ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3274, 13 December 1916, Page 42

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. —■ Parkek UILMOUK. Readers are invited to contribute items of local Ashing news for insertion ill this column. For insertion in the ensuing issue they should reach Dunedin by Monday night's mall. BANK NOTES. Tomahawk Lagoon. —The sport at Tomahawk Lagoon keeps up wonderfully, particularly considering the small area of water and the number of anglers fishing it. During last week Messrs Spiers and Adamson got 11 fish (331 b), 11. Duncan five fish of good average weight. Permin four fish. Bravlcy four fish, Dickie, four fish, Ishp 10 fish, Yorston one fish, D. Watt, four fish (largest 441 b), M'Stay two fish, and Robertson'one fish. 'Pretty well all the fish being caught in tho lagoon are taken on the fly, tho Red Tipped Governor and the Alexandra being tho best killers. The Shag River.—Tho Shag- is very low and full of weed; so much so that fishing has become a difficult matter. Tho Kakanui. —On Saturday and Sunday a party of anglers got a few fish out of tho Kakanui, which is reported to have been yielding some very fair baskets. The fish caught' were small, but in beautiful condition. Thev were principally half-a-pound in weight, the heaviest being about 21b. The most killing Qica are tho Black Gnat, Hardy's Favourite, and a light March Brown. The river was in pretty fair condition, though weeds are apt to be troublesome in the pools. There is, however, not yet much weed in the nipples. The opinion is expressed that the Kakanui will yield some good bags during the Christmas holidays; but that must depend on the elements.

flic Waitnki. —The reports concerning all go to show that sport is unusually good. It is stated that a fish 50o'b in weight was caught on Thursday evening. I do not just know how it was caught, nor exactly what species it belong',l to. The information was civil to mo in good faith, and I must publish it in good faith; but "J ha' ma doots." Of this T am perfectly satisfied: that fishing is and lias boon for some time very good at the Waitaki, and thai it is one of 10 streams to be recommended for Christmas and New Year, always providing it keens in order. The North Oiago Times

of a recent date writes: "Oainaru anglorfl who patronised the- \\ aitaki at the <_ ijh of tlie week report dome good eatcnos. iiie trout are 1 improving in condition, and soma good-sjzed hsu were amongst tliosu taken, iluy should be in cue pink of condition about the Christmas and Atw Year holidays, when no doubt fishermen from every part 01 the district will essay the gentle art."

'lire Pomahaka. —An angler in conversation with me remarked: "1 have never seen fbh ill better condition in this river than they are this year. Within the recollection of the earliest settler on the banks of tho stream such a run of whitebait has never been known; hence the trout are in perfect condition, and very numerous. They aro taking the fly readily, principally the Mallard and the lied Tipped Waipahi. It may bo mentioned that accommodation may be obtained at Waiwera, whence a motor conveys anglers to the Pomahaka at reasonable rates.

The Waipahi.—This is very low, and the weed is beginning to bo very toublosome in the lower waters. It is said that good fishing is to bo obtained higher up in tire gorge. The Makarewa.—Tho Makarewa is affo:cling very good sport, and anglers who go in for night fishing could not be better advised than to go down and try this water. Commenting on the possibilities of the stream, a gentleman yesterday said : Pishing with tho natural 'baits, if the conditions arc favourable, one should be able to get fish running from 2£lb to 91b." No distance away is tho Oreti, or New River as it is familiarly called in local circles. By staying at Wallacetown tho angler can get some real good fi-hing on the New River, which is only about three-quarters of a mile from tljo hotel. Both fly and minnow fishing aro procurable on the New River. The Waikiwi. —Some very fine fish are being taken out of tho Waikiwi, a small stream about three miles out of Invcrcargill, which runs into the New River. Fishing .with Messrs Batchelor and M'Kenzie a week ago. Mr George Sise grassed some very nice fish in perfect condition, running up to 4Jlb. The_ Waiau.—Fish in flic Waiau are not in quite such good condition as they were last year, but some fair bags have already been obtained. Now that the food is. coming np the river the fi*h should rapidly improve in condition, and probably this moon good sport should bo obtainable. The possibilities of the river in filling ft larger receptacles than a fishing basket are well known, and the stream evidently holds a great number of fish. A Wnimate angler reports having landed over _ 100 trout at the Waitaki since tho opening of the season.