ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3494, 22 February 1921, Page 38

ANGLING.

By

Jock Scott

To fr® ft perfect fisherman you require mors excellencies tiian are usually to’be found in such q small space as is allotted to a man’s carcase.— Pa.kk.uii Gilmour. Headers are invited to contribute items of locai fishing news for insertion in this column. Foi insertion in the ensuing issue they should reach l>unedin by Monday night's mail.

BANK NOTES.

It is a well-known fart, but ono of those facts that cannot bo proved, that poaching is lamentably prevalent on rivers in Otago and the whore. One Dunedin angler told me yesterday morning of ins experiences on the Shag River. Summarised, they were that he and another angler, while fishing the Shag River, sa-v a man destitute of clothing wading in deep water (it Iris to be remembered that all rivers are low at the present season of the year). This man was feeling under the banks and taking fish by hand —“guddling,” it is called—and throwing 'hem to two other men on the bank. The man in the water must have been a man of experience in poaching, judging by the way, I am told, he went to work. He was the master craftsman. That is one among many instances of how rivers are robbed. I have a similar communication from the Lindis (Central Otago) on similar lines which I must hold over in the meantime. But it all tends to show that poaching is even worse in New Zealand—T should say Otago—than in the Home Country, where it is closely watched and guarded against. I am quite satisfied that the poacher here gels too much latitude, and, when discovered, does not receive the pun ishment bis offence merits. The Waikouaiti competition bore very poor results. Tt was bold on the 12th inst., but, having to await the expiry of the period for sending in returns, I could not give results earlier. About five actually fished, and the individual c-atch was small, and practically no returns were sent in. As far as 1 cart make out Mr \V. Morgan was the winner, with a very poor catch that may probably have cost Mr Morgan trouble and skill. Apparently all the fish caught were very small, and the biggest basket made consisted of three fish of reasonable size. Tt was the final compeli tion for 1920-21, and what had been a reasonably good season, so far as competitions are concerned, wound up rather unfortunately. By way of explanation, brother anglers will understand what 1 mean when I say “it is all in the game”— one day a feast, the next day a famine. A good old friend writes on February 19 that the salmon are running at the Wai-

taki, and there are some good trout to be caught. Air A. 1-'. Stead, for two da va fishing, landed live salmon of a total weight of tOui, the heaviest—a beauty—weighing 241 b. Air Stead also secured five trout, the weight of which totalled 361 b. The heaviest weighed 111 b. Tho salmon are being caught near the railway bridge, and the trout near the fishing camp. My correspondent has not yet been successful in a salmon direction, and his remark that lie will have “to go up the river two or three miles if he wants to get them’’ leads me to believe that they have got a bit above the railway bridge, thoiwh that may be where they are congregated in the greatest number at present. My correspondent, however, only arrived on the scone quite lately, which would account for his not yet (laving done very much. From another source I hear Mr Fea and Mr Mitchell (Matama) are fishing the Waitaki. I was informed yesterday that Mr (’. P. M. Lutterworth., who is at the Waitaki just now, caught a 221 b quinnat. Air Alunro, a visitor here front Queensland, has been at Paradise, and, fishing Diamond l.ake recently, caught nine fish, averaging oib. which is regarded as a record for the lake. Mr Alunro, who wrote on the 18th itist.. is so delighted with tho locality and the angling that he lias made up his mind to continue fishing and remain in the district for some time longer. All his fish were caught on the fly. I want to acknowledge an interesting letter from the West Coast, the contents of which 1 hope to publish next week. An old correspondent far removed from Otago, but whose contribution is none the less acceptable (Mr J. Shivas), wrote me from Hokitika on February 7 as follows: “Alter long delay 1 thought 1 would try and give you a few fishing notes from the \Y< st Coast. The season all round since November has been very fair, and good baskets have been obtained, both with fly and minnow. About Ahaura several good baskets have been got by Messrs Walter •James and Constable Fryer, principally with 11 to fly. The fishing up the Ahaura River is very good. There are some line ripples all the way up to the Kopara, and, I understand, Air T. Lucy obtained some really fine specimens at the Kopara, the heaviest weighing Bflb. and the general average running about s!b. Air Lucy so far this season has landed about 130 trout averaging about oil), all caught on the Devon minnow, and lie, like the writer, uses an American casting reel. At Ahaura, the Grey River and Ahaura River junction, good fishing is obtained for miles up the Grey, which contains splendid ripples for fly-fishing, and in places provides excellent spinning water. The writer has on two occasions this season landed 15 and 17 trout- just above the junction, all caught on the Golden Devon. About Greyuiouth Air A. IT. Aliiner lias been getting some nice ones on the fly. Dr Cot Ur, from Ruuanga, has been getting some good ones on the minnow. The Terensakau River, a few miles above Kuntara, contains some excellent minnow water, but has not been fished inueli, as it is not very well known to anglers. The writer spent a clay there recently, and caught some fine samples of trout of ail average weight of about. and he can recommend this stream to all anglers. The A rah lira River (near Hokitika) is a splendid little river, is easily got at, and furnishes good sport for both fly and minnow. 1 believe Air ,J. Aluir has landed some fine ones this season in this river, the largest weighing 10! b. The writer, in company with Air la. Lloyd’ and Air R. Ivirwan, has visited tins stream nearly every week and caught some fine baskets of trout, including fish weighing up to Bilb. Air W. Braddon has also obtained some five and six-pounders. The loest flies for this river arc Hardy’s Favourite, Jessie No. 3, GreeiiweH’s Glory, Dark Red Spinner, and Waipahi, and when the river rises a little the Gold. Devon minnow will be found effective. The Hokitika River is in good order at present. Air J. locate has been landing some good ones on the minnow from this river; also, Mr E. Lloyd has landed some beauties on the fly. 'lhe .writer visited the tipper reaches of the Hokitika River a few days ago and landed some fine specimens of both rainbow and brown trout, the general average being about oib. inis part of the river is rarely fished, and is easily reached by motor, being only 20 miles from Hokitika, with a good, flat road all the way The scenery near the gorge is magnificent, and, according to Ait; Kiii-court (a well-known settler in that direction), the rainbow trout are fairly plentiful, and splendid models of fish. Air Hareourt is going in for a high-class American casting reel next season, and intends to spend his leisure hours beguiling the “speckled beauties.” II is son. Mr Mac Hareourt, is an angler who loves the sport. The upper reaches of the Hokitika River are very suitable for spinning, and in parts there is also some fine fly-fishing water, so it is quire an ideal spot to camp out for a week-end. I can recommend this spot to any visitors to the West Coast. Lower down the Hokitika River, at the junction of the Kokatahi River, the writer has landed some 71b anti 81b trout, all in nrst-class condition. Air \\ . Graham, at the Longford Hotel, Kokatahi. would no doubt direct any anglers who visit this part to the most likely spots on the river. I could give you informal ion about some of tho other rivers over here, but will do so on occasion if it will interest your readers. \\ e are expecting a run of quinnat salmon up the Hokitika River this season. I will let you know if any West Coast anglers ger connected and land one of these fine sporting fish. With best luck to ail brother anglers. ’ [l thank my correspondent very heartily for his news, and will be pleased to hear from him at any time.]