NEW ANGLING SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21297, 26 September 1932, Page 10

NEW ANGLING SEASON

OPENING ON SATURDAY THE AUCKLAND DISTRICT RIVERS RUNNING LOW Satisfactory results are expected for the opening of tlio fishing season for rainbow and brown trout in the Auckland Acclimatisation Society's district on Saturday. The season will continue until April 30. Tho season in tho Taupo and Rotorua areas will open on November 1 and will end a month after the Auckland season closes.

Mr. T. S. Withers, a member of tho society, commented on Saturday that reports from tho district indicated that the streams were running somewhat low, particularly in tho King Country, on account of tho recent dray weather. Tho position would tend to make the sport keener. Wero freshets to result prior to the opening of tho season it was not improbable that soino streams would be turgid, and tho best sport would not be obtainable in that case until tho water cleared.

Mr. Withers said that benefit was expected from tho intensive stocking operations, both with fry and ova, which had been carried out.. There were also evidences of a considerable degree of natural breeding. The society, with the Fish Rescan li Board, had given much attention to the scientific study of fish and streams. It would be difficult to say how many licences would be taken out by anglers, and the returns from country agencies would not be to hand until several weeks after the opening of the season. In spite of economic difficulties more licences were issued last season that in the previous period, and there was no reason to believe that the numbers would decline.

The experience of the society in the past season was that the day licences for anglers had proved a particularly acceptable innovation for those who did not want seasonal licences, and the popularity of these permits was expected to be continued in the coming season. The manager of a sporting goods firm stated that a considerable pressure of country orders for tackle was being experienced, and there were indications that large numbers of anglers would be prepared for the opening of the season. A tendency to purchase lighter tackle had been noticed, and dry fly fishing, which was practised extensively in the Wellington district, was likely to prove more popular in Auckland.

In his opinion, any freshet in the streams would tend to "liven up" the trout } and excellent sport would be afforded when the rivers cleared. According to a report he received during the week, Lake Taupo was at a somewhatlow level for the spring season, as was the case regarding numbers of streams in the Auckland district.