ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 2173, 17 October 1895, Page 33

ANGLING.

By Jock Scott.

To lo a ported flshcrman you require more exwilcnj?? than nto usually to lie found In nuuii 11 wmll spnea ni ii nllutlcl to a I mui'&carcui. — Pakkijk (iliMoun. j Renders arc invitvd to contiiiiulo ilcm« of local (Hhiug news for in-.ertii)ii in tins column Kor tn'U.-nlon lv tlic ensuing iflsuc tfcey should reach Duuedin l>} Monday night's wall. BANK NOTES. The Lkith. — This stream has now gob so low and clear that anglers know that there is lit 1 le chance, except of a night time, of taking fish. Some few have tried their luck, however, though not with any pronounced Bucccß3. One gentleman was up the Bfcro.im on Fiidiy afternoou, and killed half a dozm |lb trout with tho ftlaich Browu, in the viciiity of the paper tni)l3, He also toole a couple of fiih the nnxb day, one about a pound ivnd the other about i}lb. Some evil!y-dispo3cd per.-ons have again been destrojiDg the trout in the Water of Leith, either by lime or djnamite, and have kil'cJ a number of the fish. A gentleman ou Wednesday, when up Woodhaugh way, noticed in a pool, some 200 yards above the bridge, about 30 dead fish floating on tho fimfaco of the water, most of them being nine or ten inches long. The fish, ei«ht of which he collected, had evidoutly not been kiiled very long, for they were quite fresh and supplo, and tho eyes we-c clear and bright. ' It ia a matter for rogret that such wanton destruction does not meet with the punishment it richly dttsetvtp. I am told a few gocd flah were taken from the Loith on Saturday after the win shower. Lke Stream.— Messrs D. H. Hastings and J. C. Short visited the Lee ou Labour Day, the former taking 14 fi-h, tho heaviest of which was 24.1b. and the lit'tor four fish. They were cliefly tkkeo. with c. Devon miunow. The Waitati. — On Labour Day the most successful fishermen appear to have been Mews J. B. M'Callum and A. Matthews, who killed 36 fish between them, though none would go OTer a pound. They were taken ptjncipally with a grey spider, the maggot being also used. Mr J. Barnes on the same day gob some seven or eight fish. On the Saturday previous the two firab-named gentleman managed to land 25 fish between them, the biggest being about a pound. The stream is very low, and until rain comes there is little chance of any record takes briny made, I hear that Mr Williams killed 10 trout on Labour Day, and that there were about 10 anglers on the river. On Saturday a few anglers visited the stream, which was found to be very low still. Mr Anderson secured a dozen fish, principally with the black gnat, and Mr G. D. Cameron got a similar number. Messrs J. White and It. Hitchcock each landed half a dozen. Waikouaiti River— On Labour Day Meßßrs Corbett, Jenkins, Cook, and another aogler paid a viait to the Waikouaiti river, fishing the lower part, known as the mad flats, bub only managed to account for six or seven fish among them, the heaviest being J^lb. Two were taken with the creeper, and the remainder with the minnow. Several local men were oat, bub very little was taken by them, so I am told. The Shag. — A corespondent states that the river is very plentifully stocked with fhh this year from Bushey Bridge right up to ttie gorge above Kitchener's, and adds that the river will generally be fouud fishable say day in the week before Friday, when the sluiciDg begins. Those fishing over Mr Gilmour's property will require, I am told, to obtain bis permission, which will no doubt be readily given to all iona, fide anglers. Bhaci Competition.— The competition on the Shag river, which was held on Labour Day, was won by Mr J. Telford, with a basket of nine fish, weighing 251b 8oz: Mr W. Ailken oomlag second with 15 fhh, of a total weight cl 191b, and Mr J. Robertson third, with six fish, scaling 91b 12oh. Theae wwe the only gentlemen who sent in returns, though several others entered, and, it Is bo be presumed, in some cases fished. The water allotted to Mr Tolford was from Baskey Bridge to the mOl ; to Mr Aitken from Crawford's to a mile above ; ana '

to Mr Robertson from Crawford's to a mile Rnd •.-half below. The others who entered wer« Messrs A. Jenkins, R. Forrest, J. 1 ( \ Poahe, O. N. Cooper, P. Aitkeu, and J. Moen.

Tun Kakanui — This 6tre»m appears to bd yielding g joe! sport, and is ruportod to be ia good co .(iitiwi), though I cannot help thinking that Iho water in it must bo very small, at the time of writing this. The following takf s have como under my noticu :— Mr J. Ho«ley, 8 fish } H. Sinclair, 3 ; A. Thomson, sen,, 2 ; and John Oliver, 1. Further report gives a glowing aocount of the stu'c of the river, and is as follows : — "The Kxkanui feerns at present to be a favourite river for fishing and although the fiih a«3 iomowhab smaller than theso of tho Waifcalci, it his so far yielded well to the argloi'H red. This riv^r ia literally swarming with fl-h, and to afford some idea of its condition in this respect we may mention llut we have fcoen told that it ia a common oeourreuod for tho fluuy tribe to swim about tbe legs of the angler when fhbiug. The takes for the week have been exci'fteiit, and we h&ve heard that Mtssro Stewart Holmes and M. S. Holmes la»t week captured 25 fish, mostly with the fly. Mr Oliver was hlbo cuccessful on Monday night in securing six beauties within an hour. As will be couoluded, the river is in graud order, and an hour ppeut there will repay the aDfjler." Cam pi kg ok the Tokomairiho Rivkh. — I hay« to thauk a contributor for the following :— '• Tbo Camp, October 10, 1895 —Dear Jock, — Allow me to give you a short nccoaub oE our camp life while down the Lake river ou a fishing expedition. After packing up & plenti* ful supply of grub and eecuriug an unlimited amount of fishing tackle, we were About td start upon our expedition when wo wtrJ brought up with » round turn by the remon< Sti-Ai.ces of our friend ' Equun,' who e>.idea« vourird to tutn round in the snafc-s and nddreii the ardent tiiuity tea ted behind him. Th< cauciiA was enforced with severity, and oai f1 i> nd, unlike the Irish Horns Ruler, accepted the Lituatiou and proceeded on his way. We arrived at 7 o'clock that evening upon the rcune of our labjuis ami ppeedily fixed out tent, boiled the fs»i.iiliar 'Williura, 1 and par« took of a lowly repast in a spirit of thankful" net 3. 'lhe tide being unfavourably fnll, and tho m How influence of the compound of the aforesaid William pulning through our veins, Dauuc Nic >tina discouroiug her Bweet strains, predisposed us to linger louger round the ho>pitable hospital of our sojourn. With powerful enough intenti'>ns ai we retired to slumber nature combated these Rcverely by copious libations of tears, which were probably shed on accouut of Ihe approaching demise of our piscatorial brethren. How< ver, the morning broke clear and beautiful, with every prosptct of continuing fine. Soon disposing of an elaborate breakfast wo made a start about 7 a.m., but hud not been fjstr.ng for more than an hour when a petfrct hurricane started to blow and spoilt what otherwise would have been excellent fishing. At 3 p in. we met, and after comparing baskets found that we had landed 10 tiiqe fish. Tea was tho next item on the progr&nitne, and, disposing of it after the somewhat primitive method of the philuftopbical ancicuts, we sallied down to the river, where awaited our trim orafc the Storm Cloud. She was duly manned and her s»ils spread to the favouring breeze. Tie bte^ring gear was of a rudimentary nature, consisting o£ an oar blade hod on to tho side of our veseel by the evtr-ac« mmodating flax. The orders from the 'bridge' were of r sharp and peremptory nature at times, but these were modified by the ample apologias of the skipper tho moment: after. Success did not attend our efforts, aud the thousand aud one res soub for not catching fish adduced by the experienced fisherman, t-f the party, as the luck was of an equal nature, were accepted unanimously. Our old friend Morpheus awaited us on our return to camp, aud his protestations of hospitality were guardedly accepted, after sundry episodes and intervals lor the ge.cisl pipo and Auld fccottie. Nature'u soft nurte restorud us to full vigour in tte moruing, when we started our day'a labours by a plentiful administration to the comfort of our inner man, the chief item of menu being porridge Ala Fcos;e and trout dt, ordinaire. Wa have now brought you to this point with the assistance of a mighty combination of intellect brought to bear on this tubj>cb for the benefit of your readers, and to endeavour to waft to their senses and lecollectiona the joyone abandon of a fishiDß camp life — Ktppek." The Otaria and Waipaui.— Two or three BparteleCt Matauraon Tin sday week morning to try their fortune. Messrs Cameron and Sinclair on the Otaria were very successful, and caught five each. Messrs M'Laren and Kerc and party were not so fortunate, lauding only a few small u»h. Mr Unaworth, of Riveredale was very successful, landiog 10 fair-sized fish. A correspondent writing from tha Otaria payß : " The opening day of the fishing season was a very m twouiabJe one, a cold sou'-westet blowiug all day. Very few anglers ventured out, thinking tho fish would not take. The only person I know of who made a good basket wa6 Mr John Smith, of Arthurton, who took 9 fisb, weighing 291b, out of the Waipahi with the Pomnhf>ka fly. On tho 4th Mr D. A. Purvis caught 7 fish, weighing 251b. These were a v really fine lot of n»b, and were aU taken with the Samutl. On the Sin a local angler secured 151b weight of trout for an hour or two's fishing. The fish seem to be very plentiful, but the Waipahi and Otaria rivers are very low and clear and it requires some little knowledge of the streams to take the fish. In former years during October I have always used the minnow on the Waipahi with success, but this year it ia out of the qur stion, on Recount of the state of the river. Ranger Mortis and I took a run, round the Waipahi and the Otaria the othei day, but we Baw nothing unußual. A sharp lookout is going to be kept this seaeon as & good number of persons were fishing last season without a license. I don't think they will have such a rosy timo this year, and if they are caught they may think after it's all over that illegal fishing is penny wife and pound foolish." The Otamete —No extraordinary baskets are reported from this river. It has 80 far bc«n very low, but no doabt the rain which fell for a couple of days last week will came an improveznent. The Mimihao.— MrF. Collins, from Mfttanra, took a couple of nice fish oat of this ttce&ia. Fishing the lower part of this river a day or fcwo ago, Mr M. Laurie killed five fish weighing 12lb and Mr J. A. Dodd four fhh weighing 9ib with the ioieakin minnow. The fish are reported bo be ehy and bhe water clear, though a recent shower coloured it eomewhat, and ifc is abated that it will be in good order this week. The Matatjka.— Further information re« carding the takes in this river states that the record was made by Mr C. Steans, who landed 10 speckled beauties one morning before breakfast. The fl«h were not large, bub were in good condition. The Waimea Plains Review States that "superb fishing weather continue* to prevail since the openng day, and local anglers have so far made the most of mew Opportunities. The district rivers are low, generally speaking, bat, notwithstanding, some very nice catches aro reported during the part week. A party of thrca who wore out earljO

the week on the M*tinr», near the junolion with the Woikaia, tad a good day's sport, the combined h&al bein fc 49 nice trout, averaging about 21b. Several other gentleman who were bob also report good baektts, but no vory exiensivo hauls. Notwitbst-an-ling this, we are Credibly informed that tbe number of fish t3ken in the Mataura for th« flrbt three days of this week reached the respectable tot^l of 92. These were landed by purely kcal anglers." "Much speculation was evinced prior to the opening o! the ce«son" (write* the a&mo paper) "as to how far the effects of the Jraterspout on the Mataura Ust year would affect the fishing this season. We are pleased bo know that from eooounts to hand from It c&l tnglers sicce the teason opened the fioh are Seemingly &% plentifnl as ever, and in splendid condition. Uerrain'y in the upper reaches of fche Mataora fi«h are reported to be scarce, bat Jocally anglers have found the river not much worie for the ocoarrence." Catlihs and thb Owaka.— Two anglers book 23 fish in the Catlius and at the lower part of the Owaka at the beginning of the ■Nscd, ranging from l£'b to 71b.— A gentleman 42) Owaka writes: "To any of jour friend* ■ who may wish to come this way angling : 'ihe baUMt engine runs every day from Bulc'ufcha «od takes them within 15 minutes' walk of the stream. Passengers are taken by it at ord nary rotes. Quite a convenience. Runs three or four times <*very day «.t present." v Thb Waitaki.— Several anglers have visited the Waitaki river, and have met with fair epork. The t»kes, bo far as can be ascertained, are as follow :-Mr J. Sioclsir, 7 fi<h, av«rage weight 4-£lb per fl«h ; George Bruo, 7, averagiDg 6.b per fish ; J. Richmond, 7, averaging 4^ b g>er fi>h ; P. Merri-ey 4, and D. Ross 3. Anglers from Waimnte weio trying their luck, but a number went away fisbleßH. Tr.e river is laid to be in good order, and the fish plentiful. A later report says that a number of anglers who went to the Waitaki towards the end of last week were not so successful as they anticipated. The river was ia excellent fishing trim, but the weather was too cold for the sport. However, tbe season is only in its iofa- cy, and with flr.o weather some good sport may be looked for shortly. Thr Waikaia —Mr B. M. Bmith landed four Dice trout from this river one evening last week, •weighing 141b. The Waikaia is reported as not in good trim last week, but lecal anglers havo had seme good sport in the Winding and Gow'a creeks. TbbWaipahi, October 14.— This river rose a little on the 13vh, but very few fish have been caught, owing to the rough weathtr. The bait fa use at tho present time is the fly or minnow. Heavy thowera Ml on Saturday, which caused the river to rise a little, and it should be in good feeding trim in a few days. Anglers can get accommodation at Mrs Barnett's or Mrs Brown's. Thb Teviot. — •' Acgler " writea that the Teviot river has beeu ia flood for the last two wks ; consequently takes have been small. Mr Fairb&irn went to the Tall&burn on the 10th and got 30 fish, the heaviest being 21b. They were all got with tbe creeper. Camibsburt Doings.— Very few large trout aro reported as hiving been taken from the river at Kaiapoi. Several captures avernging about 31b each are recorded, and o'>e smglex reports having eecnnd a fish turning the ."Cile at 71b, which is believed to be the recard for Kaiapoi so far.— At Little River Mr John Buchanan succeeded in landing the lirgesb Bomber of fish, taking 49. Mr Rjan secured 24 from the eamo locality. The waters of tho Okute Valley were wlipped by Mr Helton Rhodes, who landed 32 nice fish. Below is a list of the catches of several anglers :— Octcber 1 — Three Little River »eßident«, .100 fish ficm LitUe river ; from lho Waimakariri, A. Pate man 3 fi.-h, a Chrifttchnrch angler 1, N. Lyntkcy 2 fish (one 101b in weight), C. Bimpson 2 fish, F Smith 3. Mr Haigue 1, Mr Bugg 1. October 2— From the Avon, H. Ccoke 3. R. B. R»es 3 ; from tho Selwjn, W. Adraim 9 October 3 — From tho Avon, Mr H. Cocke 4. Mr J. Catnpbfll 1, a CorißUhurch ai gler 3, E. Butts 6; from the Waimakarhi, Mr Bonnet 1 fish (weight 61b). In two da>s Mefsis W. Loroombe, W. Bowden, and Shaw took 31 fish from the Lower Selivyrf. The Upper Selwjn ia reported to be m splendid condition fcr arjgling purposes, bfipg free of „ weeds and with a good flow of wat«r in ib. Fish are plentiful, and reported to bo in prime cor.dition ; so that the locality may be expected to maintain the high reputation from au angler's point of view thab it has obtained in past Seasons. — A large number of anglera were out on the Rak&i*, Hart's creek, the Ir well and Selwtn Vrvere on the opening day, but, with the exception of Mr Coe's pa^ty on the Selwyn, the-y Baught very few fish. The streams are all well Blocked this eeafon, tho Irwell being particularly 60, Mid with a return of warm and rainy weather some excellent sport ma; be expected. At the ope ni&g of tbe fishing season in South Canterbitfv the weather was most unfavourable, tt cold bright day following a blustering southerly wind. Only a few fish were taken, •nd tbeso bub small. The rivers aro in good order ' and fifh plentiful, and now 1-baS tbe vbifcebait hay« csmnencad to run they will coon be in excellent condition. 'JLVero is & prosp«ct of tome pielty perch Qslii'g this '(reason at Temuka, those introdxiced havirg 'done well. The following basket were made from the StJwyn river :— Mr C. Probble 20 fish, Messrs Ardmen Brcs. and lVt^-mon 31 fl s h, Rdv. Mr Adamson 12 fi^h. Mr W. M. Thompson 10 fish, Mr R. Wright 3 fi^h, Mr W*lttr Wright 3 fi^h, and Mr Or*cn*lfcde 3 fi 2 h.-»-Farther tekes from the Wftimß^r.riri ri\j &s toltows :— Octot^r 3— J. Chauey 5 fish. F. Trail I, C. Tr*il 1 (7ilb); Octobsr 4-T. Wanick 1, jtk.. Patetnan 3, J. Brodie 2, J. Chancy 4 ; October 5— J. Sbaw 1 (41b), A. Bennett 2 (61b and 41b), A, Pftteman 1, F. Smith 1 ; OctoLer 7— W. J. Alpe 1 (3lb), A. Patemi.n 1 (7ib), J. Chanpy 1, G. Trait 1. Ftom the Avoi: October s— B. Batce 3 ; OoV-ber 7 — A. Tscoa 3. Three tiout were cangbt with bul!y bait by Mr Glover in the R&k*ia, and in the aggregate weighed 161b. On tbe Loire: Selwjn the fish have Jbeen very plentiful, and the river bids fair to he better this season than in any former year. On the 2nd inst. there were fully 50 reds on the river clc6e to the mouth. All the aDglere, with a few exception?, got fish, while a few pMtie* made heavy bags. A psrly of four from Prebbletcn caught 34 odd fish, one rod getting 21, while other parties got 10 or 12 apiece. Mr C. Prebble caught 30, the R.v. Mr Adam&ccfion rx twein 10 and 20, the Anderson Bros. 10 each, Mr W. M. Thr-niptou 12, Mr Patterscn a similar number, Mr Wright's party caugtt a dozen, getting on an average three each, while sevfral others mt dc equally good bags. The It well and R-.kftia have nit yet beea bo good, the w.-.ter in ench river heing father muddy, while tbe lUkxi* i» very cold. Bach river is well stocked with tb)*, and in a month or so there will be plfnty caught. Southland Notes.— At the opening of the leason Messrs M'Kay and Meizies fi«bed the Oreti, end caught 32 fish and 18 respectively. Ihe lure need was the artificial fly. Mr M'Bean journeyed over fcho hills to the OUpiri end got 12 fish weighing 281b. Ihe lure need by him was the creeper. He reports theetceam as being Cat too low tatjuxd ecotlu Ihe New rivet Jim

been in splendid form since the oponing of the season. The bset t»kes reported were 26 nioe fish weighing 381b, grassed by Messrs Treweck Biid Barlow, of Luuwdeu. Mr A. Cockroft, also of Lumsden, landed 16 beauties, averaging 21b. • . • Oho of the fine»t fiah that hus leen Uken iv South Canterbury w&i c&nght in a net iv the bay *t Timaru on the sth iust. bj one of th« fishermsn. It wag 33-n iv length, 23in in gre*t>s!; girth, aud weighed 19£lb. The fi*h showed many of the characteristics of the salmon, and tome people would h*ve it that it was a B&lniou. It was a fine specimen of the sea calmon trout.