TAUPO TROUT FISHING

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 281, 12 November 1929, Page 8

TAUPO TROUT FISHING

THE “FLY ONLY” AREA. ACCLIMATISATION SOCIETY’S PROTEST. Considerable discussion took place at the H.B. Acclimatisation Society meeting last night on the “fly only” area at Taupo, which launch owners wish extended for one mile south of the mouth of the Waipahihi hot stream and not as far as Wharewaka Point, as the new regulations permitted. Members referred to the launch owners who in pursuit of “their nefarious calling” prevented the fly fishermen from enjoying the sport which they considered was theirs by rights, and it was also pointed out that the trailers already had a far greater portion of the lake to fish in than the fly fishermen, yet they wanted still more. It was finally decided to send a letter to the Department of Internal Affairs stating that the society felt strongly that all sportsmen must be unanimously opposed to any regulation which so favoured the commercial interests of nine or 10 launch owners in allowing them to over-ride the true fishermen for whom the fish had been bred and protected in the lake. The area actually reserved for fly fishermen in the lake was very much less than two per cent. The strip of 200 yards in width was for them and them only. If trolling was permitted along this shore it would be worthless for fly fishermen or trolling by the end of December. After this date one almost never saw any launch attempting to troll along this shore as it was not worth while.

The society had already written to the Department stating that those making the complaint could hardly be aware of tlie fact that the full extent of the portion affected was about 2j

miles by 200 yards, an extremely small portion from the viewpoint of a trailer, but a very great portion from the viewpoint of fly fishermen. The launches have the whole of the western side of the lake where excellent fishing is to be had. but where the fly fishermen cannot get. The Department replied that the matter was under consideration, and suggested that the fly area be limited to a mile and a-half from Waipahihi or as an alternative that the area remain as gazetted from Waipahihi to Long Point hut instead of extending 200 yards into the lake it extend 100 yards, but the society did not consider this a fair proposition.