ACCLIMATISATION

Grey River Argus, 22 September 1936, Page 8

ACCLIMATISATION

(GREY SOCIETY. At the Grey Acclimatisation So : ciety’s annual meefing to-morrow the folloAviug report will be presented: Your Council has pleasure in submitting the annual report together with the statement of income and expenditure, with the balance sheet for the year ending March’ 31st 1936. The Society has, with the maintenance of a full time Ranger and with esatblishment of the Hatchery at Omoto Road had fairlv heavy expenditure, the figure being £473 Is sd. As the creek hatchery at Inchbonnie had not proved wholv satisfactory owing to distance from headquarters and also the troubles through flooding, a new site has been secured and the new hatchery was set up in the old Grey Brewery along the Omoto Road. Twelve boxes were installed complete with trays etc. water laid on. and tire building completely enclosed. Then, when everything' was ready, 200,000 rainbow ova were’ bought ' from' the Government Hatchery at Tokaanu. These were successfully hatched and under 'the direct supervision of Mr J. Digby, of Christchurch who was visiting the West Coast a! the time, liberated with prac t'cally no loss of fry. This liberation is oiie of the best that the Society has ever had and Mr. Digby stated that he‘had never seen a better batch of fry. The number of fishing and shooting licenses remains almost stationery and’ mdications for Hie ensuing game and fishing season, point to an increase ni both. It is apparent that the depression period' has seriously effected our revenue during the past few years and with the lifting of the strain, a great increase will take place. There were 14 rainbow trout taken in the Brunner Area, the outstanding fish being one of 51b which was taken in the Orangipuku R’ver by a visiting angler. To date anglers have not fished with tackle especially for rainbow, this being recommended for t'hc 1936-37 season. Brown (rout were up to standard excepting in the main Grey River. The usual heavy fish were not apparent in the lower reaches during this season, evidently being driven out by the excess of mining sluice water The “Shield” was tied'“for by Messrs IT Holmes and Mr. S. Hamill with fish of 64 lb. The boom in gold mining has seriously interfered with angling in the lower stretches of the Grey River, anglers having to resort, to the clear fributuaries and lakes for their fish. However, the claims have now worked further into (heir mining areas and the Grey is again assuming the ugtial clarity. Fishing will improve for the coming season under these conditions.

Lake Brunner. —The lake stdl carrio<: a heavy head of fish, and both local and visiting anglers have brought in consistent bags of heavy and shapely fish. Ono bag of brown trout from' the vicuiitv of the Orangipuku River wa« a credit to the anglers and t*ho disfr'et. being equal to any catch in ‘l>o Island. Good results have been obtained with fly and bait-casting from the edge of the lake, and anglers would find chat fine sport is to be had by these methods. Crooked River: —Generally heavy and' strong fish are in the river and this season has proved no exception. Fly and lure fishing has proved the most successful this season. and throughout the year anglers brought to grass many fish of over 4 and 51bs The bulk of the Rainbow fry have been liberated in -a small tributary of the Crooked River and anglers are requested to forward particulars. and if possible the tails of any rainbow caught in this area.

Orang'puku River. —Again the river held good fish, being replenished always from Lake Brunner. The condition of the f : sh has improved eons:derablv since more angling has occurred in the stream', the s'abs having been weeded out of rhe holes which thev were monopolising, and their places having been filled T»v prime fish. Drv flv f : shing is mostly observed here, anglers having .a battle with almost every fish token the presence of sunken timber and roots giving the fi’sh every chance of breaking away. Also the .necessity of using verv fine gut in rhe gin-clear water precludes the rough handling, of the fish when hooked. Lake Poerua. —This lake has again been neglected, probably owing to the difficulty of finding suitable’ fishing stand®. Heavy f’sh have been observed during the shooting season and also through the -spawning season and anglers will find that this lake , will siipnly shme wonderful fish to 'the anglers sufficientlv keen to thoroughly fish the locality.

B ; g Grey River.—The Grey River from the T.kamatua Bridge up, was again well fished, and more especially toward the end of the season, good, f'sh of an average of four pound's were landed. Trout from this river and game and strong, and have mostly been taken on the minnow. During the summer months, good fly fishing is to be had. and almost every angler fishing in this river was well rewarded.

Tattle Grey River and Rough River. ■—-The Lit*le Grey, be'ng alwavs dirl’v from' flood sluice mining water was absolutely impossible for the. fishing and the Rough also proved' a disappointment and more attention is being g'ven to this river by our Ranger. Totara Flat’ Area:—The Flat was not as good a® in former years again the mining water being ev’dont. However. during the latter end of the season. some fine fish, were landed, mostly on minnow, when the fish were evi'dently moving upstream ready for the spawn’ng.

Lake Hatipiri and Haup'ri River. — Borh the lake'and the river hold manv iheavv fish and anglers had’ manv good dnvs here. The lake is difficult to access to the shore®, which prevents intensive fish’ng. The river, however : s aceess’ble through the whole length, and both- flv and minnow fishermen have brought home, good bags of heavy trout.

Ahaura River. —The Ahaura in the upper section, is the home of large trout though usually Hie bag consists of only a few fish each day. However these few fish would average near to s’x pounds so are well worth while. Invariably these fish are taken on the minnow, and are strong and doughy fighters. The lower reaches provide good fly fishing, wit'll fish averaging about 21bs. An occasional heavy fish is taken, and' since the Ahaura. is clear, anglers can always be ssured of good sport when the weather is favourable.

Craigcbourn, Slaty and Moonlight Creeks. —There is good' dry fly fishing in each of these streams’which so far have been rather neglected by anglers. However a day spent here will be pleasantly and profitably spent in ideal waters which to date are practically untouched.

Nelson Creek: —This creek, owing to

m’ning waters, is unfisliable, and has been-a failure throughout the season. Arnold:—The Arnold has yielded more fish for the season than all other screams, and almost every angler fish’rig >the stream has returned with a good basket. The river, right through from the lake to the Grey holds a plentiful supply of fish averaging two pounds. These fish are in fast wai’er and g’ve ample sport to any angler on light tackle. Big bags have repeatedly been taken dry and wet fly, lure, minnow and bully each lifting fish. The stream is becoming well known and is of easy distance from Greymouth, so that week-end' and evening fishing is popular.