SOUTH CANTERBURY FISHING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20354, 10 March 1928, Page 7

SOUTH CANTERBURY FISHING.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) TEMUKA, March 9. SALMON IN THE RANGITATA. The most interesting thing in connection with the anglers’ sport during tho past week has been the salmon fishing. The Kangitata has kept clean, and some large runs of salmon have been coming in, so that all the pools from tho gorge to the sea have now an abundance of salmon. Tlie best, salmon bags have been caught in tho middle waters of the river, between tho electric wires and tho bridges. Visiting aug.ors have boon catching nine, i’O, and 12 fish for a day’s sport. Some of tho fish caught in these waters weighed up to 361 b, while several have been caught weighing 501 b and 321 b, and a number between 13lb and 251 b, but the majority have been weighed from 81b to 141 b. All of these fish have been in first-class order, and in splendid condition. Tho o.d cuts "are on the salmon this year as in tho past, but they are not marked so badly this season as formerly. There are still plenty of salmon lo be seen around the mouth of the Raugilata, and this year is expected by competent authorities to be a record one in salmon fishing. Already some 1500 salmon have been caught by rod and lino from those waters. A practical fisherman, while fishing some 22 miles away from Timaru, out at aoa, recently was fortunate enough to catch a 71b quinnat, which was, apparently, working its way towards the river. The ovary bag was slightly developed in what are anown as seed eggs. The salmon was in good condition. This instance will give some idea of how far tho ealmon range | from the coasts. This is said to be the farthest distance out into the sea that salmon have been known to be caught. Another fish, at about the same time, was caught in the vicinity, but some 12 mi.es nearer the shore. . . The Opihi River has been giving some excellent trout fishing in its upper \vatb.», recently, and quite a number of young quiiinat have been caught on the fly ns with some rainbow trout. These young rainbows have been about 11b to Ijlb-, and were liberated by the Acclimatisation Society m the upper waters of (he Silverstream. Anglers arc at present delighted with the large numbers of fly fish that are to bo caught in the Opuhn. It is said to be many years since anglers were able to catch so many fish in a day, and baskets of up to 16 fish have been recorded. In the lower pools of tho Opihi, although thousands of fish arc known to be there, they appear to bo half dormant. Ibis has probably been duo to tho drought conditions and the extreme heat in the water. Several . anglers visiting these pools, however have been getting three, four, and five big fish in the evening, ranging up to 121 b in weight, while tho angler with tho small flv has also been getting 'good baskets of lib and 141 b fish during, tho evening rise. Tho remainder of the rivers have been practically useless lately for fishing purposes, owing to the blanket weed and tho low condition of their waters > Now that there has come a two days rain, with a consequent rise in the rivers, it is confidently to be expected, witn the enormous quantities of fish in the poo.s, that good sport will eventuate, althougn most of tho an triers are at present .saving iheir energies for the salmon fishing in the Rangitaia.