TROUT-FISHING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1775, 14 March 1906, Page 57

TROUT-FISHING.

IS “WORMING” LEGITIMATE SPORT? VIEWS OF LOCAL ANGLERS. A letter from Mr W. Izard, read at last meeting off the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, suggested that it might bo advisable to have regulations framed to prohibit, or, at all events, to restrict., fishing for trout with a worm bait. The “Press” also published an article giving the view's of Christchurch anglers, who unanimously condemned tho “wormer,” some going so far as to call him a “pot-hunter” and “poacher.” A “Mail” representative, _ in. an endeavour to ascertain the view held in Wellington in regard to “worming,” sought and obtained opinions from several gentlemen w r ho have been actively interested in angling since the time the practice in question was first permitted. The general opinion appeared to be that ivorm-fishing under certain conditions —in up-stream fishing, for ex-ample—-was a scientific sport. But the practice was abused. The regulations provided that -worm-fishing was only to he carried on with a rod and running-line. Tho rod and runninglino were carried: but frequently the rod was stuck in the ground, while the “sportsman” dabbled in a pool with the line L a heavy sinker being attached), and hauled in the fish hand over hand, as in sea fishing. That Avas “pot-hunt-ing.” All were of opinion that at least regulations should he introduced to restrict worm-fishing to certain of the larger rivers. This question has already been mooted before the Acclimatisation Society, and it is probable that it Avill come up for further consideration at a future meeting. A Wellington sportsman of over twenty years’ standing was of opinion that the general feeling amongst local anglers was in favour of closing some of the smaller streams to all but flyfishers. These streams were at present being depleted by unscrupulous “wormens.” Ho told of a youth who, fishing with the worm in a. small stream, had taken as many as four hundred trout in one season, and in another season had boasted that he had taken more than that number. It Avas quite true that for one fish taken with the fly one might take half a dozen with the worm. It had been hoped that, by giving boys licenses at a small fee, and allowing them to fish Avith Avorms, the Acclimatisation Society Avould assist in educating tho young in the sport, but ho was quite sure that the society Avas not making a race of anglers, but a breed of “pot-hunters.” The “woimer” did not believe in giving the fish a chance. Their attitude might be compared to that of s. shooting man AA-ho would prefer to shoot a pheasant sitting. A new phase of the question was presented by this gentleman. He expressed a doubt Avliether the constant use of ground-bait did not tend to make the trout bottom-feeders instead of surfacefeeders.

Another angler considered wormfishing, under control, a perfectly legitimate form of sport. Members of the society took up the practice as a means of learning the art of fishing. If wormfishing Avero done aAvay with, sooner or later tho society Avould have no new anglers to take out licenses. There was not, hoAVevor, sufficient supervision exercised in many parts of the Wellington district/ Men Avho fished with worms should not be allowed to set their rods or to use any hut a very light sinker —6ay, a single shot. In still, dirty water, unless one used the worm one would catch no fish; where the water was running, on the other hand, one might use instead a minnow. In up-stream fishing, in clear water, “worming” Avas just as scientific as flyfishing. He Avas certainly of opinion that certain of the smaller rivers ought to bo open to fly-fishing only. _____ Mr F. Whitley, of Lower Hutt, who has seen much of the doings of those who fish with worms and various other kinds of bait, Avas opposed to the absolute prohibition of worm-fishing, except in some of the smaller streams,' but considered the present abuses should he checked. “Take the great hulk of the worm-fishing in tho Hutt,” he said; “ the line is coiled up and thrown out by hand, and the fish hocked and played by hand, the rod being used to comply merely with the letter—not the spirit—of the fishing laws.” On the other hand, it would be a great hardship for a town angler to go a long journey for a day’s fishing, and then to find that, owing to the prohibition of worm-fishing, he was debarred from his sport because the river Avas in a fresh and useless for either minnow or fly. Some fly fishers

had a rooted objection to the use of any bait but artificial fly, even objecting to the grasshopper or locust; yet others used a maggot on the fly, and called it fly-fishing, which it certainly was not. Mr Whitley had even known certain anglers avlio affected to scorn anything hut fly, and yet used both minnoAV and w'orm when safe from detection. On small streams fishing Avith an insect called the creeper was a ten times greater evil than Avorm-fishingJ, With a creeper it Avas possible to “clear, out ” such water completely, and its use required no skill at all. When he himself had fished with worm, it had nearly always been with a 10ft fly-rod 1 , and very often in clear %vater. Occasionally he had hooked an eel while fishing with the Avorm, and for the skill called forth “ the play of a eel,” he said, “on a light fly-rod 18 something to be remembered.” What is really wanted, in Mr Whitley’s opinion, is that the use of the rod in playing a fish should he insisted, off, and also that no angler should he allovr-i ed to kill more than twenty trout in one day. It was better to limit the number than to limit the weight, as the average weight in different streams varied so much. With a number limit, moreover, every fisherman Avould be induced hi aim at getting the largest possible fish.