Heavy Salmon Caught

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32214, 5 February 1970, Page 1

Heavy Salmon Caught

Some of the heaviest salmon in at least 20 years are being caught in the Rakaia, Rangitata, and Ashburton rivers this season. Mr E. W. Millichamp, of Tinwald, who yesterday caught a 411 b salmon in the Rakaia River, two miles upstream from the mouth, said he had never caught a heavier salmon in his 50 years of fishing. In that period he had caught more than 2000 salmon. He attributed the heavy weights and excellent condition of the salmon this season

to plenty of food at sea before the fish make their way up river. Mr Millichamp’s salmon weighed 361 b 3oz cleaned, and takes the lead in a fishing contest conducted by an Ashburton sports goods firm over the whole season. The Salmon took 20 minutes to land. Four salmon of more than 301 b cleaned weight have been entered in the contest in the last week. The others were 341 b, caught by Mr E. Alkemade, of Tinwald, in the Ashburton River on Tuesday; 311 b, caught by Mr J. K. Hooper, of Ashburton, in the Rangitata River last Friday; and 301 b 13oz, caught by Mr C. Dell, of Ashburton, In the

Ashburton River last Thursday. Because he has won the contest previously, Mr Millichamp incurs a penalty of 21b a salmon, but his catch yesterday still leads by 3oz. He has also caught the three heaviest salmon, totalling 941 b soz cleaned, or 881 b soz with the 21b handicap deducted for each fish. An official of the sports goods firm said the weights of salmon this season had been exceptional. The excellent catches were being recorded in all the main salmon rivers in the district. Six salmon of more than 301 b had been entered in the contest this season.