TROUT -FISHING

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 152, 29 June 1935, Page 10

TROUT -FISHING

THE EOTORT7A AREA. REPLY TO CRITICISM 'i ■ ■ ■ .■ ■ Statements published recently complaining about the trout fishing in the Kotorua area were replied to today by a Rotorua resident who has a close knowledge of the district. So far as concerns the actual fishing (which comes under the control of the. Department of Internal Affairs) he declared it was utterly incorrect to say that it was in ,a bad way in Rotorua. In Lake Rotoiti ', this year, he said, the fish in the early stages of the season were certainly hard to catch. The reason for that was the exceptionally hot season. The fish did not like hot water and took to, the depths of the lake. On the other hand, in: Lake Rotorua, where cold streams, notably the Hamurana and Waitete, ran into the lake, fish gathered in such numbers in the: cold water that anglers were practically standing shoulder to shoulder, and limit bags were being taken day after day. When the weather became colder and the fish got into their normal haunts in Lake Rotorua, the trolling around Mokoia Island and other favourite trolling places had'not been equalled for years. Dozens of splendidly-conditioned fish averaging three, four, and five pounds had been taken out- daily.; Later.; !on, towards the end of the season when the fish began to run into the channel, fish were also teeming there, and they were in splendid condition. Fish from seven to twelve pounds were taken out daily. ■ DIFFICULT TO CATCH. Although the fish were there in plenty, one of the troubles was that a number of anglers had been unable to catch them, the fish being so well fed. The fish had had such a lot of feed in the shape of the1 green beetle and inanga.that they did not respond to artificial lures and were hard to catch. Plenty of fish had also been taken out of Lake Okataina and Lake Tarawera. That was the position ,so far as the Department of Internal Affairs was concerned. No justifiable criticism could be levelled at the Department for the way it was endeavouring to look after tne fishing as far as it was possible.to do so. One critic had even accused shags in Lake Rotoiti a few weeks ago of spoiling the fishing by swallowing trout of nine and ten pounds. That would make a great picture, he said. Such statements would-windicate the sort-of inconsidered criticism that had been levelled at what was undoubtedly a New Zealand asset. ACCESS QUESTION. On the other hand, there was strong complaint about the question of access, but that was not a matter for the Department of Internal Affairs solely. It was the concern of the Lands Department, and the Native Department in particular. The fact of the matter was that, through some oversight, no provision had been made for access on privately-owned land round the lake shores and on a good many of the rivers, and that had not been remedied, despite the fact.that it had been pointed out to successive Governments over a period of years, with the result that as the Natives had parted with land, either by freehold sales or long leases, people had built cottages and had fenced down to the water's edge. Barbed wire fences haS also been placed in the water itself, and in one or two instances barbed wire entanglements had actually been placed in the \ water along the bays, fencing them off to stop people from even bathing from launches. . * PETITION SIGNED. The question affected not only fishermen but also the rights of the people generally, and. the position was keenly resented in Rotonia-. Actually there was a petition before the House of Representatives now. It had been lodged last session and was signed by prominent citizens of Rotorua, and it called upon the Government to remedy the matter. As a result of this and other representations, the Commissioner of Crown Lands had made-a survey of the position in the district, and it was expected that his report would be before the House during the coming session, when the petition would also come up for consideration.