TROUT FISHING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 306, 19 September 1908, Page 9

TROUT FISHING.

WELLINGTON STREAMS DESCRIBED. (Bt Dry Fly.) 11. As Wellington possesses no anglers' club, it is only reasonable to suppose that tho overcrowding of anglers on favourite streams on the opening day will be as bad as in formor years. Wero a meeting of tile angling fraternity held, arrangements could bo made whereby certain streams would be allotted by mutual agreement, and all would 'have a' much better chance of securing sport on the opening day. . Take, for instance, tho Mungaroa Stream, that is, tho upper reaches. Usually during the opening month a procession of anglers whip the stream with indifforent success, simply because no one knew tho others were going there. Tho comparatively few who would refuse to join a club were it formed, where fixtures and tho allotment of streams could take place, would not materially affect those who had for their, own interests joined it. As a popular week-end rosort the Mungaroa has few equals. The upper waters: receive rathor too much patronage, and in consequence towards the end of the season a marked falling off in bags is noticeable. Tho trout rise readily to the fly, and - in many instances are taken wholesale by the crecper fishermen. Tho lower waters are very dark, owing to the inflow from a peaty swamp. Tho trout there are. irregular feeders, but on occasions rise freely, taking artificial and live, baits indiscriminately. Several heavy baskets were secured from the lower waters last season with the minnow, and one. bag with fly included two trout of four jpouiids each.. A tedious journey over.the Wainui-o-mata Hill lands tho traveller, in a pretty valley, through which flows the .famous Wainui-o-mata stream: • On occasions', • such as the opening day, it is amusing -to see the small forest of rods waving in various, directions in attempts to lure the spotted beauties: . The fortunate wharc-holder smokes contentedly as he watches the procession pass his- door, but later on, as the visitors'hurry, off-to-catch, 'the last train, at the Lower Hutt, ho'saunters leisurely, rod in hand, , "to tlie'banks of .the f stream and secures his bag:'.'. The bags vary; considerably in weight,.- as casual-, visitors often take anything oversize, secured.'- 'How.ever, a certain section of .the angling fraternity have an understanding that any fish under. a pound shall bo returned -to. the water,'and up to last-year they had littlo ■difficulty in keeping up to this standard. It has been rather a difficult"; task 'to' secure'a pound- average at Wainui latterly,' for the stream is very much overstocked," and literally teeming with which groedily take The artificial bait restriction has ..in: .nb -way improved .the fishing there, for with; the ialluring worm it was possible to thin-out^tHe■ big "jack :trout, ' which are! now'seldom grassed with :fiy. As there are'about' fifteeiumiles'df fish-, ing water at Wainui, and 'the' streaM'-is 'easily; waded, there should be'J'ample: water for .a 'large'body of anglers' to.'try..their- skill;..The.: northerly wind, for wdiich'. Wellington is.'fa'm--ous, sometimes makes fishing'hard work, and practically impossible at.'WaihuD It is best, adapted to a light southerly wind, which' blows upstream. A small minnow has been used with great success when the stream is dirty, but fly is the standard, lure., Prohibiting-the uso of livo baits in. the. Waikanao River has to .a very-largo, extent prevented it from falling into the. ranks of the "has beens." A' few' ago it '.was questioned.whether it had its.equal as a fly. "stream in this province.,. The .unmerciful onslaughts of the creeper and worm fishers .were fast;, depleting what ' .was an ideal' : and , essentially a fly stream'. - ; Last ..'season . several good baskets wero scoured; but 'not' nearly up_ to the average weight of former l years. "Nine inchers" and smaller trout are a'great nuisance there,, and scarcely'a cast is made without ono of these greedy, youngsters, risiug at tlie fly. -Tho Waikanae itself, receives plenty of fishing, and .is. nojv^'able^,to ,stand it. Most of tlio othcri tributaries, of .this stream are well stocked, and generally yield good fish. . . The. Porirua .stream iis. top .accessible to produce many big bags. For the opening ■ month good sport is usually obtained,- but when'tho summer-is at its 1 height tho fish disappear, and only an . occasional ono, is. grassed. Tho portions of the stream which are overhung with willows are excellent pre-: serves for wary trout. Occasionally an angler with plenty of patience climbers .beneath the willows and with groat difficulty ..makes-a few casts.. It is seldom'.that these laborious efforts , are without.-good rosults,. as the fish feed readily, and the real dif-ficulty-is in-landing them, but this can bo overcome by using heavy' tackle. • Only anglers with plenty of pr-.tienco should ■try a dayon the Paliautanui, that is; on. the 'lower waters when clear,, with bright sun shining. There havo been many disappointments through fishing in the .clear .water, but. after,-a rain," .when there is-a little: colour, an. outing there is. fairly certain to produce a decent catch. ..Last sea'son-a juvenile. angler who "biked" through from Porirua secured a fine catch of trout- on minnow; averaging two pounds each. The upper waters aro productive-.of good sport to fly. fishermen, .but. in most cases the, : water flows through private property, and it is necessary, to gain permission to fish there. The Hornkiwi stream is practically 'closed to all comers, the landowners, there 'resenting- the right to fish themselves..