ANGLING AT TAUPO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21793, 7 May 1934, Page 11

ANGLING AT TAUPO

REVIEW OF THE SEASON MORE HEAVY FISH CAUGHT CONDITIONS NOT GOOD The 1933-34 trout .fishing season in the Taupo district will close at the end of this month. Although fishing conditions have been unfavourable most of the season, some fine fish have been .taken, the number of those about the ] Olh. mark being the largest for many seasons past. The Tongariro River has been fished consistently throughout the season by large numbers of local and overseas anglers. The largest fish to date this season was one of 13J pounds caught at the Delta on the fly in February by Mr. H. Lambert, of Wellington. The river Jias been abnormally 10-ff all the time and. there have been few freshets. Last season the river flooded several times and caused delay to fishing activities. Throughout, the Log Pool, now world-farmed for its fine fish, has lived up to its reputation and has yielded a remarkable number of fish. On May 1 Mr. H. Willis, of Auckland, caught a beautiful jack fish tipping the scales at 11 pounds. This fish was one of a bag of seven landed by Mr. Willis during a morning's fishing. In the afternoon Commander E. Rhodes, a well-known angler, landed a 101b. fish from the same pool. This is the first time for many seasons that two fish running into double figures for poundage have been caught on the same day. Both fish were sent to the Department of Internal Affairs in Rotorua for mounting. They will be sent overseas for publicity purposes. Heaviest Fish from River Mr. R. Leith Begg, of Wellington, one of the best-known angjers on the Tongariro,. has been fishing for most of the season and to date has caught the heaviest fish from the river, the fish touching the scale at Hi pounds. This fish was taken from the Log Pool in March. The Delta has been fishing well, but has gone off lately. The Hut Pool, as usual, has been favoured by many, while in the upper reaches the Duchess and Hatchery Pools have all given good sport. Record numbers of anglers have been in the district.

Fishing in the other rivers running into the southern end of Taupo has been very poor. The Tauranga Taupo, usually a good rirer for sport, has been poor during the whole season, and an angler fishing there last week said the trout were not in as good cohdition as was usual for that river. Trolling In Bays Successful

Trolling in Stump, Motuopa and Tauranga-Taupo Bays, and also around Tokaanu, has been successful and some fine-conditioned fiah were caught. Dryfly fishing 011 the Tongariro has found favour with a number of anglers during the present season and the results have been fairly good. Most of the dry-fly fishing took place in the upper reaches, from the Judge's Pool upward. Very little fishing took place on the Upper Waikato, although many anglers paid a visit to the little-known upper reaches, where there are falls and some fine scenery. The waters here have not been fished extensively. Trout are now making their way to the upper reaches and are already running in large numbers in. the Hatchery Stream. The tracks are in good order generally, aud access has been improved, the blackberry having been cut back considerably in places. Their Excellencies, Lord and Lady Bledisloe, paid their second visiit to Tongariro and made thoir headquarters at Taylor's, from which point they fished various parts of the river. Lady Bledisloe •landed a 101b. fish at the first mouth of the Delta. The largest catch by Their Excellencies for one day was 15 fish.