ANGLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19283, 22 September 1924, Page 10

ANGLERS’ ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report of the Otago Anglers’ Association states: —The committee regrets that the membership is not as satiefucory as it should be, so something will have to be done to interest license holders in the association, as the balance sheet shows the small balance of £5. The subscription is only ss, and the committee trusts that every member will make this a personal matter and try and secure new members eiNch year, and so increase the usefulness of the association. Seven competitions were held during the season, and these attracted 70 competitors. A second competition was to have been held on the AVaikouaiti River, but this was cancelled on account of the poor support. The prize-list was as follows: —October 22 (Labour Day), Shag River (any legal bait): First, prize, gold medal, Mr F. Monson, .12 fish, 181 b; second prize, gold medal, Mr F. Haskell, 5 fish, Cljlb. This competition attracted six competitor’s. November 3, AVaipahi River; This was a bare fly competition for the Otago Acclimatisation Society’s medals, and resulted:—Mr J. Murray first with four fish (weight 41b XOoz), and Mr H. Mason, of Pukerau, second with four fish (weight 711 b). This competition attracted 18 competitors. November 5, AVaipahi River (any legal bait): This competition a ttracted 14 competitors. Mr J. H. Jones proved to bo the winner with 12 fish, weight 211 b 14oz. Mr J. Beccard second with 17 fish, weight 151 b lloz, and Mr P. C. Murray third with. 14 fish, weight 131 h 4oz. Only three competitors turned cut for the next competition, held on the AVaikouaiti River, and the first prize went to Mr H. Leah, with four fish, weight 7lb. In the competition (artificial bait) held on the Tomahawk Lagoon, November 17, 'Mr AV. A 7 innicombe took first .prize with a fish of 4lb weight, and Mr G-. Kitchin second with three fish, weight 2jlb. The competition, any legal bait, was held oil Tomahawk Lagoon on December 8, and resulted; Mr J. B. Orr first with six fish, (weight 51b 4oz), Mr O. Gough second with three fish, weight 41b 4oz. Eleven entries were received. A competition was held on the contour channel, the first prize going to Mr M. Barrait, who took ten fish, weight 101 b loz, and Mr M. Brailey, with three fish, weight 21b 4oz, took second prize. Seven entered for this competition. Largest fish taken during these competitions fell to the rod of Mr AA T . Bain, of AVaipahi, whose fish weighed 41b soz. The past season, from an angler’s point of view, was not a good one, the dry season making the streams in our district so low that fishing was almost impossible on account of slime and weed. The upper reaches of the Taieri were well fished, and some good catches reported. Later in the season quite a number of sea-run trout were caught with the dovon just below Henley. Tomahawk Lagoon anglers who fished it regularly report good sport, and it should be even better this season, as the lagoon has again been well stocked with fish taken from the Leith. The Pomahaka and AVaipahi Rivera were again our two best rivers for sport, but the fish were not up to the size of a few years back. The AVaifati, AVaikouaiti, and Shag Rivers were very disappointing, and this is to b c regretted, as these rivers are the most convenient for our local anglers to fish. Tho Manorburn dam -is a place well worth a ■friait. Although it is a day’s run by motor from Dunedin, the sport compensates for that, as the 1 fish arc mostly rainbow and good fighters, and range from 3lb to slb. Anglers who have fished there all report good catches. The Lee Stream was again very low, consequently tho fish caught were very small. Deep Stream was much better than last, year, and some good catches were obtained in the month of January. It is pleasing to note the good work done by our country anglers in the matter of catching eels, as some 2000 were taken out of the Pomahaka and AVaipahi Rivers this season. The thanks of the association are due to the donors of prizes, also to the Acclimatisation Society for two gold medals.