ROD AND GUN CRUSADER FOR TROUT FISHING IN N.Z.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30839, 26 August 1965, Page 7

ROD AND GUN CRUSADER FOR TROUT FISHING IN N.Z.

[Specially written for “The Press" by JAMES SIERS]

He might aptly be called “The Crusader.” But If one is to analyse Con Voss, of Rotorua, two factors must be considered above all others: his sincere dedication to trout fishing and his desire to do something to stop its deterioration. Mr Voss is about to retire from his commercial concern. Although he says “work has never interfered to any great extent with my other interests,” he will have more time to devote to trout fishing as a sport. He says he is particularly qualified to comment on the present situation, because he has lived long enough to see the changes. LAKE CHANGED His house is on a section that runs into Lake Rotorua and over the years, from the time when he could look out his lounge window and see trout rise in the clear water and catch them from his foreshore, he has seen it change to a silting, weedinfested water. Everywhere commercial interests and the failure of authorities to take a proper stand are endangering what could be one of the country’s major assets. Streams, rivers and lakes

are being polluted, altered and bent Without regard to the part they could play in the economy. The first obligation is to ensure that they remain a recreational asset for New Zealanders and the second an over-all scheme to manage them properly for greater commercial return. Mr Voss has just returned from a tour of the United States, where he gave illustrated talks to keen fishermen on trout angling in New Zealand. It is a reasonable assumption that if there are 15 million dedicated trout fishermen in the United States and 1 or 2 per cent can be lured for two weeks in New Zealand, they will contribute quite a sum of dollars to our balance of payments. Mr Voss found keen interest in New Zealand among the more knowledgeable American anglers, even to the extent that they were disappointed by New Zealand advertising.

The advertising stressed an average size of 91b a fish and shows girls and male models in situations that to any experienced angler immediately appeared ridiculous. One that jarred me showed a gentleman angler with net

tucked neatly under arm, rod held in one hand and line describing a neat arc into the water. In the foreground of the picture a hooked trout was leaping about 6ft out of the water. A real angler would not have had the net in that position; he would have had his hand controlling the line or on the reel. The “jumping” incident nearly made it, except that the fish was a slab, obviously frozen or in an advanced state of rigor mortis. The splash it made “jumping” out was obviously a good, solid wallop with some kind of instrument, because every fisherman knows a trout makes little splash jumping up; it’s when it comes down that it splashes. To make matters worse the same picture has been used extensively throughout New Zealand. Mr Voss says he made a number of recommendations and is now impressed by some of the advertising. There is no need to stoop to gimmickry; those who don’t fish won’t know the difference and won’t care, but those who do will see it for the fake it is.

Mr Voss met a number of Americans who had fished in New Zealand and their reaction was, “Why over-sell, when what you’ve got now is still among the best in the world?” CASTING EXPERT Mr Voss is a casting expert. He is the vice-president of the International Casting Associa-

tion, and a life member of the New Zealand Angling and Casting Association. Until this year he held the New Zealand record for the skish fly accuracy event and he still holds the record for fly accuracy and distance and 5-Boz bait accuracy.