GOING FISHING with Kotare

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34031, 20 December 1975, Page 12

GOING FISHING with Kotare

So you want to catch trout? In Canterbury? Hawke’s Bay? Southland? Taranaki ? Anywhere? People who don't fish suppose that trout-fishing tackle and techniques successful in one place must therefore injoy an equal success everywhere else. After all, what’s the difference between the hunger of trout in widelyseparated locations? Don’t you just put a lure of some kind in the water and hope for the best? Well, there’s more than a grain of truth in that philosophy. But the fisherman’s mind boggles at the void surrounding it. What’s good for Taranaki trout may switch Canterbury fish off in five seconds. The 3in Taupo lure may send a South--1 a n d surface-feeding brown trout into a paroxysm of hysterical giggles. Maybe we shouldn’t credit fish with a sense of humour. But we must always credit them with a sense of propriety where food-imitations are concerned.

Trout-fishing success everywhere depends on the observance of several factors. First — and , a rather ridiculous first it is — are there trout present? Second, what size do they reach? Third, where are they — in still, slow-moving, fast, deep, or shallow water? Fourth, what do they feed on? Fifth, what are the best imitations of their staple food? Sixth, what natural and artificial lures does your licence allow? Seventh, what type and strength of tackle should be used? Eight, how do you bring your lures to the notice of the fish? No matter if you’re a beginner, or new to a district, those factors must be carefully studied. Let's suppose you’ve established from friends, or from helpful fishermen in sports stores or acclimatisation societies, that trout exist in a certain water and that access to it is assured. If it’s a lake, or a sizeable river, the trout may run to a rare 101 b. If it's a stream, chances are

that the trout will hardly ever exceed 41b. A tiny stream may one day yield a lib monster.

The type of water is of special interest. If it’s enclosed, and virtually still, the trout must wander around in search of food; If streams join and empty out of still water, lake fish will station themselves at inlets and outlets for food. In warm weather some will always be found where a volume of cooling and oxygenating water enters a lake. If it’s a river or stream flowing slowly, the habits of the fish may resemble those of their cousins in lakes. They may have to wander around in search of food. But if it runs swiftly the trout will normally take up positions out of the main current — in front of or behind rocks and projections, or below the lip dropping into a pool — where they can take the greatest supply of food with the least effort. Usually, no matter what type of water harbours trout, the shallower it is the more easily alarmed they are. That's why, in rivers and streams featuring

pools, trout skulking circumspectly by day in the holes will only drop back into the shallow tails of the pools as dusk falls. Often, that’s the best time to catch them. Clearly, the angler who knows exactly what the trout are feeding on at any given time of day or season catches the most fish. It’s essential to find out what food is present in greatest quantity. If it’s a lake, maybe galaxias (species of small fish), snails, shrimps, crayfish, and dragonfly nymphs proliferate in season. Maybe there’s a dusk fall of brown beetle, or day-long showers of green beetle. If you’re fishing a river or stream especially, make sure you know what aquatic insects are present. Most flowing waters hold small bottomliving grubs and nymphs which turn into sedge flies. Dobson flies, mayflies, stoneflies, and dragonflies. Get to know the habits and life-cycles of these underwater insects. Never forget that more than 90 per cent of the food taken by trout — all trout, that is — in rivers and streams comprises

water-dwelling insects. The fish ingest most of it below the surface — that is, at “imperfect” stages of the insects — although of course some proportion of the perfect or hatched insect is taken, especially by brown trout. Consult the fishing specialist in your sports store for the best imitations of local stream insects or small fish. If his suggestions don't work make your own imitations. Your licence will specify which types of lure are legal. If natural insects or "minnows” are permitted, use them to catch fish. There’s nothing a newcomer to fishing likes better than catching fish. Later, he may much prefer 'to deceive fish with artiticials, especially artificials he has tied himself. If spin-casting is allowed, it’s often an indication that either in-sect-life in that water is sparse or that because of minimum fishing pressure or traditionally uncooperative fish the angler is thus given greater freedom. So use a spinner of some kind by all means. In fact, be prepared ;o

use all the methods that the licence allows. Some of us are quite content to use a favourite method all day long without success. Others sauce their pleasure, in just being by the water, with And they do it by trying everything that’s legal if their first method fails. But, unless you’re a complete newcomer to angling, please use tackle appropriate to , the average size of the trout present. A tiny stream requires a 7ft or Bft feather-weight of a rod a No. 3 or 4 fly-line, and tiny artificials fished on 21b or 31b test nylon. Big rocky rivers may need up to a 10ft 6in rod handling up to a No 11 line and lures fished on 81b to 101 b test nylon Lakes free from snap? can be fished confidently with a 9ft rod, a No 0 o 7 line, and 51b test nylon. And how do you bring your lures to the fish? Well, about 2531 books have been written on the subject so far. Study the fish, get to know their habits and whereabouts at all times. Swim your lures at the levels and times they expect them, carefully, naturally. And then watch out >. a