LAKE ONSLOW.

Otago Witness, Issue 3764, 4 May 1926, Page 79

LAKE ONSLOW.

A TRANSFORMATION

GOLD-MINING TO ELECTRICITY, IRRIGATION, ANGLING.

By

GEORGE M. MOIR.

U. After a light meal we made a start, my father, who accompanied me, taking one side while I waded to tb" across the weir U( \ " ‘IZ of water flowing over it. The driver of the car set out to a long peninsula on the southern side, where good fishing is often obtainable. The fish were not rising well, so that after three or four hours when the driver set out on his return journey, we had not 10 fish among three rods. About tea-time the weather looked rather threatening but the rain passed over just before it set, the sun shone out brightly producing a most beautiful effect as it tinted the lower sides of the grey storm-clouds with its evanescent hues. There were portions, too, of a rainbow here and there. Altogether the lake reflecting the colours of evening the rolling tussock lands sloping away to the hills through long ridges and deepshadowed valleys, and the divers-coloured clouds produced a marvellous picture. We succeeded in getting a few more trout making a total since our arrival, of 15 for two rods. It was dark when we returned to the but, and we made our beds on the floor with a folded tent for a mattress. Two shepherds who had arrived late in the afternoon made a total of eight in the hut. We were not sorry to leave our hard bed early next morning, and arose to a breakfast of fried trout cooked bv a capable and enthusiastic young chef. Not long after six o’clock we set out round the north side to the head of the lake where, according to reDort, the best fish were to be caught. It was a beautiful morning with every prospect of a hot day. Attempts at likely spots here and there on the wav up met with little success. Near the head a fair sized creek comes in from the north. This derives its name, the Digger, from the fact that in the early days sluicing operations were for a short, time conducted on its banks some three or four miles from the lake. To cross the Digger involved a long detour for it has cut a deep winding course in the peaty soil and a spot narrow enough to jump had to be sought up-stream. Not far from the mouth cf this creek the main channel of the old stream flows into the head of the lake. It is close in to the hillside here and a short, low peninsula running parallel to it enables the angler to fish a considerable stretch of it. Here our luck turned, for the fish seemed to be “on the take.” With a wind behind us from the north-west we were able to make long casts out. over the channel in the depths of which the trout lay. By wading out carefully on a shallow ledge, I reached more distant water which yielded several nice fish, about a pound and over . They were all Loch Leven trout and gave splendid sport. Mv father was doing well from a point below some rocks not far from the neck of the peninsula, but, strange to sav, the local anglers, three of whom were with us, bed poor luck. One got a few with the worm, but the others, fishing round the point of the peninsula, tried both fly and minnow without success. Shortly afterwards I did very well at this same point where, in less than an hour, I got 10 fish from one to three pounds. For some of these I waded out 20 or 30 yards on the ledge beyond the point, but the greatest caution was necessary to avoid getting into the channel or into potholes. As I was doing so well I continued fishing, while the other, who had been less successful, had an early lunch. We were verv sorry we had not brought with us a billy which we could easily have boiled with the drv rushes and tussock. After lunch one of the local men set out round the east side but he had poor luck as the strong wind made it difficult "for him to cast in many places. The other two returned across the Digger and waded out on a shallow point to whpre thev could fish in its deen channel. We could see one in particular very active there and when we overtook them on our wav hack later in the afternoon we were glad to hear that thev had retrieved their bad luck of the morning. Their combined total was now in the vicinity of 50 and their catch compared quite favourably with ours in both size and number. Before we reached the hut we had each one or two more, but these -ere rather smaller fish. The trout at the lower end of the lake appear to average half a pound to a pound in weight, hut at the upper end the average is from one to two pounds, while it is said to be possible to "et fish up to six pounds with the worm. The larger amount of food brought into the top of the lake bv the. creeks there no doubt accounts for the difference in size. Those who know sav 'hat the same difference exists at the Manorhurn Dam, the upper end of is easilv reached from Lake F slow. The Digger creek is followed for some three or four miles and then a tributorv valley in the same northerly direction. A saddle is crossed and the upper end of dam vill be found «ome eiuht or 10 miles from the lake. Unfortunately there is no accommodation available at this part of the dam, so that it is necessary to carry a tent or else be prepared to sleeo ont under rocks or tussocks Although bigger fish (m> to eight or 10 pounds! are to be caught in the Manorburn. local opinion appears to favour as a sporting fish the Loch Leven trout in Lake Onslow compared with the rainbow in the former. After tea that, evening the north wind was rather cold, but mv father and I ventured out and managed to get a few

more fish, making our t-ctal for the day 44 and for the trip nearly 70. It is worth mentioning that the total for four rods on this particular day was over 80. It may be asked what was done with so many fish, borne, of course, were eaten at the lake, but most of them were brought back to Roxburgh where they were gladly received, especially at the little hospital. In order to make them keep, they were cleaned soon after being caught and dried by exposing inside and out to the sun and air, and finally sprinkled with pepper to keep the flies off. Some brought to Dunedin were found to be in quite good condition three days after being caught The flies which we found most successful were the Alexandra and the Red Teal. The c 4|ltter has a light grey wing and its red body is very similar to the red dragonflies which abounded at the margin of the lake. The former has a bright metal lie body which seemed to be very attractive. These flies proved deadly bait during both daylight and dusk, and if any preference were to be expressed it would be in favour of the Alexandra for evening fishing A fair-sized hook is worth using; number six was not too large to kill both large and small trout. We were fortunate in experiencing a breeze from the north-west, as the local men say that the fishing is verv poor with an east wind. This is no doubt due partly to the fact that the latter is rather colder, but also because it makes it much more diffi cult to cast over the best fishing spots I is also said that when the lake is about a foot lower' (or some eight inches short of running over the weir) it is possible to wade out to fish many good spots which we passed by, more through ignorance than otherwise. Before we took our departure the local men had completed the repair of the boat and given it a coat of tar. If it is carefully handled it should be very serviceable for a year or two vet as a meant cf reaching easily the better fishing grounds at the head of the lake. Unfortunately men occasionally visit these distant parts who are only too glad to make use of whatever conveniences they find without troubling to take proper care of them. The iron hut, which is said to belong to the Public Works Department, is also worthy of some attention. Sooner or later more water must be conserved in the Jake and this will involve raising the height of the weir. It would be much better to spend a little now to repair the hut while this is possible than to have to build a n*w ■ .one altogether when the work at the reic becomes necessary. Perhaps the Acclimatisation Society might be persuaded to make a small grant towards the repawn, for, in addition to trout fishing in siftnmer, duck shooting in winter provide* an at-

traction. We had thought that the hut was well-filled with eight the first night, but there were more the second, although the tw< shepherds had departed. Just at tea-time a man who had driven a buggy miles from Miller’s Flat, arrived with his wife and child and two girls. They had brought with them a tent for the ladies, but, owing to the lack of poles, had to pitch it over the buggy. Had the hut been in better repair the necessity for this would probably have been obviated. The authorities might also consider the planting of some trees in the neighbourhood ,both to serve as shelter for the hut and to provide a much-needed supply of firewood. The third day (on which we departed) was much ,too windy for fishing, and those who tried met with little success. Before we left the two shepherds were back at the hut, after having driven their sheep aw'ay over into .he Serpentine Creek to within six or cjight miles of the Styx. They had exchanged their little flock of stragglers for another little flock, W’hich had like-wise strayed through the boundary fences into other runs It seemed a tremendously long journey for two men to make in order that about 50 6heep should be restored to their proper’owners. The rain, which threatened, fortunatelv held off so that we were enabled to return to Roxburgh up to time. After the climb up from the lake, the most of the journey is downhill, and we completed it in about an hour and three-quarters, while the local men, who were driving horses and traps, took about twice as long. We had had a most successful trip, and one which we have no hesitation in recommending to ethers, whether they wish to try the fishing, to admire the views, to see the splendid pastoral country, or to investithe irrigation and hydro-electric possibilities of Lake Onslow.