ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3169, 9 December 1914, Page 56

ANGLING.

By Jook Scott.

To be a perfect fisherman you require more excellencies than are usually to be found in such a small space as is allotted to a man’s carcase.— Parker Gilmour. Headers are invited to contribute items of locaj fishing news for insertion in this column. Fol insertion in the ensuing issue they should reach Dunedin by Monday night’s mail.

BANK NOTES.

As far as can be ascertained, very little angling has been done during the past week. The weather has been dead against fishing, with the exception of the week-end, and then few Dunedin men seem to have tried their luck. Either ram or wind has been experienced, and the one is just about as bad as the other to the angler. A reasonable fall of rain freshens up a stream, but when a gale sets in it becomes impossible to work a r'od with any hope of success. It is rumoured that pilfering is rife at some of the anglers’ huts on the Otago streams. The doors are forced, and although there is no great disorder found inside the huts, it is evident on examination that articles have been abstracted. The police are investigating the matter. As an instance of fishing not being very brisk in Otago and Southland just now, owing to climatic and other conditions, it may be mentioned that some of the firms dealing in fishing tackle are not doing the usual business, and are sending a good deal of stock to the North Island, where angling is evidently taking a forward move. Some great hauls of flounders are being made at Lake Logan. The Harbour Board’s operations have materially circumscribed the extent of the lake, and the “flatties” have become concentrated within a small area. Morning and evening numbers of rodsmon are busy, and frequently get quite a number of good fish. The Waikouaiti. —This river on Saturday was lower than it has been for many years, and very little water remains in the stream. A Dunedin angler states that although there were a number of rods on the river very poor success was met with. One man from town got a fish about 2>slb, but very few, if any, others landed anything. Mullet is very plentiful in the river, one angler catching as many as eight on the fly. The presence of mullet will no doubt improve the condition of the trout, as the smaller ones will supply an abundance of food, and may to some extent explain the indifference of trout to rise to anything the angler may offer them. Many very nice trout were seen, but there the matter ended. The Acclimatisation Society liberated a thousand yearlings last week in th : s water, between the Rookery and the Forks, which ought to improve the fishing capabilities of the stream. A fresh is badly wanted. Weed usually found only in the lower reaches has now extended to the upper portions; but whatever disadvantage tin’s may mean to angling, it has to bo borne in mind that it affords shelter for the fi c,l \ The first fresh will, however, get rid of the weed. The Waitaki.—Tim T’imaru Herald of the 2nd inst. says: “Fishing in the Waitaki last work. Mr J. A. Munro. of Pareora, caught 18 fish, the heaviest being 111 b. and the average 6ib for the catch. Mr F. iStruthridge caught a Ifi.'-potn'd-'r. All the fish, with the exception of one gevenpounder. were in splendid condition. The 111 b fish caught by Mr Munro contained 226 “ silveries.” which must be something of a record. Mr Jackson, of Waimato, geffed out of the surf a groper weighing 1101 b.”