Ashburton

Press, 11 February 1981, Page 21

Ashburton

The salmon fishing season in Ashburton is prooving somewhat of a disappointment this year with high water temperatures discouraging the movement of fish upriver. The Ashburton Acclimatisation Society’s ranger, Mr B. H. Strange, said yesterday that the season had begun rather slowly, with few fish in the rivers, and although anglers had hoped there would be some improvement as the season went on, it was now beginning to drag. ■ There were still three months of the seasoh left, and things could look up, but it was a pity that those anglers hoping to net in a good catch during the Christmas' holidays had been disappointed. Mr. Strange said the salmon seemed to be returning to the pattern of about 10-or 15 years ago, when the fish did not appear in fresh water until later in the season. There were certainly not as many fish being caught as in past years. Last year’s season had not been a particularly satisfying one either. Early in' the season, discoloured flows had kept the salmon runs from the rivers, and those fish that had been caught had only been in the 4kg to Bkg size range. The trout season, however, had been fairly good sb far, and some fine fish had been caught, especially at the mouth of the Rakaia River. Despite a wind problem in the back country, anglers had also netted good’trout in the lakes. However, hot all local anglers have been coming home. empty handed, as results from the Tuckers “Fish of the Season” competition show. A 231 b ■ 2oz slamon, caught by Noel. 'Muckle still leads the single salmon section of the contest.: ■ , . • Chris Ward pulled in the heaviest three slamon, .total 'weight 531 b 13oz.