ANGLING NOTES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 3942, 6 January 1900, Page 3

ANGLING NOTES.

(By <; Mayfly.”) During the Ghi'istmn holidays anglers were much in evidence on. every river in the district. Some were lucky, whilst others were nol; still, t]io great majority had fair sport. The 'weather, on tho whole, was favourable, the light southerly on Christmas Day being just the tiling for most streams. Contrary to expectations, there were very few rods on the- Wainni-p-mata. Several fair baskets were made between Air Grace’s and tho bridge. Amongst others, sixteen, on Saturday, and thirteen. eleven, nine, seven and five, cm Monday, all nice fish, ranging from 11b to 3.Ub. On Tuesday I heard of baskets of eleven, nine, seven, and four, tho largest fish being 4jlb weight. On Monday some very nice fish wore taken on the minnow near the mouth of the river. Within twenty minutes six fish, ranging from 11b up to 3’lb, were landed. Very strong tackle was used, and it was a case of strike and land at once, as may be judged by the time occupied. The fish were in splendid condition. Tho fisherman had to beat a somewhat hasty retreat from one part of the river, as an enormous polled Angus bull made a most hostile demonstration, and was apparently determined to prevent trespass on his domain. In this part of the valley almost all the paddocks adjoining tho river are tenanted by bulls, whose ahi lability is a decidedly uncertain quantity. Talking of bulls reminds me of a bit in “Punch” recently. Scene, a river-hauk, with an angler assiduously whipping the stream, and so engrossed with tho pursuit of his sport that he does not notice a rampageous bull approaching, with head lowered and tail erect, until it is quite close, when, under the ininrossion that he is addressing his friend, who is depicted in the middle distance making a best and record skip to a tree, be ejaculates, “Hist, keep back! I got a lively rise just now, and I shall shortly get another.” Ho did.

A orreat deal of the river below Air Graces homestead is so choked with snags as to bo practically unfishable. A friend of mine lately counted no fewer than thirteen exceptionally largo fish in less than a milo of water, but was convinced that their capture would bo a matter of very great difficulty, as the pools they lurked in were full of logs. It is possible that, with very strong salmon tackle, fish might by main force bo pulled out, but ■ the operation would not afford much pleasure to a genuine angler. Good baskets have been obtained in tho Hutt during the latter part of the month. I heard of one basket of five fish weighing 171 b, the best fish turning tbc scale at CJlb. Another basket numbering nine fish, weighed 201 b, iho best fish being 3jlb. Gut fishing at the trine bridge, fish of 111 b, 91b, Blb and several from 81b to 41b weight have been secured, in every case on either bully or wonn. A largo number of fine fish have lately been caught in tho Akatarawa. A Wellington angler, who is able to devote a good deal of time to tlie capture of trout, frequently spending over a week at a time iu the valley, has caught tho lion’s share. Some very largo basket,s made by him were obtained with worm, thirty on one day being Iris record capture. Some of his brother fishermen feel rather soro about tho large number of fish caught iu what they regard as an unsportsmanlike manner.

In tho United States all tho sporting papers condemn in very strong terms the slaughter of a big lob of fish or game iu a day for tho mere sake of making a record. It is held that the modern idea of genuine sport in angling or shooting is to take a. reasonable number of fish or a reasonable quantity of game, and then to desist., In the October number of a magazine called “Recreation.,” published rin New York, a letter is published setting forth measures passed in the Senate having for their object the preservation of fish and game. The, writer. Air F. P. Sherwood, a member of the Legislature, sa y S: —“ln regard "to fish, there were a number of minor Bills passed, hut the only important one was that which prohibited the taking of more than thirty trout in one day. This was somewhat ridiculed by sOmo of the members of the Legislature, but ! think it will have' a good deal of moral, if not so much legal, effect.” Fair snort has been obtained in all; the West Coast rivers lately. In the Waikanae some boautiml fish have been 1 taken, both brown and rainbow, tho latter being in tin? minority. Nevertheless, it is satisfactory to know thatthey are there, and it is to be hoped that the stock will increase. The Ohau has been visited by some Wellingtonians, who' got some, good fish, one of 71b and several from lib to 2'lb. The fishing in this river is marred by tho quantity of sunken logs there are in it. The Otaki Ims had heavy toll taken of its fish, lately, many, I regret to sav, by illegitimate means. Some very nice fish were caught just before Christmas near the Gorge- Genera , j the upper waters arc fairly welt stocked, hub I have not heard of the capture of any rainbow. There does not appear to be any in tho river. _ _ Really good sport has beep, obtained in the rivers in tho Bush district, i heard of one man who, fishing witn cicada, made a, basket .which, it '°" corded in the States, would cause Qie captor to bo 'described in the teims used by sporting papers on that si.de of the world as a “fish-hog.' The Rnamahanga, Waipoua and Wamgawa have been heavily fished (‘ ur ' n K the holidays. Some very heavy fish have been caught in. the Maiohmq, puucipallv with cither worm or minnow. One nice basket was obtained on immature grasshoppers, but their captoi found it an awful nuisance mounting a fresh “hopper” every other cast. as tlioy would not stick on tho hook. Thcio is p.o doubt about this being a most cleadlv bait. Fish will .rush it when thov will nob look at an artificial fly. but tho bother.of capturing a sufficient quantity and mounting tnem is rather against'their use. .. . Some capital sport has been obtained at Pahautai’.ui. Fish ranging from drib downward have been brought tc. basket. • . . j I should strongly advise a trip to the Whakataki stream this month. Ifio fish are taking well, particularly beyond the Gorges. . ' ' I heard of baskets of twenty-seven, twenty-three, nineteen, fifteen and several under a dozen on the Mungaroa, hut I have not heard of a single, decent basket on the Pakuratahu Largo number’s of very flue fish were caught near the mouth of the Rakaia during the Christmas holidays. Niue fishermen caught forty-two fish between them, ranging from 17Mb to an average of 61b.

On the AYaitaki throe rods took thirty fish, weighing 2401 b., Tire heaviest fish were three weighing l4lb each. Five fish averaged cr.rb. ' The' fish wqro nil sea-run, and in splendid condition,

a fact abundantly demonstrated by their vigorous play when hooked. An angler in tho M oodvillo district recently secured thirty-one nice fish. They wore caught principally in the evenings, some on fly and others on minnow. , , , , Some bovs recently rendered goodservice by removing twenty large cels from the Wainui-o-mata. One of the brutes must have weighed close cn 101 b, and the remainder, though smaller in size, would no doubt have done much havoc amongst trout. 4n eel recently caught in this stream, when opened up, was round to have a trout over a pound in weight in its stomac.;. Hov* often ho required u meal of this size it would be difficult to determine.