ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3214, 20 October 1915, Page 60

ANGLING.

By Jock 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.— DARKER GILMOUR. Headers are invited to contribute items of local fishing news for insertion in this column. For insertion in the ensuing issue they should reach Dunedin by Monday night’s mail.

BANK NOTES. Competition on the Tomahawk Lagoon. — So far as this competition- -which took place—is concerned no returns have yet been sent in. It is understood that the number of competitors was very limited. The prizes offered were for the heaviest baskets, the competition being promoted by the Otago Anglers’ Society. The Waikouaiti River. —Messrs G. W. MTntosh, A. Harris, and J. Roberts were out at the Waikouaiti <n Saturday week and the result of their operations was rot available for last week’s issue. They got seven very nice fish on the Saturday evening. The next day a north-east wind came un, and no fish were moving. The fish obtained on the Saturday wore between 31b and 41b, and were taken with the artificial minnow. There were plenty of small fish about, a fact that gives good promise for the future. Half pound fish were also to be observed in fair numbers in the river. The Waikouaiti has not had a fresh for a long time, and the recent fall of rain will do it much good. Last Saturday, according to opinion, the stream should have been in good order. The party fished the water in the vicinity of Merton up to the railway bridge, and the next day devoted their attention to the upper part of the river but without result owing to the intervention of the nor’-easter before referred to. Mr W. Morgan was also on the river and got four nice fish on the Saturday afternoon, the heaviest being 31b weight. Mr Morgan also used the artificial minnow. One of the trio of anglers mentioned, obtained a somewhat mixed basket as the evidence of his prowess included not only trout, but a red cod (how it got there —I mean in the river: not the basket — is a wonder) and two eels. The, Shag River. —Mr S. Lawson fished the Shag River the end of last week and secured a basket of 11 fish of the usual size caught in this stream, which was very low. There were three or four other anglers on the river, and the best basket made by any of them apparently consisted of four fish. Mr Lawson used the minnow. The Waitaki.—Mr H. Crust went away to the Waitaki River on Monday week, and seems to have got among the fish immediately on his arrival. He took five on the Monday evening in an hour and a half’s time, and six next morning in an hour, the lot aggregating about 301 b, and the largest fish captured going about These ll fish were sent to Dunedin, and were followed by others later in the week. All Mr Crust’s catch did not. however, find friends in Christchurch. The Waiwera. —Mr P. Gordon, a local angler, seems to have been doing well on the Waiwera. Quite recently he landed 16 fish, one of which weighed 4glb. This stream is reported to bo in improved condition this season. The Wvndham. —The Wyndham Farmer states: —“Some fair bags were caught in the Wyndham River. The largest catch we have hoard of was by Mr John A. Mitchell in the Mimihau. He took 38 trout w eighing 411 b. the heaviest being 22'b. The Aparima.—The Southland Times. “Rod,” says;—“Messrs W. and E. Steans paid a visit to the upper Aparima at the week-end and secured a substantial bag numbering 12. the heaviest weighing 31b; the lure used being _ the cocoon minnow. Considering the dirty state of the river at the time this catch goes to prove that there are plenty of fish about this locality. The Otamete. —'The Mandovillo -correspondent of the Southland Times writes as follows “Fishing is the principal sport attraction at present, and the recent rain has put the Otamete Stream in splendid order, and several very creditable “bags” havo boon taken out during the week.

The Waimea stream is also receiving a good deal of attention. The fish in this stream are larger than those got from the Otomete, but either or both streams at the present time will afford good sport to those who understand ‘whipping the stream.’ ” Water Worth Exploiting.—When I put in that side heading I had in view the nearness of Waihola Take, which represents the water referred to. I have had some very enjoyable perch fishing along the shores of the Lake myself, and believe that Waihola is worth a great deal more attention at the hands of anglers than it receives. However, to com© to substantiality. Messrs G. W. MTntosh and H. Harris went to Waihola for the last weekend, and were joined at Waihola by Mr A. Stewart, who possesses a motor launch on the Lake. The fishermen first tried for trout below the railway bridge but found the river too dirty (it nearly always is). They then ran to the top of the Lake, that is towards Milburn, and fished a creek where it enters the Lake, securing for their trouble a couple of trout about each. They saw a good many fish about hero, some of much larger size than those caught. The cocoon minnow was used, and with this some porch, about were taken from the same water. Tire anglers then travelled down the Lake to opposite Waihola township, and started perch fishing, scouring between them 30 perch up to Ijib in weight. Many small perch were returned to the water. The Mimihau—Big Lakes,— Anglers seem to have been getting heavy baskets at the Mimihau, according to the Mataura Ensign, which says:—“Since the beginning of the fishing season Mr E. Duncan, of Mataura, has been out on four occasions, and each time has secured a good bag. On the first trip he caught 20 fish weighing 301 b, the second bag consisted of 27 fish weighing 371 b, the third bag of 24 fish weighing 391 b, and later he caught 31 fish weighing 44ib. ' The total number of fish Mr Duncan has caught this season is 102 of a total weight of 1501 b, an average of practically per fish. All the fish were secured in the Mimihau Stream. Mr Duncan says the first lot caught were in good condition, but they are falling away' in condition now. Several other Mataura fisherman were out recently and good average bags weresecured Messrs J. Adam (12), D. Gaudion (12), W. J. Hayles (12), and J. Reid (10), were the best catches reported. Good Sport at the Opihi.—The Timaru Herald records some good sport obtained at the Opihi thus: —“Fishing in the Opihi last week some anglers obtained good baskets of fish, and individual catches of as many as 38 fish have been reported. Particularly good sport was obtained between the Point Bridge and Hanging Rock. The trout caught weighed up to 3glb, and the most attractive baits have been No. 00 whitebait minnow, and the garden fly, better known as the worm. The Pareora. —An exchange writes as follows: —“The recent rain has put the Pareora River into beautiful order for angling, and heavy baskets have been made. The most of the fish were on the small side, but as the river has a run to the sea, the bigger fish will very soon be moving up. The Pareora should now remain in first-class order till Christmas, even if no more rain falls. The Opihi is on the heavy side, more particularly from the junction to the sea, and is too big for successful fly fishing. Still some very fair baskets have been got lately. The mouth of the river is still too far north, and though the volume of water coming down is heavy, it is not likely to remain open very long.” A Lament. —The Timaru Post of a recent date contains the following lament with regard to so many small fish being killed through the use of the worm: —“The rain of last week put all the smaller rivers in flood, and the boy and man with the grub and the worm had a good innings with the trout. It is rather a sad side of the sport to note the large number of little fish that are being killed. A wormcr cannot in some cases help himself, for the smaller fish ‘gulp the worm,’ and in order to get the mass of hooks on which tho worm is threaded out of the delicate throat and gills, laceration of such a drastic character takes place that tho fish, even if they were returned to tho water, very soon die. Just now the smaller fish are very hungry, and will rise to any lure. A fly fisher has one great advantage, however, in that little fish after being a few seconds on the hook are none the worse on being returned .to the water.