TROUT FISHING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20868, 7 November 1929, Page 7

TROUT FISHING.

CONDITIONS IN SOUTH CANTERBURY. REPORTS FROM ANGLERS. (From Ode Own Correspondent.) TEMUKA, November 6. No reports have yet come .to hand from the Mackenzie County lakes as to whether trout aro plentiful there or as to what condition they are in. Not a few anglers in Otago and Canterbury would be pleased to know what the conditions are in these back-country lakes. The best fishing retorted during the past week is from the Pareora lagoons. Some excellent baskets of fish have been secured there, and takes of from eight to fourteen fish, some weighing up to nine pounds, have been reported. The majority of the fish taken weigh from three pounds to four pounds, the smallest being about three-quarters of a pound. In the Opihi the fishing has been quite good on some occasions, the fish taking well. A peculiarity of the fishing in this stream this season js that the day fishing has been better than the evening fishing. Baskets secured vary from eight to twenty-two fish. The Opihi and its tributaries, like most of the streams in South Canterbury this, season, are more or less affected with blanket weed, which is breaking away and travelling through the rapids and ripples, making fly-fishing almost impossible in some places. Some good baskets of fish have been lured from the Opua and its tributaries, the creeper being the most attractive bait where it is permissible to use it. The upper waters of the Opihi holds some good trout, especially in the vicinity of Raincliff,- but the cold, dark, moonless nights have not been conducive to successful angling, especially during the past week.

The lower waters of the Temuka contain some good-conditioned fish; but here again the blanket weed is proving a serious obstacle.

The Ohape has not been fishing up to its usual standard this season, although at times fair baskets have been caught on the fly. There are indications that the water has been too cold, and there has been no hatch of fly.

The Orari for the past week did not fish quite so well as it did at the opening of the season, although there are plenty of anglers there trying their luck. At the mouth of the Rangitata fishing has been good, and there are almost shoals of small fish, the best of them ranging from two pounds to three pounds. ■ Practically speaking, there has been no run of silverics this season in this river, and this is; unaccountable, ns there have been quite good runs of silveries in the Orari. Mr J. Scott Main, when spoken to on the subject, said it is one of the mysteries that students of fish life will find hard to fathom. It has to do, of course, with the migration of the fish to and from the rivers. ■ It is, however, to be expected that when the run of silveries does take place trout will come in with them from the sea, and fish of good poundage will be secured. So far the fish caught in this locality this season have not been in good condition, but this state of affairs will be remedied when the sea-run trout make their appearance.