ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3335, 13 February 1918, Page 45

ANGLING.

By Jock Scott. —*-i ; , To be a perfect- fisherman you require moro 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 local Ashing news for insertion in this column. For Insertion in the ensuing issue they should reach Dunedin by Monday night'* mail.

BANK NOTES. The Tomahawk Lagoon.—A few goodsized fish were caught in the Tomahawk Lagoon last week. The work done by anglers in cutting away the weeds has proved beneficial. The Contour Channel. —It is reported that last week over 70 fish (trout and porch) were taken from the waters of the contour channel with the fly. The trout taken averaged about lib, and the perch were all well up to weight. The channel has the reputation of containing largo perch. What is a trifle unusual is that tho perch_ were takin 0, the fly. without any addition in the Bhape°of a gentil. One angler is reported to have caught a trout on the tail flv and on the dropper, and to have safely landed both. The fly was the black spider. _ To say a fly i 3 a spider sounds paradoxical; but anglers will understand. f The Waikouaiti. —Messrs A. Harris and G W. MTntosh spent tho week-end at Waikouaiti- On the Saturday evening they tried* all the larger-sized flies they could think of, but without success. The following day they went as far as The Forks, and sa\v fish rising, and big fish in the pools but again their efforts wore rcsnltless. This was largely due to the fact that there was no wind blowing, and tho water was verv-clear. The anglers tried every lure in their possession. Tho Mimihau-.—The Wyndham Herald of n. recent date says: "The finest trout, caught in the Mimihau .for some years was one landed by Mr W. Wotherspoon. It turned tho scales at weignt. It was forwarded to Dunedin. and a photograph, has been returned of the beauty. Wanaka and Kawea.— Angler is kind enough to send mo tho following:—'On tho 2nd inst. Messrs Anderson, Cockburn, and Fairbairn (Roxburgh), and Mr Jas. O'Kane (Alexandra) went on to the Wanaka and returned on tho 3rd. r J hey report tho Clutha River to be in splendid order. They had some verv good sport below the junction of the two rivers. They fished the Ilawca up to the lake, and got some very nico fish. If. "as on this river that a surpriso awaited them, when one of the part-"- hooked a large rainbow trout, which

ran up stream and then turned and ran down. In turning the lino got round a rock, and the *fish got out into the strong current and was going *'for all it was worth,' when by a fluke the line came oti the rock, and there was a sprint of a few hundred yards down the rioter after the fish With some persuasion the fish w'as finally landed on the beach. As-the angler said afterwards, it was alone worth the trip. The lake was next -visited, and some beautiful rainbowl were caught with the fly. In one case the fish, after being struck, took, a run of 75 yards before life was checked. There was some difficulty inlanding most of the fish, owing to their being in such splendid condition. One of the anglers in relating his experiences said that the trip was the best one he had ever had, and added that the Hawea was 'out on its own' as a resort for anglers.- It was one of the hottest places he had visited in Now Zealand, the weather experienced being beautifully warm and fine during his stay. The fish were all caught with the minnow, lake fly, and salmon fly. The party speak highly of the manner in which Mr R. Ross attended to their wants, and that it was largely duo to him that the trip was such a success. There has been no fishing done locally owing to the hot weather." The Clutha River is getting very clear, and " Angler " says he would not be surprised to see some big fish caugnt soon. A Holiday Trip.—For want of more solid angling information I may as well relate very -briefly my fishing experiences during a recent holiday spent at Pounawea. The Catlins River and the Owaka are not at all sutiable for trout-fishing at their junction, where Pounawea is situated, and I had therefore to fall back on cod, mullet, trcvalli, and buttcrfish—in fact, all was fish that came to my net. and the all did jiot consist of. many. In previous years I have made some great hauls of cod from the Oatlins fishing'from a boat, but on _ this occasion there did not seem to be a single ono in the river. The first attempt made by myself and party resulted in one butterfish being caught by a lady, the _ taking being accompanied by the usual excitement and "partially-suppressed feminine screams. A few days later we were "more successful, and caught about a dozen fish of mixed species. The sport lasted only for about three-quarters of an hour, but while it did last there was a merry time. After this we experienced high winds, which make fishing in the open river from a boat anything but pleasant, particularly for ladies. Besides, it was not a fishing excursion, and we had many spots we wanted to' visit. Far up the Owaka young Jock caught a good-sized eel, and' we saw a "whopper" close to the boat, and this completer! our angling ventures. I don't know whether going after crayfish with a circular net comes under the' head of fishing. If it does, I mayinclude the fact that at both Cannibal Bay and Jack's Bay I tried for crayfish, and got precisely nothing. I am given to understand that, the sea being suitable, there are plenty to be taken, but there was a heavy surf on the two occasions I made the attempt. I was told that there are plenty of big trout to be caught with rod and lino far up the Catlins, but as that was miles from where I was, I did not venture after thorn. These big fish sometimes prove to bo a myth —a flight of imagination or an exuberant fancy, and the trip might have ended in disappointment. As to the holiday ; as a whole, it was a very enjoyable one.— i J. S.