ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3331, 16 January 1918, Page 40

ANGLING.

Et Jock Scott.

To bo a perfeot fisherman you require more •xoelJenciee than are usually to be found in such % small space as is allotted to, a man's carcase.— Parker Qilmour. . .

Headers are invited to contribute items oi local Gshing news lor insertion in this column. For insertion in the ensuing issue they should reaoh Dunedin by Monday night's mail.

BANK NOTES.

. In 'the courso of conversation with a friend a few days b'ack I was told that take Onslow is unusually full of water, and the fish were taking well. The Waikouaiti.—l hear tho Waikouaiti River is high,' but boyond that I know nothing—of course, only with regard to the Waikouaiti River. Before, the column closes for the week I hope to' unearth something further.—Mr G. W M'lntoah and Mr Cyril Maude fished the Waikouaiti last week end. They found the river in food order and secured six fish. Later they ishod Munro's pool, on the Shag river, and rot five more fish.. Mr H. Price and Mr Seo. Sise were also at the Waikouaiti river. Dri Saturday afternoon, fishing at Toomey's Crossing with the artificial shrimp, Mr Sise jaught three nice fish, and the following Jay Mr Price oaptured two more near QrfcalTs. Mr Prices fish were caught with the Greenwell's Glory and the Red Tipped governor; and weighed about and lib. ne was a Rainbow and gave, great sport before it was landed.

The Tokomairiro River. —Very little has been heard of this rivor during the season, and, indeed, a good many preceding seasons. It is true that it is a small stream, but I know it contains many a " lusty trout," if not a " grayling," or, to be Sore precise, did not many years ago. On ofidny morning I got an idea of what ■was " doing" on the Toko, and it is refreshing to learn that eomo anglers at some time or other are getting fish. I am told that Mr Gray, of Milton, reports that the fishing In the lower roaches has been very good] and that fish from to olb havo been caught. How many I cannot say. Mr Gray states that he never went out without getting a reasonable basket, though, perhaps, not always a big one. The fishing is regarded as tho best experienced for a number of years.

The Waiwora—l am told that Mr Peter Gordon, fishing Jn the gorge, recently caught a very nice nine-pounder on the fly. It is reported that sport has been very good lately in this stream. The Oreti—A party of seven spent a really good time on the Oreti, in the neighbourhood of Lumsden, at New Year s time. They were., on this stream for a week, and caught well over 500 fish amongst them. The fly was used, the most killing being Groenwell's Glory, Red Teal, and Irish March Brown. The Rev. Wm. Mortimer caught a nice six-pounder, and Mr John Logan, who was of the party, a very fino 7|lb fish. The latter took a lot of skill to land.

Tho Aparima.—l have to thank Dr MaoFarland for tho following note; —"We have had a pleasant 10 days on tho Aparima at Thornbury. The river is low and olear, and as wo are daylight fishermen with tho baro fly, the test is a severe one. Wo havo had ho big bags, but no blank days, except on tho 2nd inst., when the cold rain squalls made tho fireside more attractive than tho river, 'The ordinary sizo of tho trout is about slb. In only ono caso did the scale show over 21b. It is curious how fow undersized trout wo hooked. During tho 10 days I did not get more than half a dozen, although tho river, am tq\d, has been kept well stocked. Tho rapid changoj in tho river-bed and the vast masses of shinglo carried, down by tho floods must be very scvero on the trout. For long roaches ol the river there aro no sods and no big stones' to afford 6hcltor, with tho result that tho only Protection the trout can find is in tho Jeep holes. Hero. I havo no doubt, tho big ones take a heavy toll from tho small fry. In those holes with tho natural minnow wo hear of big bags at night, and for the tnan who wants .trout it is the effective

way to get them, but it ( is sadly wanting in tho romantic clement." Actor Angler.—Apparently Mr Cyril Maude belongs to the fold. Thinking over the matter, and after seeing him as " Grumpy," I can quite realise he is. Without intending to pay any compliment to Mr Maude or anyone else, for I am. not •fond of adulation, I have noticed that it is, de facto, the thoughtful man who becomes tho angler. To a great many tho sport is "too slow " until they get the hooks of a minnow firmly imbedded in some part of their anatomy; or it may be till they get a 5-pounder or 6-poundcr on that tries their nerves. But return from this digression to Mr Cyril Maude. I am told that ho had a great day at the Contour Channel, and that he got only a brace of trout. As ho expressed it, he had a thoroughly enjoyable time. The day is described as magnificent I like the description. It indicates real enthusiasm and a total absence of sham. Fish Stories.—Bluff has unearthed a fish story which, however, has the exceptional merit of being founded on fact (says the Bluff Press). When cutting cabbages the other day in his garden Mr Henry Hamilton found a live fish about 6in in length under his cabbage. The fish was livings and he placed it in a bucket of water, which later on was changed for sea-water, and the fish is still living and swimming about quite vigorously.—l heard a very good fish story the other day. A man was staying at a fashionable hotel, and when walking in the grounds one morning he noticed a man fisbing from the balcony of the hotel. The landlord happened to be near, and the visitor inquired what the man on the balcony thought he was doing. The landlord replied that the man' was light-headed, and suggested that the visitor should go and have a talk with him., adding that he was a most interesting man to talk to; but he wanted humduring. Thp visitor followed out the suggestion, and found the fisherman was just a? interesting as he ! had beeo described. After some conversation the visitor thought it was about time to humour the angler, and suggested an adjournment to the bar for liquid refreshment. The angler readily complied with the invitation, laid down his rod, and proceeded with the visitor to tho bar. There the conversation was continued, and, thinking to humour the angler further, the visitor inquired, " How many have you caught?" "You are tho soventh," oame the reply. An organised igang of Southland poachers is said to be Working the Upper Pomahaka, Waipahi, Otamita, and other streams, dynamiting fish in a wholesale manner. They use acetylene lamps, and work at night and in early morning (says the Tapanui Courier). Young fish, valued at £IOO, belonging to the Ballarat Acclimatisation have died in the hatcheries from the effects of - the heat wave.