ANGLING.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 October 1924, Page 12

ANGLING.

TESTS FOR CASTS. (By Iron Blue). A.T.M. writes:.'“l have a'number of casts left from last season, and propose to test them thoroughly and see how much new stuff' I shall have to buy. Do you think that, sav, for a 2x cast, a four-pound pull on the spring balance would be a fair test‘d Of course, there are spring balances and spring balances, and some of the most easy-going in disposition will register a pound o-r two almost for the asking, which may be the reason why some people catch heavier fish than others who are just as deserving. But this is by the way. I doubt if any 2x cast would stand a proper fourpound pull, and it is not required to do so, either, for such a strain would probably break the top of a fly-rod. Once, in a fishing camp, an angler was “telling the tale” of an unsuccessful encounter, when his quarry made light of a “ten pound” strain which had been put upon him, and betook himself headlong to unknown parts. An argument ensued, and,' as a. result-we took a twelve-foot doublehanded fly rod, fastened a stout lake cast to the line, and slipped the loop cf the cast over the hook of a spring balance, which was tied to an iron standard in a fence. We fc-und that the heartiest sort of “strike” which the owner cf the (rod dared risk would not mark nearly a pound; and then somebody said, “Now put on about the same strain you had on that fish which got away from you.” Presently the rodsman called out: “That is all the rod will stand, anyway,” and the balance registered one pound and threequarters and a fraction. An astonished man was the owner of that much prized rod, hut he paid up his lost bets in sporting fashion. It- is difficult to say exactly how much strain is a fair test for gut casts of the various sizes. For several reasons I prefer two-yard casts for my own purposes, and usually try the leftover casts from last season to stand a three-quarter-pound pulL for the 3>: size; a pound and a quarter for the 2x; one and three-quarter pounds on lx, and so on. If- they will stand this trial the-v are probably good enough to serve- again, and at least have the chance. It may be useful to vmuember that a three-yard cast will break more easily than a two-vatrd length, and dry gut will stand more strain than when it is wet. BIG IRISH TROUT. New Zealand fishermen have grown so accustomed to regard the- trout of our own favoured land us dwarfing all others that it may prove interesting to note the captures—one very- irecent —of a xew quite worthy specimens in Horne waters. Possibly the vara may be true, that, in Devon, trie glad and ..pay landing of a pounder is announced by urgent * telegrams to your dearest friends—but certainly there are still some Old Country—in this case “Quid Counthrv”—brout. which mast be pretty near the limit. It is recorded in an English sporting nuper—“The Field,” July 31—that, a few days previously, Mv W. Newburgh Tisdali landed a fin« trout weighing seventeen pounds six ounces from Dromineer Buy, Lough Derg. Tt was captured with a spoc-n bait, while this fortunate angle/ was trolling from a bout, and it is also mentioned that a low years ago two other huge trout wore caught in the same locality. The first of these, weighing 18 lbs was taken with a spinning bait-, and is now nrasorved and in the North Tipnerarv Club. Tire second was o matured with fjv —on--' of a dozen or so, on a “cross 1 1 tie’ ’ by Brigadier-Genera 1 Hatrdress Holmes, and may be seen at “St. Davids.” Dromineer Bay. Hoover, e\ on these monsters are cr-linsed bv another weighing over 30 lbs." which was likewise caught with a spoon bait, and is now in the Dublin Museum. It

must be ‘‘some” fishing water, this Lough Derg. Again, by the way, i have a commission from an English piq.-e:, and should like to do the “big fish” part of it in style - ; therefore-, 1 shall be specially grateful to anyone wlio is kind enough to send me an authentic record of the caotures cf trout . weighing something, near thirty uounds. A NEW BAIT. A friend has forwarded a curious lure that he guarantees as “cue of the best” for use at dusk, and on, the card attached it is called “The Nailer.’’ it is designed to .represent a ■ small fish about an inch long. “Cast like a fly, and then manage like a minnow.” are the directions given. If described correctly it should he worth a trial, and there is no great problem in the trying. It is a tandem lure, two No. 2 hooks—new numbering—one before the other on a bit of gut. The shanks of both hooks av.e covered with flat gold tinsel, and two red hackles are tied on at the head of each hook.. Outside the hooks are two strips cf brown turkey wing feather, and at the bend of the lower hook is a tag made of peacock herl and a strand of scarlet wool. "With this weird lure it is said so many big trout have been taken in English lakes and reservoirs that its use. has been forbidden, and but to be sure, of this we must “wait and see.” Anyway it will not- take long te< make the lure, according to these directions. ■AN AMATEUR ANGLER. THE OPENING OF THE SEASON. (Taranaki Herald). The fisherman : “He risetli up early in the morning and disturbeth the whole household. ’ “Mighty are his preparations. “He goeth forth full of hope. “When the day is far spent he returnetb smelling of strong*drink, and the truth is not in him.” An unknown masterpiece, but inertthan likely a passage from the Koran of Isaak Walton. Now Wednesday dawned,, to the ordinary person, as any other Wednesday or day of the week might, and he, it is supposed, ate his porridge and marmalade as if nothing but the usual o-r and rain were in the air. But such was by no means the case with the angler. The dav after Tuesday to him was not only Wednesday, but October 1, the onening day of the fishing season. Thus, at the stroke of midnight on the thirteenth day of September, the Acclimatisation Society threw wide the portals guarding their abundantly stocked fishing domains, and invited all who had licenses to come with rod and line and partake of the •y exciting snort awaiting, them: Of course, nobody for a moment thought of starting to fish at 12 n.m. Whether any dreamt of starting then is not to be known. However, when the first shafts of dawn began to shoot in from the East a few business men, who really should have known better, began restlessly to toss about iff their easy beds, and at length came forth from their warm blankets. After a great ..deal of -packing, unmacking and packing again of rods, reels, casts, nets and a thousand other things, the party of four about whom this stumbling story centres, met at t' s appointed place. The weather conditions. as previously mentioned, were extremely inconsiderate, but nevertheless the spirits of the party were waterproof, and-a more optimistic bedy of neople could scarce be found. Now included in this party of four was one an amateur. It was his first chv cut, and, as matters fell out, it will ..mnv,r> than likely be the conclusion of his fishing career. After motoring seme 18 miles down the coast, the narty arrived, at a certain tavern: set to and roused, the attendants from their untroubled slumbers, arid prepared for the onslaught, if cue may so call it. The merry band fitted together their rods; talked a 'lot about flies, which point did not interest the amateur; paired off, and hastened to two rivers hard by. Let 'us follow the amateur. With head a-wliirl with advice from his experienced companion, this new disciple of Izaak Walton followed close upon the footsteps of his adviser for the day and eventually caught a glimpse of the river upon which he was to. try out his new rod. A few simple, but catchy movements, and he had his red complete for fishing with reel, line, nine-foot cast, the tail fly, and ropper. This latest victim to the craze had heard a great deal of talk about casting, and now he found himself practising under the instruction cf his companion the art of throwing a fly. At first every blade of grass, copse, of furze and overhanging tree seemed to he in the road of the line, and caused delightful tangles which after careful coaxing became unravelled.. However, the caster soon became proficient enough to avoid these obstacles and succeeded in casting the fi.v in the water moderately near the soot- he intended. Thus the morning was quickly passed : floundering about on greasy boulders, and seeking fish in smooth and troubled waters. And at length the dinner h-our, which - had been keenly anticipated through a hunger seldom experienced while in town, arrived. Wet through, but still happy at heart- the amateur seated himself upon i log, eagerly munched his dinner, and for the first time began to admire the scenery about the river. The camping site was upon a stretch of sward, slopng gradually down to the smooth-run-ning water’s edge. Gn the opposite side was a steep hill covered with virgin hush, which here and there was supporting snow-white bunches of beautiful clematis. Up-stream the river was bordered by green fields, stretches of bush and occasional patches of blo-rhing gorse, which, although a post, added to the beauty of the scene. Down-stream the swiftly-rushing river, which was slightly swollen, lost itself in a sharp curve. On the right-hand bank was more hush—from whence the musical notes of the tui and the grey warbler occasionally arose; and on the left-hand batik stood the proud remains of an historic Maori redoubt. It was indeed an excellently-chosen site, for the river has affected the contour of the surrounding land so that the redoubt is guarded against attack, north, south, .and east: while, the western face was protected bv trenches and palisades, evidence of which is still noticeable. But back to rae fishh.g, and the fish that were waiting to be caught. FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND. ‘‘Someone’s fishe-d die river ahead of us,” growled the o 1-timer to the lew ’mi : “I’ve seen their boocmarks in the sand.” No sooner had he spoke than,.an empty. bottle—probably a receptacle for tea—came sailing merrily down-stream. The fisherman growled once more upon seeing this, and sat hack and finished his pine. The young enthusiast in the meantime went off on his own, and 'had net fievi fishing tor long when he was hailed by .a farmer, who was leaning wearily against a con ten-.e 1-lcok-ing cow. “Got any fish?” asked the farmer “Not a rise.” replied the amateur, usino one of the terms he learnt. “Why don’t you sit down and fun? I always do when 1 go fishing for ee:s with them Hu Hu things and a niece cl string,” said the farmer.

The amateur •.sj'vrJ. hi: f ekur'j v.r ••« ' lil v being in hired. but he was p.-Hto. He answered:“l did sit down cine in the middle of the rivjr—so Ido not feel inclined to* do so again.” ; The farmer then left, and the fishing continued. For the next thro,? i.o ’ the fish were still absent from the river, and nothing interesting occurred, save that the amateur, as the result of Lyin' l7 to balance rif a -upper.- su’' r > was forced to take off ad excepting i-is cap—which, Avith’his r 'aoe was the on v part kept dry—and hold the •• itir.V? hetween a huge fire which did uoiprit but send clouds of acid 'Oiicko into his streaming eyes. And then back to the tavern, where the it her two fishermen had taken themselves. Desnite the fact tin t one of them left his rod in the car and, and dropped fid in the fields —evidently to test the integrity of settlers—'these two hod landed a fish apiece. The .fisherman who had landed the bigger fish of the two was extremely exultant. The capers he cut and the expletives he made '-so of when endeavouring to land the fish made one wonder that a business man should develop such primeval instincts. However, when he inade it known that for three years he had attempted to catch this fish his behaviour explained itself. Then more fishermen and .-.till more came in thirsty and talkative; seme merry of countenance, the majority otherwise. And what a clatter of conversation : what stirring tales to’d of fish caught, lost and seen. Try as he t. the amateur failed even to recollect, having seen ?. fish; he was bashfully reticent, but may improve with experience. The -conversation suddenly hailed,; mine host entered, and to ears that were ready to listen recounted the stirring tale of lmw he caught a Leri mg' from a sewer in the Wanganui River, with threepenny worth of meat fiom the shin, which the butcher assured him no man could eat. And then to the car, and home v-'ith the day’s sport wrapped up in g’sss and crisp watercress. But not oirte, for upon reaching the first hill the noble car clambered half-way up and halted with a sigh in a pot-hole. After practically taking the engine down and doing other unnecessary things, it was found that the trouble was, as usual., shortage of benzine. There was ndh:ng for it but get out and push, and the weary wranglers—for their tempers had at length given away—did so. filter a mile or two benzine was secured; the exhausted sportsmen staggered hack into the car, and quite a few hours later found themselves once more in New Plymouth, where they were ready for the blankets which they had so readily discarded some thirteen hours before.