, but there were a few bigger catches. Although there appeared to be plenty of fish out in the lake,, the shallowness of the river, which was running very low at the mouth, probably prevented a run of fish in this direction. Fishing at the Rakaia was not very good; the catches seemed to have been better on the Ashburton side. In the smaller streams catches were also small. It is expected that conditions next week-end will give a better indication of the fishing for the season. The number of fishermen who went out this week-end was somewhat smaller than usual, possibly partly because of the petrol restrictions, but it is considered that there will be more next week-end, when they will be able to go out on Friday night., ;