Prospects of the Coming Season.

Otago Witness, Issue 1921, 14 September 1888, Page 9

Prospects of the Coming Season.

Jock Scott, — Dear Sir : As an angler, I am looking forward to the Ist October and have been busy lately overhauling rods and tackle. I thought you would like to hear what prospects there are for the coming season, and as I am continually making inquiries, as well as looking for any thing ne,w (re fish), I thought any fishing news would be acceptable. lam convinced the bad summer we had last year will do nearly as much good as a close season would, because very little fishing could be done during that time. lam pleased to inform you there is not the slighest doubt, if the weather is good, that the coming season will prove one of, if not the best, we have yet had.

THE WAIPAHI, of course, comes first now. If you can get some angler who is not frightened of a little walking I would advise him to try this river at the Cairn. I only know of one angler having fished this part, but like myself he was Scotch and believed in keeping the good thing to himself till at last it was no use to him. I, however, saw a record of his last season's take in this part of the river, and from it I learned that from 601b to 701b was often taken in one day's fishing. I can assure you this river all through is swarming with large fish.

THE POMAHAKA.

This river has for years got the credit of producing poor conditioned fish, but I can assure you last year was an exception. I got the fiuest conditioned fish I have ever caught in it last season, and of it I can only say it is not to be beaten for quantity. I would l'ke, however, to direct your attention to,

NEW WATERS, and for those who find no difficulty in visiting Athol I would say : Do not run past the fish. Take a seat on Mr George Hunt's coach at Riversdale, and get him to drop you at Muddy creek; there you will get good fishiug. Then, two uulps farther ou, there is the Dome full of fish, with excellent accommodation right on the river bank ; and if you would be inolined to go farther inland there is the Waikaia, the Steeplr, aod Gow's creek. All these {streams are full of nice fish, and the few anglers in Waikaia are having a very good thing all to themselves. Any angler visiting the s e waters will, lam sure, be surprised at thr; result. I may state that all these rivers are in the Olago district, and can be fished with Otago licenses. Again, at times, some Duaedin anglers find their nay to the Otaria, and that stream should give a good record this year. A few — I think three— miles farther on there is another excellent stream (the Warekiki), where lots of good fish were caught last year ; and if you went a little mor& to the right you could reach the top waters of the Mimihau, a stream second to none for quantity and quality in Otago. Now, sir, having directed your attention to these waters that are but seldom fished, I would like some of your anglers to give them a trial, and if they once got a start, depend upon ifc, it will not stop there. All the OTHER STREAMS IN THIS DISTRICT are looking well, and show lots of fish. To-day I saw fish rising freely at the fly. I shall strive to get all particulars possible during the coming Eeason, and I will consider it no trouble to forward it to you. I t.hiuk each angler of thu association should keep a record of hi- takes during the comii'g season, and .strive to arrivt at the quantity killed and tan weight. It will be interesting to anglers to know that the brook trout liberated two years ago in the streams near Clinton will form an addition to the basket this year. I have seen some of these fish in the Kuriwao about a foot long. I presume the competition for Mr J. Anderson's medal will be one of interest, and will be keenly contested. I hope the arrangements for it will be such that there will be no necessity for watching the competitors, a course of action which had to be resorted to in some of the late competitions. As soon as the season begins I will drop jou a note with all news every week, so that it will appear in that week's Witness.— Yours, &c, Black SpipE§.