BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2390, 21 December 1899, Page 50

BANK NOTES.

Contributors will kindly note that if they lea^ie the envelope containing their reports open and mark it ''preps copy " the postage is only a penny.

The Water of Lsith. — Mr S. Henry keeps on industriously ilegging the Leith, and appears to meet with a very fair measure of success. On Friday evening he got six nice fish, and on Saturday morning he secured another three. Mr Henry used the fly to effect his captures.

The Waitati. — Mr A. Anderson fished the Waitati on Saturday afternoon for about an hour, and took half a dozen nice fish.

The Waitaki. — Mr Johnston, of Dimtroon, took five fish from the Waitaki labt week, running from 2£lb to 41b.

The Alolynaux, Stirling. — This river was in good trim for the minnow on the 17ih inst., but not much fishing- had been done. On Ihe 13lh, Mr A. 15. Faiquhar took 3 fish, weighing 151b, largest fish 81b, and on the 16th, Mr J. Jjenderson caught one fish turning the bcalo at 41b.

The Waipahi, Arihurton. — J.R.S. writes that the river is now in good order, though a little on the clear side. The weather the last few days had been fine, and there was a likelihood of it remaining so, after so much rough vi Gather. My correspondent had not heard of much fishing having been clone during the past week, but anticipated that tlio trout would -htive a lively time during the coming holidays. He mentions that the cricket, has put in an iippenrai'.ee and tan be heard when the weather is fine and warm. Jt is the most deadly bait he knows of for the Waipahi, when it can be got. — W.D. also reports the riv^r in good order on the Bth, but has no' take? to record. He has not personally been able to do any fishing, on account of having been bupy, but he reckons by the appearance of things, that the fish are there to be caught. — Three very nice fish were s-cnt 10 town, as a P'-e.-ent to a friend, by Mr S. Trusler on Monday. The three would probably weigh about 71b. They have been very generously handed on to me as a s<ift, and I desire to thank the donor and Mr Truslor. — J.S.

The Wedderburn. — An old angler at St. Batbans, writing on the 13th inst., says: — " On November 28, 11. and I again visited Weddprburn. We took the coach from St. Bathans at 7 a.m., and got there at 9.30, arriving on the creek at 11. The day was very windy — in fact, a gale was blowing all the time. The creek was somewhat lower than on the former occasion, and we had great difficulty in casting our flies, and between wind, old dock sticks, and cocksfoot grass, we had a picnic. After fishing about an hour I yelled at my friend, asking him how he was getting on. His reply was: 'How the deuce can any one get on, what with weeds and wind ; it is enough to try thn patience of Job, and to say the least of it, Mac, I am not an admirer of Nature to-day, and I have just dug a governor out of my ear, and I don't fesl happy. You haven't a drop of cold tea in the flask?' I replied that, however much J regretted it, I had lost the flask, after falling into a rabbit warren. The first day's sport resulted in seven trout for both rods, n\eragmg lib; all caught on the governor (yellow tipped). The second day (November 29) was dull, with a little rain up to 9.30, after which it was a grand day — result 16 trout, weighing 21£lb ; all on the governor and Hardy's favourite. For the two days the catch was 23 trout, weighing 291b. We got home at 7 p.m., after having had a good outing."

Angling at Hawkdun Station. — The Mjlfjojne Mac who so culpably lott one of the

most important parts of his outfit, that is " the flask"— for. l doubt not that friend H., who accompanied him, so regarded it— writes further concerning another experience he had. He cays:— "I visited the Hawkdun Station pond yesterday, the 12th inst., and -tnrough the courtesy of Mr Burnett, the manager, I fished it for three hours, from 4- to 7 p.m. ; result, seven nice brown trout, averaging l^lb. For the first hour I caught them all on the quill gnat, and later on my lure was the mealy moth. My reason for trying this was that I saw a few white moths flitting about. This pond covers about two acres ; depth, say 4ft. It is a nice pond, but to my fancy there are far too many trees about — in fact, it is surrounded by trees, with the exception of, say, 20yds, and even there there are a few young beeches and macrocarpas — which are difficult to avoid whilst casting. I understand that there are some large trout in this pond, but I did not hook any larger than, say, 31b. There ought to be some large trout in it, as I remember giving Mr Burnett 200 fry some nine years ago. The only objection to the pond is the large quantity of -trees. I shall have a shot at the Lauder Creek in a clay or two. When I was there a few days ago it was in, flood, and as thick as pea soup. This creek ought to be well stocked, as Mr Deans and I put 2000 trout into it a couple of years ago."

Upper Clutba. — " H. J.s" report, which reached me just too late for inclusion in last week's 'notes, is from Lowburn Ferry and dated December 11. He says that the river was up, and that the lures were the fly and the Stewart tackle (presumably the worm). On the evening of the 6th inst., the writer caught 4- fish, the average weight of which i 3 given, but the Postal department have completely obliterated the iigureo with their post-mark. On the evenings of the Bth and 9th rho same angler got 3 and 5 fish respectively, averaging l^lb. Winchester, November 18. — Unfavourable weather during the past week has been aganis 1 ; any successful fishing and Langdon's figures are scarcely worih quoting. Three days' rain has done good to local streams without m-ik ing the water too heavy. T.ie Rangitata, however, was v.nnV.iable, while on baturvijiy. the Opihi was in Hood. Should the present southerly winds continue, both these rivers should be fishable in a couple of days. — Gor resnondont.

Ashburlon. — Mr A. H. S'lury writes that owing to the continued nor' -westers "he lia-i not tried the Eakaia or Rangitata lalelv, a drive of 27 miles being too far to go and find the water unfishable. Just before the Rangitata rose, Mr Shelton got 5 fish weighing 481b, and the next day 18, weighing 73ib. There have been some very good takes in the Asliburlon Lagoon lately. Mr Field got one fi in, 31b, and several others smaller ; Mr Bawson lof lljlb, and borne offers. On Saturday Mr IDawson got 3, 51b each, and Mr George Kidd two 51b fish and one 911). On the evening of the 13th, Messrs Upfcon and Shury fished from 6 p.m. to 9.30, and never rose a fish. ■ From 3 a.m. on the following morning to 6.30 Mr Upton got one rise, and Mr Shury look two small fish, one being 21b and the other §lb. Mr Shury reg?rd3 these as not worth talking of, but if he was located on other rivers I think he would alter his opinion. A 21b fish is, as a rule, regarded as something to boast of on many rivers. He is a lucky man to have rivers like the- Ashburton near at hand.

Lady Anglers. — The Fishing Gazette has interesting articles on lady anglers. The sport in the old country is confined largely to ladic-s of tho aristocracy who are able to pay the heavy fees c'.iarged for salmon and trout fishing. They have achieved a mea'ure of success which is very gratifying, and have found in iiie healthy exercise much solid benefit. The ladies usually-pay an expert caster to .teach thorn how to handle the rod and fly, and some of them have speedily learned to cast a tapered salmon line Avilh ease, frrace, and dexterity riufht on the nose of a feeding trout or salmon 30 yards away from them. Some of the most -skilful lady anglers have fished in Tasmanian and New Zealand waters with success. — Plomb.

A lly Fishing Excursion in the Forty Mile Bush. — An article of seme length, fvom tho pen of Mr W. Townson. under' this head appears in the Westport Nev/i. It is inl-orejting reading to those living in the district, and contains special reference to the Rainbow trout, of which Mr Townson says: — '"What flyers thoso rainbows are ! As soon as they feel the hook they commence to perform, they run and jump and give you an anxious time' generally until fairly brought to grass, and many are lost after being hooked on account of Hip capers which they cut. They are the gamest of fis'i and are very distinguished lookine. hay ing the back thickly specked with black, and a broad red stripe running from gill to tail, with tho rest o! the body bright as silver. JDon't they jiift flash when leaping in the sunlight, and don't they sail when hooked! "