BANK NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3595, 6 February 1923, Page 47

BANK NOTES.

COMPETITIONS. Following are the competitions fixed upon for this season by the Otago Anglers’ Association : Waikouaiti River, February 10. Last Friday two Dunedin anglers fished tne \\ aikouaiti River, but without success, -rhey found the river with plenty of water in it and in good fishing order, but, in their case, the fish failed to respond to the full. It is true one of the two had many fish rise to the minnow, and he reckons that he lost a dozen short-rising fish that just failed to reach the tail triangle. Mr Gil - land—so I am told—was one angler—perhaps the only one —to meet with anything like success. Snags are reported to be numerous on the Waikouaiti River. A Dunedin angler who visited the Shag on Saturday last reports the river clear and low-. Ihe weed has had a good clean out, especially in the lower reaches. All the fish taken were small, under lib weight, and in good condition. Creel,’ writing in the Southland Times, says; ‘Climatic conditions were again not very satisfactory for last week-end. The rivers, with the exception of the Makarewa, were in fairly good order, but as far as I can learn there was nothing exceptional in the way of ‘bags’ taken. The Oreti in its lower reaches was in good minnow order, but a few odd fish only were caught. Upcountry better results were obtained. Mr J. Pagey (Winton) killing two good fish weighing about. 41b each on the Pomahaka fly. Messrs Miller and Cuthill, at Loch id. landed four heavy fish on the ‘natural’ at i Q u ' te a number of anglers drew 'a ‘blank’ day on Sunday. On the Makarewa, Messrs A. Hinton and H. Geddes landed two tish weighing about 2£lb each on the artificial minnow.” The \\ aiau is reported to have provided very disappointing results to anglers for the past few weeks. Only odd fish were caught, there lias not been a run of fish for some time. 'the Aparima was lately on the rise, and not suitable for fly fishing. A few fish were caught on the “Red Governor” and “Alexander” flies. Alessrs Ratcliffe and Hinton caught half a dozen fish in the Makarewa River recently, the lightest weighing 21b and the heaviest over 51b. Fishing in the Ashburton River continues to be an unprofitable procedure (says a recent exchange). At the Rangitata. however, much better luck was met with, and anglers were well satisfied with their takings. Some splendid bags were also taken out. of the Rakaia. ’the last competition of the Otago Anglers’ Association takes place on Saturday next at Waikouaiti; hours from 6 p.m. 'till midmght. The last report received stated that the river was in good fishing order. Writing from Po-unawea, a correspondent who is spending a holiday there states that, when passsing the Glenomaru, that stream was in perfect order for fishing. The Molyneux was also looking in capital trim. During his stay at that favourite seaside resort tPounawea). he says the weather experienced was anything' but agreeable. High winds prevailed almost continuously, sometimes rising to a gale and making boating (one of the main attractions of a very charming spot) unpleasant and at times risky. That condition to a very large extent put a stop to fishing, cf which there was plenty to be had, given reasonable weather conditions. When he spoke of fishing he explained that he meant coarse fishing with the hand line, or a stout rod, and mentioned that the fish to be caught were butter-fish of large size, mullet (many of them very big. and red cod (at present not very numerous in the Catlins River estuary). Some enthusiasts had spent whole days standing on the shore of the rivethauling in butter-fish, of which they never failed to make a goodly bag. Trout did not appear to be plentiful in either the Catlins or Owaka, at the junction of which the small township of Pounawea stands. Shortly before my correspondent’s visit barracoota were exceedingly numerous at Jack’s Bay—a pleasant walk of about three miles from. Pounawea. These had evidently come close in to the rocky coast that lies right opposite Jack’s Island, whence good sea fishing is obtainable about low water, with the wind north-east. From reports a fair number of ’couta were captured here with the deep sea line. Flounders were not plentiful in the Catilns River, once so famous for yielding prodigious hauls of flat fish. My correspondent spent a few hours up the Catling fishing, and made a good bag of fine butter-fish. On another occasion he was out with one of the residents netting, and a good haul of mixed fish, principally mullet, was made. In company with the same gentleman, he took a run down the river in the boat, to visit a net spread near the mouth of the Catlins, and eight or ten very fine mold and a couple of red cod were found fast in the meshes of the net. The only place where he had seen a trout break the surface of the water was about as far up the Owaka as a “flatty” can go. It is not angling water, though he ihinks a few trout of decent size might be taken with the rod at dusk or after it becomes dark. In conclusion. Vie says; “Pounawea has been so often written about that it would only be tiresome repetition for me to refer to its many beauties and great attractiveness as a holiday resort. As for the residents, they are kindness itself, and are most helpful and hospitable.”