ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3115, 26 November 1913, Page 58

ANGLING.

By Jock Scott.

To bo a perfect flahermaa you r-equiro mcrt excellencies than are usually to be found In such a small tpace as is allotted to a man’s carcase. — Parker Gilmquh. Headers are invited to contribute items of local fishing C!i7j for insertion in this column. For insertion in the ensuing Issue they should reach Dunedin by Monday night’s mail.

BASS SOTES. The Water of Leith.—Mr M'Lcnnan made a good basket of 21 fish in the Leith on Wednesday afternoon. The take did not include anything big, but the fish were of a nice takablo size. Mr H. Islip took out 27 fish, but was only able to retain one owing to the fish being under size. The Waikouaiti. —I have to thank one with whom I have fished in the far-away days for the following: —“Fishing on the Waikonaiti’ on the 15th inst., my brother and myself caught 17 trout weighing 181 b, the largest fish being 4-lb and 2!b respectively. All were in splendid condition. Wo fished with the bully at night. At the traffic bridge we caught Give eels. We came away quite satisfied with the sport we had met with. I think the Anglers’ Association should have a competition for eels every year to keep these trout-eaters in check. I hope that while anglers are away at Christmas they will spend a night among the eels, as if that were done the trout would have more feed, and anglers would get better sport.” The Tokomairiro River. —I am told that a few fish are being obtained by the more persistent anglers from the Toko River. Apparently the river is not yielding so well as heretofore. The Shag River.—Mr J. R. Wilson and friend had a few hours on the Shag River recently, and captured 10 fish. The angling was done in the neighbourhood of Glenpark. The Owaka. —Mr J. R. Wilson made a successful visit to the Owaka River a little while ago, and he and two companions caught 36 trout among them. The anglers plied their rods in the vicinity of Tahatika. Southland Notes. —Fishing matters have been quiet this past week, owing to the swollen condition of the rivers (writes our Southland correspondent). The Orcti in particular has had very -few visiting anglers, but several have landed goodly-sized fish. One Waianiwa enthusiast landed one ninopound'er, a four-pounder, and a one-pounder recently; and another angler, fishing near the iron bridge, landed two fish, one being 51b and the other 41b. Mr Kennard, of Waianiwa, has landed 4Q fish so far this season, aggregating 1121 b, all being taken from the Oreti, and caught on the artificial minnow. A local angler, fishing in the vicinity of the ferry bridge a few' days ago, landed a seven-pounder and a three-pounder, the latter being a very fine fish, almost as broad as it was, long. It proved a great fighter. Quite a number of fish have been caught this past week on the fly in the Makarewa and Dunsdale, the principal killers being dark and light red spinners— Leith, Samuel, and Priest. Several have tried their luck on the Waimatuku lately, and for two visits a Ryal Bush enthusiast secured nine fish, the largest being 51b. The Southland Anglers’ Club are holding an open competition on Wednesday, the 26th inst. This is a competition for which anyone can enter for the small sum of Is, and in which five prizes are offered, the first being a trophy valued at £1 Is. Record entries are expected, and the secretary tells me they arc now coming in freely. Roxburgh.—-A communication, not of quite recent date, says that no big baskets of fish had been taken, but that_ when the w r ater went down splendid fishing would be got. Accommodation at the Shag River. —It will interest anglers to know that the Acclimatisation Society has secured a lease of a four-roomed cottage owned by Mr Sutherland for the use of fishermen. The cottage has been filled with six stretchers, and is in close vicinity to the river at Glenpark. A Holiday Trip.—Mr G. Crow, local manager of the D. 1.0., and Dr Marshall Macdonald, recently made a holiday trip into the country, and, both being keen anglers, their attention was naturally turned towards fishing. Some few days wore spent on the Waipahi River, and the result of the first day’s operations, where the stretch of water fished was from Arthurton up the Gorge, was half a dozen fish. The river was very high. v ~owir.g to the previous rainfall. The following day the anglers fished from the junction of the Waipahi and the Pomahaka to the hut, and did very well, getting about 20 fish for what was really a short day. The third day the scene of operations -lay between the hut and a point about a mile and a-half down the river, and the united effort produced a dozen fish. The next day was spent in fishing from Arthurton downwards. A high wind was experienced, but, using fly and minnow, a good -basket was made, the fish running up to 31b in weight. Two ideal days wore spent out at the Burning Plains (Pomahaka). The distance was motored on each occasion. On the Friday, when a high

wind was blowing, 20 fish wore accounted for, the average weight being about 21b. Returning on Saturday, the anglers, with the wind still blowing strongly, got a good many fish. The sport was broken, as, owing to the threatening aspect of the weather, Mr Crow and his friend deemed it advisable to make for the river, with the object of getting over the roads before they became too slippery with the threatened rain. The weather, however, cleared, and a 'return was made to the river, and angling resumed, but a considerable loss of time resulted. The joint basket was, however, quite satisfactory, and reached a total of about 20 fish. The following day the anglers motored down to the Waiwera, and got eight [fish, the heaviest being 21b. The wind was blowing strongly, and the water fished was from the bridge to a point about three-quarters of a mile below it. The Waipa.hi fish averaged about 11b, the heaviest being about 51b. The fish taken from the Pomahaka was slightly heavier, though no really big fish were caught. The wind on many occasions ma.de the use of the minnow compulsory; but the fly was found to be very effective. On the Waipahi the fly was principally used. Opening of the Season at Hawera.—A Press Association raessags says:—“ The trout-fishing season in the Hawera Acclimatisation’s Society’s district is proving very successful, and okl anglers state that it is better now than ✓it has been for the last 10 years. Recently 12.000 fry were takenfrom the Waihi "hatcheries and liberated at Pihama.” The Makings of a Great Angler.—l came upon a smalt boy not long ago (writes SI in the Manchester Guardian) who was moodily fishing with improvised rod and hook in the muddy waters of the canal. I cannot but believe that he will make a, great fisherman some day, for he seemed to have about him all the untiring patience and dogged perseverance necessary for the craft. But ho was exceedingly far from happy. He paid no attention to me at all, but mournfully pursued'the matter in hand. “ What are you doing?” I asked him at last. “Fishin’ for snigs,” he replied in a listless voice. “What are snigs?” I inquired. “I don’t know,” he replied, drearily; “I’ve never caught one yet,” Ycs, ho will make a great angler some day.