ANGLING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23930, 4 October 1939, Page 9

ANGLING

OPENING MARRED BY WIND CATCHES MOSTLY DISAPPOINTING The opening of the angling season at the week-end revealed fair stocks of fish in most of the waters of the district, but the weather was not all that might have been desired, as a strong southerly wind swept the province and catches were for the most part disappointing. The majority of Dunedin anglers patronised the nearer waters, but a few went further afield, and reports so far received indicate that small baskets of trout were common, with few sizeable fish included. One or two parties went as far south as the Waiwera and Waipahi. The former stream gave fair sport in the lower reaches, but fish were few and very shy in the headwaters. The Waipahi was carrying a good head of water, and appeared in fine order, but the wind made fishing difficult, and it was too cold for good results. Like the Waiwera, the Waipahi afforded anglers mainly small fish. The Catlins River was expected to be good, and it attracted a large number of rods. A live-pound trout and one or two three-pounders were taken, but small fish were the rule in most catches. The Waikouaiti gave best results' for worm fishing, one catch of 14 fish weighing 191 b being reported, while other rods had poorer results. Pleasant River yielded a four-pound trout, but that completed the angler's catch. Conditions here and on the Shag were good, but the fish were not easily caught. All snow-fed rivers were high and discoloured, and received little patronage.