TROUT FISHING POOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21951, 7 November 1934, Page 16

TROUT FISHING POOLS

TONGARIRO CONDITIONS CHANGES AFFECTING SPORT CONCERN AMONG ANGLERS [from our own uihuksi'omiknt] TAUPO, TiK'Hdii.v

-The concern expressed by inan,\ experienced anglers at the prospect of losing some of the finest pools of the Tongariro Hirer thro null erosion brings forward yet anolher reason wliv the Department of Internal Affairs should pay more attention to the restriction of rods on certain sections of the r ver. Already during periods of Ihe se ison there are many more fishermen than tho rirer can comfortably accomniodate and. eonseqncytly, it is contended that this in time will have the elloet of doing serious harm to the amilimr possibilities. Many anglers who attend the opening fishing are enthusiasts who have visited the Tongariro for many years and can recall the clays when iish touching the scales at double figures were an everyday occurrence. Their opinions, which Mere .stated at a meeting held at Tongariro last, week, were almost, all in accord that the river was tending to take, a straight course from the Hut l'ool down to the Crescent, while at Dola tour's Pool the river was changing its course slightly. It was thought that the utmost caution should bo taken and full investigation carried out, before any protective works were undertaken or any diversion of tho waters was made. The native land development scheme is in progress by Grace's Beach and tho scrub on the banks of the river has been cleared. If the river got out of hand hero it. would soon scour a new course during a heavy flood. Need lor Protection It was thought, by some of the members of the I'pper Waikato and Tongariro Anglers' Club that the Native Land Department should take interest in tho river protection for its future benefit. The Public Works Department, if it decides to investigate further the report submitted bv the engineer who visited the Tongariro last week, should be able to carry out a sound river protection, scheme. One angler, recalling the many .years of fijrst-class sport lie has had with the Tongariro rainbow in the Log Pool and other adjacent pools, which are in danger of being ruined, said there was a prospect of losing waters which held at least nine or 11) rods unless protective works «ere carried out. The Stump Pool, which he considered now ruined, at one time gave great sport, while the Crescent, through continuous erosion and altering of the course, was now a pool of the past. He was of the opinion that if more attention had been given and a few pounds had been spent, a few years ago there would not have been the trouble which they met to discuss on Friday. The water was so fast from the Boat Pool to the Stump Pool that trout would not stop in it long, and would pass upstream. Such beautifulrunning pools as the Log, Gun and Heed, were wonderful assets and bad thrilled anglers from all parts of the world with tho splendid sport obtainable in them. Conditions In Upper Reaches

It was contended by another angler of experience that the up]>er reaches should now be opened and the question of better access given attention by the department. There were several good pools on the Upper Waikato, as well as some very fine scenery. On the opening days few anglers tried out the waters above Kowhai Flat, but those who did were delighted with the sport. Good-conditioned iish were caught and there were many pools in the upper reaches which would take rods and relieve the congestion on the lower parts of the river. The river on one side up from tho bridge is on prison property. Many prisoners, during the last year or so, had been engaged on the road formation from National Park, and now they had only a short distance to complete. It was contended by the angler that when the prisoners, who were well experienced in road construction, were finished, they should bo shifted to the Waiouru Road, and so make access better to the upper reaches, [f the Waiouru Road or Desert Road were made an all-weather route, it would shorten the distance by the inland route from Wellington, and also encourage anglers to visit the upper reaches of the river.