ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3429, 2 December 1919, Page 49

ANGLING.

By Jock Scott To be a perfect fisherman you require more »xcellencies 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. Foi insertion in the ensuing issue they should reaob Dunedih by Monday night's mail. .BANK NOTES. Waikouaiti 'Competition.—Three anglers sent in returns of the results they obtained in the Waikouaiti competition. D. Burt came fire -with five fish weighing 41b; H. Leah second with two fish weighing 31b 4pz; and H. Morgan third with four fish weighing The Waikouaiti.—Mr Harman Reeves, Dr Williams, Mr Birch, and Mr Geo. Sise were at the Waikouaiti, I hear, last weekend. The wind was blowing a stiff sou - west gale with occasional rain squalls. A number of fish were caught, but they were all small, nothing over lib being captured. The big fish were not apparently on the feed. Mr Prescott during the week took two very nice fish (five-pounders) out of the river between Orbell's and "Cherry" Farm. A local angler, fishing in the Merton pool on Friday night; caught a five-pounder and a seven-pounder, and was fairly successful during the last week or 10 days. Another angler, through the week, brought in a nice little bag of six fish running from 21b to 41b. The Molyneux.— Last week-end a Dunedin angler, fishing near Bale'itha with the - minnow, failed to stir anything. _ln desperation he put on a 6in cast, and, using the worm, very soon landed a trout of about a pound weight. Within the next half-hour he had on a fish about 21b weight, but this was lost owing to the line setting round a snag. Shortly after this he caught two one of which went over 21b.

The Waipahi.—Variable weather has prevented many fish being- caught in the Waipahi. Nothing over 21b or 31b has been taken during the last fortnight. Apparently about 41b is the heaviest so far caught during the present season. 'As an angler tersely expressed it, "Results poor." The Pomahaka.—The Pomahaka has evidently been yielding better sport than the Waipahi. The river is now in good order, and can be depended upon to remain so, unless something phenomenal happens to the usual climatic conditions. The fish are reported to be in very good condition. Mr W. M'Callura, who has been fishing this river, has been pretty successful. His heaviest fish has so far been 61b. Recently Mr M'Callum caught a couple of fish weighing 3lb each for two' hours' fishing. Unknown Waters.—There is, apparently, in the jieighbourhood of Queenstown a small stream called the Lochie which was recently visited by Mr Neil M'Kay, of Dipton. Mr M'Kay reports well of the river. The Lochie is said to be particularly good in the cricket season. .

Southland Rivers. —The Southland rivers have been fairly high lately, with a good deal of snow water in them. The snow is fast disappearing, and these rivers should soon be at normal. The Waitaki. —According to reports, although the conditions at the Waitaki during the last week were very nearly ideal for fishing, the score or so of anglers at work caught nothing till the end of the week, -one trout being landed. Strangely, plenty of fish were observable, but they seemed to be capricious and disinclined to take. Competition at Wyndham.—Another of the series of angling matches arranged by the Wniton Anglers' Club took place on Wednesday afternoon, and eight baskets weighed in at Gray's sample room in the evening, (says a Southland exchange). The total catch was 81 fish, weighing 77!b 14oz; thus the average weight was close on lib: and as the heaviest fish (landed by Mr John E Mitchell) was 21b, it will be seen what a nice even display there was of "speckled beauties," all in splendid condition. Conditions of match were: Any stream; any legal bait; sealed handicap. The following was the actual weight of the respective baskets:—John E. Mitchell 18 fish, weighin? 191 b 2oz; Allan Udv 10 fish, 141 b; Frank Mitchell 18 fish. 111 b 12oz; Archibild Gregory 10 fish. 101 b 4oz; Chas. King 8 fish, 61b; Jack Macpherson 7 fish, 51b 14ox: Al'-fi Young 5 fish. 51b 12oz; A. T. Ross 5 fi«h, 41b 2oz; total fish caught, 81; total weight. 771 b 14oz. Gregory, Young, and Ross tried their luck on the Wyndham. while the other five competitors cast their flies in th« Mimihau. Every man as he came in declared that he had had a "hard" afternoon with rod and line. On the handicaps being added, it was found that the winning anglers were: —John E. Mitchell (scr) 191 b 2oz. 1: Jock Macpherson (150 per cent.) 141 b lloz, 2; Frank Mitchell (10 per cent.) 141 b loz, 3. Next in order were: Udy (scr), 141 b; Gregory (scr). 101 b 4oz; King (50 per cent.), 91b; Young (20 per cent.), 61b 4oz; Ross (10 per cent.), 41b Boz. After the competitors had parcelled off their individual requirements, the remainder of the catch was divided between the hon. members of the club. s

Hayes Lake. —Some fine trout are being caught in this piece of water, which lies not far from Queenstown. The Lake County Press states that one evening last _ week a local angler secured five fish weighing 161 b the heaviest turning the scale at 341 b. The Otapiri.—The Winton Record says:— "On Monday. 10th inst.. three fishers, including a visitor from the north, went by motor to the upper reaches of the Otapiri, and played the 'gentle art' so artfully that olose on three score and ten speckled beautics (averaging about 21b) justified their

existence by .gladdening the heart of sporting man. During the previous week the Oreti also came in for a share of attention, and many large 'finnies' were hired to their doom. Though larger than their kindred in the Otapiri they were not so 'game,' and, says the visitor from the north, to any true sportsman out for a day's pure delight, allow me to recommend the upper readies of the Otapiri—especially Taylor's Creek." Lake Alexandrina.—l got a hint last week that angling was brisk at Lake Alexandrina, but at that time could not obtain any particulars as to what was actually doing. A special to the Press, dated from Timaru on the 25th November, says:—"lt was predicted that when rainbow trout were first liberated in Lake Alexandrina (Mackenzie Country) that some day they would make an angler's paradise of that region After waiting patiently for some years that day has apparently arrived. A local angler who went up to tho lake this week to try his luck returned to town with a basket of magnificent rainbow trout, whicn he caught in an hour and a half. There were nine of the fish, their respective weights being as follows:—13. 94, 9, 84, 8, 8 8,6, and 541 b. 'The lucky angler was fishing about a mile from the spot where he had left lis car and' he had to stop fishing because he could not carry any more fish. Later the same day he wont to the head of Lake Tekapo, and caught three brown trout, which scaled 74, 7,. and 71b respectively. The Ashburton River.—An angler reports seeing, at the mouth of the Ashburton River, big fish riding the lagoon very much after the manner of porpoises. Present indications point to a good season the_ hsh apparently having returned to the river. Mr H. Anderson landed a fine fash on Inday scaling.74lb when cleaned, and Mr H. P Arnts was responsible for two beauties weighing 541 b and 7lb respectively.—Ashburton Guardian. The Hakatere.—Anglers report that sport was dull at the mouth of the Hakatere during the week-end (ssays he Ashburton Guardian). Miss Knox landed three nico fish and Mr W. Anderson also had one to his credit. Mr J. Sinclair also took a fine fish on Friday night. A working bee of anglers caried some 300. bags of shingle to improve the protective ' arm thrown out last year to divert the current of the. Ashburton River from the huts where it sweeps round the bluff to run parallel with tne sea South Canterburv.—The Timaru Herald says: —"Trout fishing continues poor in South Canterbury rivers. Generally speaking, only small fish are being caught, and comparatviely few even of these lnere was a good run of 'silvenes' and herring at the mouth of the Rangitata River last week, and a few trout, weighing up to four and five pounds, were caught. Ihe Ashburton Guardian writes:— "October is always a bad month for fishing owing to the melting snow on the ranges and the milky state of the rivers. Yesterday, tor tho first time since the opening of the season, all the Canterbury rivers were reported clear, and the angler expects from now on to have better conditions ur-der which to exercise his art." . Lake Taupo.—A party of four Napier anglers spent seven hours fishing on Lake Taupo. They landed 70 fish between them, the average weight being three pounds. They report that the fish are in great condition and provide good sport.—Exchange.