ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3488, 18 January 1921, Page 19

ANGLING.

By

Jock Scott

To be a por'ect fisherman you require mors sxeeilenoiea than are usually to" be found in suob H 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 reaoii Dunedin by Monday night's mail.

BANK NOTES.

A Dunedin angler fishing in the Taieri River in the vicinity of Ailanton about a week ago made a good basket of perch. He took 18 fish, running from lib to 2i'b in weight. The fish were caught with the worm and minnow. He states that the river is “teeming” with perch. Though it is far afield, it may be of interest to anglers to know that there is a lagoon within half a mile of Pukeuri Freezing Works, which is well stocked with perch and tench, and also a few trout. My informant says, “If anyone wants to visit the place there is good accommodation at Pukeuri.” Ho adds that anglers are sure to get good baskets, but says that the company (presumably the Freezing Company) is not anxious about all and sundry fishing the lagoon, though ready enough to concede the privilege. Reports from the Waikiki state that fishing there is distinctly satisfactory, and that large baskets were made during the holiday season. I have it on good authority tHat it is more than likely that there will he a run of quinnat salmon in the Waitaki at no distant date. A distinguished visitor from Australia, writing from Winton on the Bth inst., says: “The Oreti, like most of the rivers in Southland, is now low and clear, but even in the daytime good flags can he got by upstream fishing with light tackle and fly, principally along the banks. The prevailing south wind, although not generally favoured by anglers, was a great help to this method. Between Benmore and Loelu’el, the trout to be secured in this way run from a halfpound to a little under 21b, with an occasional “lost” big one. It ought to be generally known that there is now an ideal fisherman’s inn at the Benmore Hotel, Kauana, situated just on the bank of the river. The present, proprietor has transformed the place. Ho has added a comfortable Eittingroom and a number of bedrooms. The cooking is of the best. Both cleanliness and comfort can be depended on. The Otaperi we hear, is too low at present to make a <l-Alight expedition there worth while.”— (Many thanks for the note. —J. S.) A correspondent, writing from Roxburgh on the Bth inst,, kindly sends me the following information:—“A few notes about the Teviot River and Lake Onslow may be of some interest to yonr readers. The writer lias fished those waters for the past 20 years,

and always spends a week or ten days once a year at Lake Onslow. A party of three (J. Cook, B. Buchanan, and T. Gilchrist) spent a week at New Year on the Lake. This place is reached by a four-and-a-half-hours’ ride of about 29 miles from Roxburgh up the Teviot River. The .weather was hot and clear, with a steady wind from the south all the time. B. Buchanan scoured the largest fish (Slbj below the outlet of the Lake, and one 61b, using the Devon. T. Gilchrist, using Gordon’s Fancy, secured three four and one six-pounder in the Lake. J. Cook’s largest fish was a three-pounder, and was taken on the Red Tip Governor. The total number for the week was 21, averaging 2-jlb to 31b. Tha catch was poor owing to the lake being allowed to run out for the past four seasons. Two seasons ago the fish were lying in thousands stranded down the river, some up to 151 b, and the same thing is going to happen this year in about two weeks’ time if some protective measure is nut adopted. It would be of great benefit if the society would confer with the mining company and have the gates shut down before the lake is totally run out. Thia would be no hardship to the owners. It would only mean shutting down two to three clays earlier than usual and, incidentally, starting sooner. The lake is be ing sadly oepleted _ every year through this cause. Considering she is about three miles long and one mile wide, it will take from tour to rive years (providing she is no# again chained) to stock it to its once famous condition. The main river leading frqm tile lake is teeming with small animal life, and through the above cause the qualitv of }‘ IQ . rish is becoming poorer every year. 'S his might seem strange after reading that fish up to 81b were caught, but this is exceptional, as this class of fish are few and fan Detween. the largest fish are dying in tha warm tepid shallow waters, whilst the fry and smaller fish take shelter in the numerous cool spring-water creeks flowing into the rlver - Shags were noticed to be more plentiful than they have been for years. B. Buchanan accounted for nine of them. I arailise duck and swans are plentiful. Tha greys are not down from the creeks vet, If it were made possible to regulate the water supply- from Lake Onslow we would have one of the best fishing rivers and lakes fn Otago.—Sport.” Several splendid bags of trout are now being cauo-ht in the Oreti near Centre Bush (says the Winton Record). Messrs H. Hammond, R. Boyd, if. Harris, and a few more local sports, report having had good luck. Several dead fish have been noticed coming down the river lately, and ft is feared that other means than the rod have been used. Ihe Ashburton Guardian of the 10th inst. says:—“Fishermen at the mouth of tha Rangitata during the week-end were moderately successful. Mr A. Cates secured a good basket, and Mr O. Tovoy hooked three good-sized trout. The water at the mouth of the Ashburton is exceedingly low, and few fish will bo caught until there is a fresh in tho river. Holiday-makers at Ilakatere were successful in sea-fishing enterprises, herring, kahawai, and a few sharks being netted.” Complaints continue to be received from anglers concerning inaccuracy of the daily official reports on the state ‘of the fishing ; livers in South Canterbury (says the Timam Herald of January 13). Anglers in the Rotorua district have en- ! joyed good sport recently, trout of fine ) quality being plentiful in the various lakes. Numbers of large catches have been reported, and heavier fish have been caught this season than for many years. Good sport has also been obtained in the upper Wanganui River, where trout are present in large numbers, and in the Whakapanui. At Whakatane trout were plentiful in the early part of the season, but owing to the abundance of whitebait tho fish did not take the fly freely.’ Beyon Ruatoki the Maoris are keeping the majority of anglers away, and visitors must receive permission to fish from local chiefs. A number of sportsmen have enjoyed fine fishing in this district. It, is rather peculiar how, when one means of help fails, another comes to light. I could extend the idea, but, to be practical. I am indebted to a recent publication of the Digger for the following new*: —• “Messrs R. Kidd and G. Brenton visited Lady Darkly last Saturday (Saturday week), and landed some 17 fish between them on tho fly. The weather was very bright, and several fish from 21b to 51b were observed Iving in the shallow water. Hardy’s Favourite. March Brown, and Dark Red Spinner were the popular flies.” r Mr Geo. Byars (Wallaeetown) landed a: splendid Makarewa trout 9|lb weight on the natural bully. The trout was in very fine condition, and, I (Creel) understand, “lie did eat well.” Trout from this river are very palatable, the only fish to equal them, in the writer’s opinion, being fish caught in the Otaria (Otago district). Mr R. Kidd, during the course of the holidays, visited the Mimihau, and creeled i 13 nice fish, the heaviest weighing 31b. Dark Red Spinner, Jessie No. 4, and March Brown were the killing flies. I hear that two anglers at Lochiel landed 18 and 16 fish respectively averaging Jib. 1 Pevoril of the Peak proved fatal. The waters of the Oporo yielded 10 fish to the skill of Mr Gonnollv. the average weight of the catch being lib.