THE FISHING SEASON

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 117, 13 November 1929, Page 13

THE FISHING SEASON

OPENED AUSPICIOUSLY

SOME GOOD CATCHES

Reports from the conservator of fish and game at Rotorua indicate that the trout fishing season was opened auspiciously at the beginning of the month. Some good baskets were obtained, and the season promises to be a successful one.

The conservator states in his dispatches to the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle, Minister in Charge, that, although there were frequent showers of rain there were many anglers participating at the opening of the season. "At the Tokaanu end," he states, "quite fair sport was obtained both by trolling parties and fly fishermen. The most successful fly fisherman has been. Mr. John Selby, of Tokaanu, who secured forty fish in the three days, fishing with the 'Matuka' fly at the Delta. The heaviest fish in his catch weighed 71b, but the catch averaged 51b. . THE HEAVIEST CATCH. "The honour of catching the heaviest fish on the fly this season lias fallen to a Now Zealander—a 121b rainbow in Grace's Pool. Other parties, notably from Auckland, secured 50 fish in this period, averaging olb. * The party fished the Hut, Log, Grace's, and Hajor Jones Pools in the Tongariro River, using various flies. The opinion is, however, that the best results are obtained with the 'Matuka.' The trolling parties easily had the best sport, seem-in" C 9 fish in 2J days in Motuopa Bay. Their heaviest fish weighed BJlb, and the catch averaged ojlb. The heaviest fish taken by trolling parties was one weighing lljlb, in splendid condition. CATCHES BY TROLLING. "At the Taupo end all the trolling launches were in commission on the opening day, most of them making early morning trips, in addition" to taking out other parties later in the day. Good catches were ■ secured, but the average condition of the fish was only fair. The consensus of opinion is that the.fish were not in as good condition generally as on the opening day . last year. Later reports, .however, showthat the more recent catches show a decidedly better average condition than those of the opening day. The largest fish in the various catches ranged from 71b to 7-Jlb at this end. The owner of the launch Dawn lias .reported, that a number of tfio fish taken were ripe fish that had not yet spawned. The favourite grounds-for the launches have been from Acacia Bay. along the shore as far as the Rangatira Point locality. "As yet nobody has visited Whakaipo, Whangamata, or Western Bays, H but from last season's results I can see no reason why good catches should not bo made again thi3 season. A very enthusiastic and well-known angler of Taupo fished the Waikato Eiver from the western bank between Reid's Farm and the Huka Falls on Saturday evening, the 2nd instant, using the dry-fly method, which was successfully tried out in this water last season, for evening fishing. ..He took a limit catch of fifteen fish, which were iv good condition, the largest being oilb. This was the best catch in weight-for the Taupo end of the district. It is predicted that in a couple of months time the fish in the Waikato River would be in better condition at the -beginning of the season than in any other locality. This was based on the fact that mayflies were to be seen in this locality in. thousands, and yet they were not to be seen elsewhere at the time."