ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3397, 23 April 1919, Page 43

ANGLING.

By Jook 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.— Parker 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. The Easter holidays have been most unfortunate for fishing. I know nothing as to anglers' doings. I can gather no news of what they have done or left undone. I am therefore compelled' to assum» the role of a prophet, and, going on the weather experienced, draw the conclusion that once "no news" does not necessarily mean "good news," and that on-most rivers in Otago and Southland no great deeds have been done with the rod. I may be wrong, but my prophecy is established on a firm foundation—the weather experienced ever since the beginning of the holiday season. I know from long experience that trout under the climatic conditions experienced during Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (there is nothing like being exact) were ''dead" against successful angling operations. All persons or communities of persons are more or lees unlucky, and in this instance the angler has had a bad run for his "Easter stakes," for which he has'been "hanging back" for in many cases, if not all. It is impossible to conceive that any river can have been in good fishing condition, that remark, of course, applying ;to Southland, Otago, and South Canterbury, during the past four days, and even had they been the weather would have driven the fish to what the gunman would describe, as "(cover." When you get cold, bleak weather, even with a river in the best condition, the odds are thousands to one that you will not catch fish (by fish I mean trout; most other fish may be caught under any conditions).. Building on that I know in other ways that we have ha'd the worst of weather for angling, and draw _ my conclusions accordingly. I have an idea that tho general verdict of anglers for the Easter holidays may be tersely expressed thus: "Had a good time, but did not catph many fish." That is a little forecast of my own, which may prove all wrong. But I have an idea that it will prove right. I have to express regret to anglers that I cannot give them any news, but at the last moment (midday Monday) I ■ find all sources of information closed against me. One "ray of light" is shed upon the position by a brother scribe, who has spent a day at Taie'ri Mouth. The "ray of light" on the whole position is that it blew so hard that "if a fish showed its nose above the surface of the water it had its whiskers blown off." A bit of hyperbole, no doubt, but still an indication of what may be anticipated within a 150-mile radius of Dunedin. «

I am- told from quite an outside source that a fair number of anglers have been tramping along the banks of the high waters of the Leith, and have shown the usual patience and pertinacity of the angler, but with poor results. I fear the fish are no longer there. If they are, with a rise in the water, even discounted by a severe''visitation of cold —what is called a "cold snap" —they must have, answered the call. A fresli in any river—and particularly in a small red weed body of water like the Water of Leith —means everything to the angler. In, conclusion I cordially invite anglers at a distance to send me any news concerning themselves or others by next Monday night. If they want anything recorded in the expiring hours of the angline: season it must reach me by then. If not, forever after "hould your whist." "Bank Notes" will close next Monday or Tuesday morning at the very latest till October next.