ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3338, 6 March 1918, Page 43

ANGLING.

Bt Jock Soott. To b« a perfect fisherman you require more excellencies than are usually to be found in such a small spaoe as is allotted to a man's carcase.— Parker Gilmour. Readers are invited to contribute items of local ashing news for insertion in this column. For Insertion in the ensuing Issue they should reach Duaodia by Monday night's mail. BANK NOTES. Tomahawk Lagoon. —Sixteen anglers were busy with their rods on the Tomahawk Lagoon last week-end, and up to 10_ o'clock only two fish had been caught. This looks as if sport at the lagoon had fallen ol* in the meantime, and the probable reason for that is the heavy easterly winds that had 1 been experienced tho previous week-end. Mr Jaa. Leckie caught 10 fish weighing about 301 b, and Mr Arnold two, of about lilb each. About the middle of the week just expired Mr J. Permin. caught nine fish, weighing from gib to 3ilb; _Mr Lambert seven fish much, the same weight. Mr J. Kilner's total for each week was 11 fish, heaviest being about 51b. ■ From what I hear all tho trout taken have been secured ■with the bare fly, of which a variety had been used. Report says that there are evidently a good many fish in the lagoon, and that the wind is not so troublesome. The Waitaki. —I am given to understand that- Messrs Geo. Crow and J. A. Roberts had taken their departure to the Waitaki with the object of having some sport among the quinnat, or, I presume, any decent fish that they may bo legally entitled to take. Their intention was to go to the Redcliffo Hotel, at a point some 12 miles above Glenavy with an unspellable name. Making a guess at the name, it is Ikowa. As to what has recently been done on the Waitaki River I can say nothing. I can glean nothing from newspapers local to the district; nor can' I gather_ any information as the result of the inquiries I have made. Summed up, I cannot supply any information. Messrs G. L. Moffet arid Studholme, I understand, arc leaving for Redcliffs about the middle of the week, and intend spending a week on the Waitaki after the salmon.

The Oreti.—l hear that some good trout have been caught between Lumsden and Caroline, the bait used being the soleskin minnow, with red-pointed gills. Some anglers have apparently taken a "short cut" in preparing their minnows (it has to be_ borne in mind that many anglers make their own minnows), and have used sealing wax as an alternative to paint; but this is apt to be "chipped off." I have tried it myself. This colouring matter has apparently a real, or fancied, attraction for the trout of tho Oreti. and particularly for the larger fish. Mr Clarke, so I am told, landed a Impounder from the Oreti within 1 tho last week in the ne : ghbourhood of Oporo. Poolburn. —This stream, situated in Central Otago, is reported to be very low, and full of weeds, with the exception of a little fishablc water in the gorge.

► Now River. —An angler at the New River caught/ a trout weighing 13ilb with the fly (reports the Southland News). The fish had an artificial minnow in its mouth.

Low Rivers. —The Cromwell Argus of February 25 contains some comments on fishing. It says: "The angling season so far is probably the worst anglers have experienced for many years, and in numerous instances catches have been so poor that fishermen hav'e placed their tackle asidetemporarily. Some maintain that the river* (presumably Clutha) is seriously depleted of fish, but a more general opinion is that with the stream at such; a low level, and the extreme heat prevailing, the trout are confined in deep water beyond the command of anglers. The position with regard to netting in the lakes is the same, and here also residents contend that the fish are well out in the deep, cold water. In regard to the Clutha, eels abound, and large numbers are being taken out by hooks and baskets. It may be possible to more accurately judge the position after the first rise." Owing to dredges in the Waikaka district curtailing operations, the Mataura River has cleared considerably, and many anglers are securing good fish on the minnow.

Two young men were caught red-handed attempting to get trout from the Pomahaka River by a method not in keeping with the law. The ranger of the Otago Acclimatisation Society (Mr F W. Pellett) paid a visit to the locality and surprised the young men shooting at the fish with a pea rifle. He secured their names, the rifle, and a box of cartridges, and prosecutions will follow.

An • angler at the New River caught a trout weighing 13£lb with the fly (reports the Southland News). The fish had an artificial minnow in its mouth.