ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3489, 25 January 1921, Page 49

ANGLING.

By

Jock Scott.

To be a perfect fisherman you require more •xoellencies than are usually to be found in suc.b ft email space as is allotted bo a man's carcase.— Parkjbr Gilmour. Readers are invited to contribute items of looa! Sailing news for insertion in this column. Foi insertion in the ensuing issue they should reach Dunedin by Monday night’s mail.

BANK NOTES. Two more competitions are still on the programme of the Otago Anglers’ Association, the next being on the Lee Stream on February 5 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Although the river is low, an interesting competition should result. The following Saturday will see the final competition of the season. This takes place on the Waikouaiti, and as this river is still giving splendid results a large number of entries are expected. A correspondent writes to say that the Mataura is very clear at the present time, but still a number of good fish are being oaught. The writer says he caught five, all about 1 lb each. Another correspondent says: —“I had a good day’s sport on the Manuherikia. The Taieri River is in good fishing order just now, and I have had some very fair catches of fish ranging from £lb to 2jlb, all in ivptop condition.” I have to acknowledge with thanks the following news from an Australian visitor:— “In the seven days ending on the 14th, there was no decided run of sea trout at, the mouth of the Waiau, although a good many smelt were running. There is still a good volume of water in the river, and a few nice fish were taken at the mouth. Mr Menpes getting an Bj-pounder on Monday and Mr Brownridge four on Tuesday—the largest 101 b. On Friday, the trout took well for an hour after sunset, just above the present camps. Sir John MacFarland getting three and Mr Mac Diarmid, of Adelaide four, averaging a little over 51b each. From the working of the birds, the smelt seemed to be running up in midstream, and no doubt the trout were there also, so that there ought to be a good prospect for the week-enders. Owing to the change in the course of the river, much of the romance of camping is gone, for the “island” ford is too deep to cross and the old huts, which were not- removed in time, have been swept out to sea. But the hills and snow-capped mountains still remain, and some of the old charm of the place still holds sway, proved by the occasional motor car and picnic party which find their way there.”

Following is the result of shield competition held at Lumsden, on Wednesday, January 12:—Lumsden, 18, 91b soz; Dipton, four, 21b 14oz; Southland, four, 2lb 3oz; Winton, 14, 91b 4oz. Owin'? to some unfortunate misunderstanding, the weight of the catch became complicated, with the result that Winton and Lumsden tied for first place, the team winning between these two teams in next competition on February, 9th inst., to bo awarded first place for the initial competition. Messrs Holmes and Harris were at the Shag II iver last week-end, and caught 50 fish between them, hut the catch was composed of small trout. They angled between Glenpark and Dunback. and found the river excessively low, and the fish caught were in poor condition. The reason of the poor condition of the fish is easily gathered from the fact of the river being low. With a low river, the food supply is reduced. It is reported that there is an abundance of fish in the Shag River, but all, or nearly all, are small. The anglers found that the best killing fly was Greenwell’s Glory, in two sizes. Messrs Harris and Holmes were at the Lee Stream recently, and fishing the lower portion of the river experienced bard work in following up their pastime. They fished for about two hours and took a dozen fish, averaging fib, the largest weighing The baskets weie made with the March Brown and Red-tipped Governor. From the account given me, the fishing in this particular locality is of a very rough description. and more suitable for the younger and more active angler than the man who knows the best methods of experience but is not always able to put them into practice. Personally, I think the anglers struck the river at an inopportune time. Again I have to thank a real friend, who hails from Australia, for an interesting noto on angling. The note is dated the 21st inst., and comes from Benmore, and reads: “For those who think more of the fishing than of the trout caught, the Oreti about Benmore was in fine order last week. The water is so clear that the angler feels he deserves all lie catches. There is much satisfaction in picking up an odd trout that is lying, not thinking of flies necessarily, and a fly just in front of his nose. He decides to" have just that one, with fatal results to him and pleasant sensation to the fisherman. Unless one is very greedy, decent baskets can be got by careful fishing in the daytime. One angler got a dozen in less than two hours on Tuesday afternoon during u fresh south-west breeze, the largest 21b and eight of them over lib; while another got half a dozen on Thursday forenoon headed by a three-pounder. The favourite flies seem to be Greenwell’s Glory and Irish March Brown. Small flies and fine tackle are essentials. The evenings are too cool to tempt one out for aftersunset fishing, although there are some big trout to be seen in the river, for which no doubt this would be the most favourable time to try. The long spell of dry weather is affecting the general condition of the trout, and many of them are taking in their belts a hole or two.” “Creel” writes that he visited the Oreti at the Iron Bridge on the 12th inst., and obtained a nice bag of 12 fish on the Redbody Waipnhi and Hardy’s Favourite fly. Tiie heav at fish was Ijlb, although a fine trout 71b or 81b weight was hooked and played for some considerable time, evenufally beinglost in some “snags.” Hooked in the fast running rips a fish of this size takes some “landing” on a fine 3x cast, in this locality, as at the bottom of some rips there is a nice assortment of sunken Irecs, etc., that the fish seem to be quite conversant with. However. “Cree’l’ had his revenge at a later date. The above mentioned fish took the Rod Body Waipnhi fly. Mr Stanley Hal!, at Oporo, creeled a nice bag, the he.aviest fish being about 21b. Mr A. Butts, fishing the Apnrima with the minnow, landed five niee fish averaging about 21b. One unfortunate trout (says the Ashburton Guardian of the 17th) formed the total catch of anglers at the mouth of

the Ashburton during the week-end. Mr H. A. Humphreys hooked this lonely fish, which weighed lib. The river became very muddy yesterday, but local fishermen are looking forward to improved sport now that there is a greater flow of water in the ! river. This should be supplemented as goon as the thin layer of snow, which fell on the j hill tops during the past 48 hours, is : brought down by nor’-vesters. Better luck * awaited fishermen at the Kan "-it at a mouth, i Mr C. C. Roberts secured a line basket o. trout, and a salmon weighing 171 b. (juinnat salmon are reported to be earlier than usual this season. They usually appear first in the month of February. Good sport is therefore anticipated as far as quinnat salmon are concerned. The same newspaper of the 12th inst. records the following:— A 12-pounder trout was lauded at the Rangitata River mouth by Mr C. C Roberts last evening The fish was wellconditioned and almost a perfect specimen. Anglers at the Rangitata. have been experiencing very good sport recently, the fish being reported plentiful and of fair size.