MEMORIES OF TAUPO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24236, 1 March 1940, Page 14

MEMORIES OF TAUPO

“ HUGE. HARD-FIGHTING TROUT” AN ENGLISH COMMENTARY (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, Jan. 19. “ Taupo—what memories of huge and hard-fighting trout this Maori word conjures up in the minds of anglers here, there and everywhere,” says the Sketch, in its feature, “ When I Was Last A-Fishing.” “ For many years Lake Taupo has been the show place of New Zealand trout-flshing. All important personages arriving in New Zealand, and, indeed, the majority of visiting aglers, have been shepherded by the publicity bureau to this huge lake, because here, mere certainly than elsewhere, they would surely catch large trout. With a modicum of skill, they could take five-pounders on fly, and with no skill at all they could bag even bigger fish by trolling. “ Much has been written on the evils of trolling with heavy tackle, and the harm it has done to the trout-flshing on Lake Taupo. The New Zealand Government has evidently taken alarm at the falling away in the trout-flsh-ing on their pet reservation, and, in order to re-establish the lake in the limelight, have issued regulations which have caused consternation among anglers, and, one imagines—if the news has penetrated so far—jubilation among the trout. The chief bone of contention in the regulations is the ban on trolling, with spoon or fly, within 200 yards of the shore, and no boat can be used for fishing within this area unless anchored. "That trollers would be indignant with the ban. which severely curtails their activities, is not surprising, but it appears that fly fishermen are equally perturbed. They will not be able to cast towards the shore from a slowly moving boat in places where the precipitous nature of the banks prevents shore fishing. A more potent reason may he that the bulk of fly fishermen troll on occasions, and many, with the laudable aim of preserving their peace while fly-fishing, send off their wives and families to amuse themselves trolling. “A deputation of anglers and launchmen who waited on the Minister, in the hepe of persuading him to alter his mind, withdrew crestfallen, but, as a parting shot, invited him to go trolling with them ou'side the 200yard limit. Whether there was any ulterior motive behind the invitation has not yet transpired!”