BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2170, 26 September 1895, Page 34

BANK NOTES.

•.•*' Where are you going on the lstP" is now the question asked by one angler of another, and the merits of the different streams are eagerly canvassed. With a view of placing befoie knights of the rod the inform*tioo so much desired — that is, the state of the rivers — I hnv^e nude strenuous efforts, by putting myself in commanica'ion with country anglers, to record in this column the condition and prospects of the various stream*, but unfortnua-teJy I have Xiot met with the response I anticipated. Doubble«B this is owing to the fact that the gentkmen I have approached on the subject have not had anything that they thought worth snpplying, Bering that the season is not yet actually commenced, but I regret exceedingly not b»ing in a position to give the information I fully expected to be able to concerning the state of the streams, and the promises they hold out. I would earnestly impress upon residents near the banks of rivers the boon it would bo if they would kindly furnish me with the iuformation iougbt, and I feel assured th»t they will not let anything pass them that they may think will be of interest or bent fit to brother anglers. All information will be most fully appreciated by myself aud tbo-c engaged iv the pursuit of angling. ' . * Judging from the recout meetings of the acclimatisation society and the Otago Arig'crs' Association there is to be a much-needed ( fforfc made to give a fillip to the latter. Its annual meeting was very poorly attended, and it seems ttrange that in a city like this, boasting ■8 it doea a large number of anglers with good country districts to bnck it up, an association of the kind fhould have so small a membership, Methods are now to be attempted to "bi'iug about an improved state of things, and I hope that these methods may be entirely successful, for the association has my best wishes, and is deeerviog of every support, providing its true objects are to further matters piscatorial. I notice with4>lesßure that it is intended to hold periodical raftings during the close season, at which short papers bearing on angling and pisiculture are to be read. To promote sociability among anglers and to bring them more together and increase the interest in the gentle art, I notice further that it is proposed to get a centrally-eituated room in conjunc.ion with the acclimatisation society, fn which met tings are to be held, and in which angling literature will be kept. This I consider ts a move in the right direction, and can scarcely Jtail in its object. •' . ■ The acclimatisation society have adopted » very wise coarse in deciding to advertise the names of all those holding treat - fiching licenses. A difficulty that occurs to me, bowever, is that, supposing th^ narms are advertised a week after the season opens tb»jre will always be supplementary ones, which will nob appear"unless the notification is repeated — that is to lay, the advertised list of nnim'B will not cecefsarily embrace all those holding licemes. • . " The tackle shops iv town cont»i», in addition to the usual ge&r, a number of novelties. Mr W. Brern<r hat some fine-loakiug American split cane rods, and among a good collection ot flies some specially made to suit the Pomahaka that should prove deadly. Messrs A. and W. M'Carthy have in stock Bxtra strong traces, something new in the shape of gtS; an abundance of lines, aud some excellent imitations of young troub for spinning purposes. They have also rods thab can be utilised for various let gtbs, and tackle suitable for t-ea fishing, and are in a position to effect xtpairs with promptitude. Messrs J. Wilkie and Co. are, as usual, making a fine display. They introduce some novelties in the way of baibc, and have seme improved forms of " killers " A leading feature with this firm is the Hercules patent casts, which are claimed to be treated with a special preparation that renders the gut very pliable aud does away with the necessity of damping before uf e. Their irtock inclndes rome good-looking traces and new special cricket tackle. I have received from Mr F. A Steans, Invercargill, a circular concerning his sto:k. ' . * Prom what I can gather the spawning season has been a successful one, bat owing to tte fact that the rivers have, for the most pwt, been annually high, the fish have not been ■visible except on rare occasions. " . " Sine* l*st issue, from information s-ip-plied, I ltarn that the dam below the old curling pond, Woodhaugh, contaius large numbers of trout, which, though small, are for the most part quite worth taking, the general run of them being a quarter of a pound weighb. When I visited the locality myself a little over a week ago, there was a very heivy gale blowing, and this accounts for them not showing themselves at thab bime. • . ' A correspondent, writing from Milton, says that he has seen a few trout rising to the

fly lately in tho Tokomairiro river, which stream, though seldom fnhed except by lecal men, affords capital sporb with the minnow, if visited when in good fi<hing order. • . • The little Wnitati, out of which suoh Fafmfactory basket-i were repeatedly taken la?t year, promises equal, if nob better, sport this year. Tue fi«h appear to be well distributed all over tho river, and from what I am told will probably run somewhat larger than they did last year. • . • Ranger Hunter reports that the trout are very plentiful in the Waikaka river, and a good season is anticipated in that locality. .• . • Mr W. P. Smith, writing bo the acclimatisntion society from the Mimiliau, on,ys he does not know what sot b of ac p * waiug season it has been, at the streams in tfap locality have nob been low, as is usually the caie iv winter. He expects tbe-e will be plenty of waber on bhe openiug day of the season, unless a g.-e*t change in the weather takes place. • . • I cannot resume my hints on taokle Jin its various departments better than by quoting i from «:s n- tide I recently read on the subject ot fi ting rods with suitable lines. The writer, who evideutty uoderstaudi what he is writing about, says : " That the line ehould fit the rod is good advioe which ha? been often given, bub less frequency explained. Erery rod has its own weight, by whioh is meant that a certain weight of line depending from the p iot of tho rod will ca*t strnigh'er and in every way better than any other weight. Thus bhe light split cane rod whioh will send oat 6yds or 7yds of a eerUin lino admirably is Bimply a weak-kneed failure if 20yds of the same line are let off bhe reel aud an abtempt is made to cast them. More powerful rods which manage their 20yds of line with eaae perform but poorly when a short cast is tried. The weight of the line beyond tho rod point itself depends on three things : first, the 1-sngth of the Hue ; secoudly, its thickness ; and thirdly, tho specific gravity of the material of whioh ib is composed. Honce the fitting of the line to the rod, if we may so term it, is a matter of the flr»t imporbanca. In wet-fly fishing for trout, our friend the rod is not trusty if he be either too stiff or too supple. If altogether too sfeuidy, the number of flits* which will be lost in the sorike and the number of insecurely tied knots which will be diocovered in the gut are something remarkable. But the supple rod is still worse, for it will not hook a flsh at all. A remarkable instauoa of this once occurred on a Hebrideao loch. Two flj-fl-ibern were in the sam? boat, both using suitable flies and one could cast about ne well as the o< her. But while A. had a fairly stiff rod with what may be termed a well-considered line attached to it, B. had a wand the chief charatceribtic of which was its supplene*?. Iv th*- oourie of a couple of hours' fishing A. rose about a dczen trout, nearly all of which he hooked and brought iuto the bo*t. B. rose as many fnh and pricked not a few, bat did not caich one. In many lakes the tront require very quick striking ;in fact, it may be?a ; d that a qnick eye and a quiok hand are the principal desiderata in loch fishing. But with these miserably supple rods who can be quick ? The haud, indeed, may be sure enough, but the rod, instead of responding, first bows gracefully towards the flsh, and by the time it has recovered itself and rebounded the trout has said ' Good morning."' A little point in connection with gufc, whioh I believe is nob commouly known, is that it should be kept from the light as much as pusoible, for damp -hardly rots it sooner than da> light. Should you break a rod ab the ferrule it becomes a troublesome job to meud ib again so as to use it pro tern, and in such a case it will be found extremely baudy to carry three or four ferrules with a split down the side. In thn cisc of a fracture, one a little smaller than the broken joint is slid on to the smash and lashed on with a wax end, which thoroughly secures ib for the day at the cost of little trouble. In the use ot flies it must be borne in mind thab in very calm, bright, « and fttill weather, when a wet fly will often ba found useless, the dry fly will be taken most confidingly; in rough, windy weather the web fly is preferable. The novice should begin with this, as it is more easily handled than the ■>' vy fly. Long casting is a very desirable acquisition ; but loDg casting is one thing, and fibbing 41th a long cast properly another. Leb the young angler be content to do what he does well, increasing the range by little and slow degree*. Throw beside and above your fiih, letting him see as much as you like of the fly aud as little as possible ofth'3 line. Beware of Btnkicg hard ; the slightest twitch, bear in mind, is sufficient to hook your fiah, aud is by far tho beat. Where it is found necessary to fi?h down stream, cast at the head of the run, sinking and working the fly ; and I have taken fish by vtenog out the line a foot at a time. In this way you may fnh down a run of 30 or 40 yardo, and some good fish may reward your efforts. Strike in su-h a case at the slightest touch, for the probabilities are that you will nob see the trout rise. Remember in fishing down stream the line is always taut, and you must strike your fish as delicately as possible, otherwise you will break your hold or your tickle. At night time fiibing acros* and down is pr<-f<>rable, because otherwise your line is fl-ick, and you will mi»s many of your rises on thw account. In casting where there is buahit will be found a good plan to allow your fly bo run down the stream and then twitch the line sharply off the water and direc'ly up the stream. Though you may not be successful in your efforts to make a basket on some occasions, and may not even secu'e a single fish, do not be disheartened. Remember thab fish feed some time during the 24 hours, and bo sure that if they are not rising it is because there are no flies to tempt them. They are not starving by any means, but hays probab'y " metal more attractive " than your fly down below in the shape of grubs, worms, lurvse, &c. Notwithstanding what some anglers may say to the contrary, I agree with aubhorities who contend that it is beyond anyone* skill to pick out a day, with anything like certainty, when the fish will not feed. Don't go fishing the day after a flood. Ib brings down too much food, and the fish generally become gorged and lazy. Oo hot, bright days the fish will be usually found at the tails of pools, on the gravelly shallows, . more often sunning themselves than feeding. The best fith in such we*ther may frequently be ob.'erved under the deep shade * of overhanging trees, should there ba such about, lying within lin or 2in of the surface. Should yoa get your fly on a bush, do nob use violence. A gentle pull will ofben cause it to come away and drop into the water, but a sharp tug will probably fii the fly all the firmer, anil there remains nothing but to break away. In breaking away, when it becomes nec-ssary, do nob sbrain the rod, bub drop the point aud pull strjvght. ■ . ■ In what i* spukeu of as an inaccessible region (the Great Lake, Tasmania), an exchange thus reports the doings of anglers: — "Three anglers found their way to it (the lake) and there met a fourbh party who had preceded them, and who had in ten days landed 263 1 b weight of troub. The four fishermen, full of hope, set to work next morning, and in six days accounbed for 49Slb, The largest brout weighed 201b, bhe smallesb 2£ib, and bhe average of the individual fish was 9£lb. The great day was oa April 16, when 14 flsh weighing 159£1b were

landed. No mention is made of the manner in which thofo lake trout were killed, but it may be safely assumed that it was done by spinning." • . • A remarkable instance of pike swallowing mutal is thus recorded : " While propelling his barge up the Rims -y canal, a man aotfeed a jack lying in the sun, and struck it with his pole and captured it>. The ihh appeared to be very heavy for its siz^ (Gflb), and, on being cut open, was found to cout*in a piece of iron weighiug l£lb It was over 6in in length, lin wide, and Jm thick. I saw the iron taken out. The iut«6tiues had to be cut away from it. Besides this substantial maal, it htd swallowed one of its own species weighing £lb." • . • At a meeting of the c mucil of the Wellington Acclimatisation Society on Friday the following approximate scheme for tho diifcribution of tho results of this yew's hatching operations ab M«sb.rton fish ponds was agreed to : — Trout ova already disposed of, 354-.500 ; order* in hand— Hiwko's Bay, 28,000; Wanganui, 8000 ; Marlborough, 20,000 ; R»ngitikei, 6000; Taranaki, 30.000 ;—t)tal, 92,000 Proposed distribution of balance : — Hubt County, 153,000; H jrowhouua County, 153,500; M»nawatu watershed. Folding, 40,000; Pohangina River, 30,000; Fitzherbert streams, 40,000; Ekob*huria, 4-0,000 ; P.iliufcu.%, 60,000 ; Woodville, 40.000 ;— total, 250,000. W*irac«vpa riven. 162,000. This make 3 a grand toUl of 1,175,000. • . * Timaru Herald learns that the rivers of South Canterbury are exceedingly well stocksd with troub, and the spawning soison has been a splendid cno. Ib is expected that good uporb will bo obtainable iv the streams about Winchester and the Temuk*, Opipi, R»ngitaba, Pareora, and WiuUki rivers. • . • A petition is being signed requesting the Government to open Lakes Pukaki, Oumi, Tekapo, and Alex^ndriua for netuing tront. These lakes are s»id to be teeming with fi»h of immense size whioh prey upon the smaller fry. • . • One or two matters of interest came op for discussion at last week's meeting of the council of the North Otago Acclimatisation Society. Mr Deuniston moved, in terms of a notice of motiou, that rewards for poaching convictions bo reduced to £5. After a lengthy discussion, it being shown that sometimes a conviction cost a considerable sum of money and time, the motion was pub to the meeting and it was agreed on the casting vote of the chairman that t,he reward remam at, £ 10. Mr Denniston alsj moved thai the licences be issued at 10a instead of £1 as formerly, and that monthly and weekly licenses b-3 issued at 5a and 2s 6d reapwsbively. Mr T. Y. Duncan said he would favour a reducbion if it could be done legally ; but thoy could not reduce this season as the fee was regulated by the Government. Dr de Laatour s*id that a recommdnda f ion could come from the local society to the united council, and ibw»e ultimately resolved to eeod the following to the next meeting of the united council : — That ib be recommended to the united council to t*ke into consideration the advisability of advising the M*rine department to reduce the license fee to 10s for the season, 5j for the month, and 2s 6d for a week.