FISHING NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1932, Page 8

FISHING NOTES

WESTLAND WATERS,

(Christchurch Press.)

While the West Coast Avaters are not comparable Avith tlioge in the Taupo area, the persistent boosting of such places as Te Anau and Taupo has led many anglers to overlook some singularly attractive Avaters close at hand. Although, as a general rule, broAvn trout in the Westland streams arc* poorer in condition than Canterbury fish, they are, on an average larger, and many streams will' be found containing numerous three • and fourpounders Avhich will rise freely to a dry fly in the daytime. Apart: from ,a few open shingle rivers/such as the Teremakau, there are numerous brown water bush creeks either floAv■ng into, or draining, lakes Avhere, although good fish may be easily hooked, the playing of trout is exceedingly interesting on account of the frequent occurence of sunken logs. Not only do Westland streams provide interesting fishing, hut the fact that the streams are set in the most delightful of surrounding means that barring floods, the angler can have a most enjoyable time whether or not he catches fish.

Southwards from the Teremakau, which itself provides good minnow fishing for sea-run fish from January on, a number of streams are crossed by road. Taking these in order, the Arahura is a minnow stream containing very fine rainbow in its upper reaches and horn trout lower doAvn. The Hokitika river belies its appearance for the lower water is poor, although rainbow are sometimes taken aboA r e Kokatahi. In Lake Kanieri will be found landlocked quinnat of about 21b besides a sprinkling of brown and rainboAV trout i he Totara at Ross yields a fair number of broAvn trout. A feAv fi. hof eonS'fcvnhl« nromrtio"s are to be found in the big Waitaha, but the not unattrac-

ik m and Little Waitaha are disappointing. The La Fontaine, a r.u.ui'y of tiie Little Wanganui, Hows through Harihari, and in it the dry fly is likely to account for large bage of broAvn trout of about lib average weight.

It is said that a local resident was once asked by a visiting angler, avlio happened to be a Magistrate, whether the La Fontaine contained any good angling Avater, as th« visitor Avas anxious to capture some trout to take home with him. The local resident, hospitable as all Westland folk are, and anxious not to see a visitor disappointed, Avent aAvay to reappear an hour or so later with a rifle in one hand and tAvo fine trout in the other. It is said that the Magistrate, without .disclosing Jiis identity, . took. the incident in good part, and duly thanked the local resident.

To the north of the Teremakau lies some excellent fishing water, and if motoring anglers cross the river- at Kumara and go in past Mitchells’ Inchbonnie, and Rotomanu, and on down to Greymouth they Avill travel by an amazingly beautiful route past a most interesting variety of fishing waters, some of Avhich are as yet little fished. Mitchell’s, at the southern end of Lake Brunner or Moana, is an admirable centre to .work from, as* a launch and hotel accomodation may be had there, while fishing huts and good camping sites are found along the lake shore. BroAvn trout of 3 to 41b are common in Brunner, and Avliile thfcy are usually taken by trolling, both fly and bait-casting outfits are effectively used from somewhat restricted areas along the shores. About three miles along- the road from Mitchell’s skirting the lake shore, is the Orangipuku—a shingle stream florving through bush, which h?,s yielded fish of up to 91b to daytime dry-fly anglers. The Bruce, a tributary which enters about a mile below the road, also contains a good deal of good fishing water, although in both streams logs account- for the loss of many hooked fish. Lake Poherua, which the road passes, after running through Inchbonnie, Contains some very heavy broAvn trout, but litte of its Avater can be tackled Avithout a boat. The Crooked river,- Avhich Aoavs doAVri through Rotomanu, to enter Lake Brunner at Te Ivinga, is one of the most attractive looking streams in NeAv Zealand, . but although a few large brown trout are in evidence higher up, anglers are at present concentrating on the loAver reaches, where numerous smaller, but well-conditioned fish are being taken. ( i The Crooked river contains beautiful light spinning and fly Avater, and it : is to he hoped that the half-million rainbow" fry liberated in the last feAv years Avill, in the course of two c r' three years, make this stream as popular as it deserves to he, >

The Grey river yields many fine fish each season. It is somewhat surprising to find in so large a river a very solid evening rise occurring, hut it is stranger to find practically all the local anglers fishing it with Avet fly on bait casting outfits. Dry fly fishing on the Grey on a warm evening is likely

to produce a very substantial bag

The angler avli 0 seeks an outsize n broAvn trout should folloAv up the Aliaura, a Grey tributary, into the Kopara district. If an often repeated tale is correct, such fish as run up through the gorge are not far short of 201 b.