ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3806, 22 February 1927, Page 55

ANGLING.

By

Jock Scott.

To be a .perfect fisherman you require more excellencies than are usually to be found-in such a small space as Is allotted to t> -nan’s carcase.— Pabkzb Gilmour.

Beaders are Invited to contribute Items of local fishing news for insertion in this column. For Insertion in the ensuing issue they should reach Dunedin by Saturday night’s mail.

I “packed up my troubles in my old kit bag and smiled” as I stepped on board a Southland-bound train on the morning of February 15 intent on spending my annual holiday at the pretty little country village of Pounawea, which lies about two and a-half miles from Owaka, at the junction of the Catlins and Owaka Rivers, and about a couple of miles from the mouth of the former. I have been there on several former occasions, and have descanted on its beauties before. It is sufficient to say that it is an ideal place for holiday purposes, with its rivers, bush, beach, bathing, fishing, boating, and shooting. On this occasion I had the temerity to imagine that a “crib” and “tucker yourself” would be quite all right, but speedily found that baching is not “all my fancy painted.” Still we (my son and myself) got along exceedingly well, everything considered. It is true the running of the culinary department was not exactly a huge success. We had plenty of the wherewithal to appease hunger; in fact there was an abundance of even comparative dainties for “cribbers,” but the cooking—that was the sore point and the rock on which we split at the outset. Jerome, in “Three Men in a Boat,” writes about never having seen two men do so much with a pound of butter as George and Harris did, and I am fain to confess that we followed in their footsteps, with this difference: we did not confine our operations to butter alone. All the same, we lived quite high, if the potatoes did, at the outset, want a trifle more boiling. It is, however, wonderful what a little practice will do, and -at the end of three or four days my junior partner had become fairly expert with the frying pan and pot. I fancy I can see him now performing feats of agility in front of the" little range. I looked on admiringly, and gave him a word of encouragement now and then. It heartens anyone under such circumstances, and does nqt cost much trouble. My duties consisted of laying the table and washing up, and I flatter myself I am now a qualified scullery-maid or something of that kind. There were many amusing happenings; but I must get on with tlie little story. Trout fishing is not obtainable in the locality, but I went prepared to.xtry my luck at trolling. However, there are so many other sources of amusement at Pounawea that I never got some fearfully and wonderfully constructed devices for luring the wily trout I had with me into commission. About four miles up the Owaka there is a fairly long stretch of broken water, which I covered very carefully with the fly (Black Gnat)), but failed to stir anything. We had a bit of fun amongst the eels,/though it was daytime, and hauled »ut a few, which figured on the festive board in due course. I never could understand why so many persons have such a decided objection to eels, which, to my mind, are most delicately flavoured, though a trifle rich. A local man proved a good friend to us,. and we were on several occasions out netting with him at- the mouth of the Catlins.

Netting is not altogether devoid of drawbacks, but once the ice is broken these are all forgotten in the excitement that follows each haul. To step out of a boat, up to your knees in water, with a fairly good swell on, is, to the novice, not the most pleasant thing in the world, but one very quickly gets used to it. We were at the mouth of the riv- r three or foui' times with Freddy, and made some good hauls, the last of which he handed over to me to bring to town. ioles and flounders are plentiful at •’he mouth, but do not appear to be so numerous as they used to be further up the river. The catch generally includes some very large butterfish, mullet, and others of the finny tribe. We tried fishing the Catlins from the boat with the rod, but nearly always struck a windy day, and with rough water and a swiftly-running tide to contend with, did not manage' to do much good. Unless the fisherman had quite a couple of pounds of lead on his line, there was little chance of it gettting very far belo~ the surface. We spent a day going up the lake to Ratanui, and went two or three, miles up the Catlins, which narrows considerably there. The water is-very slow flowing, andno use for angling—at least. in daylight. There were plenty of trout in the river, judging by the frequent rises, but I failed to “wheedle” any of the fish. Casting is awkward owing to the growth of bush along the banks. One evening was spent up the Own.ia in quest of eels; a patient wait in the boat for two hours only_giving a return of one eel and one mullet. Of co/’-se we spent some time rabbit shooting, and bagged a few. Rabbits did not, however, appear to be very plentiful* near the township. Crossing the Owaka in the train I noticed that it w.s heavily encumbered with weed, and no moving fish were visible. The Glenomaru v, as looking in fine trim —just about right for successful fishing—but no one was visible along the banks. — JL'S. A good many Oamaru anglers were out with the rod and the minnow last .week end, and some fairly good baskets of trout are reported to have been secured. The Waitaki River has not been in fishing order for some days, owing to the snowwater' coming down. It is at present, how-

ever, showing signs of clearing. Several fine quinnat salmon, ranging up to 141 b, have been landed at the mouth of the river during the past week. The Waitaki River was recently in good fishing order, and several excellent baskets of trout have been secured. Mr G. Maynard landed a beautiful 1541 b trout, and Mr A. Thomson a fish turning the scale at 121 b. Messrs A. Tiddy and Weavers also secured good baskets, while Mr E. Boyle landed a quinnat salmon 1611 b in weight. Fishing about three miles off the Molyneux bar recently, Mr A. Rein, of Nugget Bay, hooked a splendid specimen of quinnat salmon weighing 271 b. The fish was taken on a groper line in about five fathoms of water.

Something in the nature of a freak eel was caught in the Kaupokonui River about a month ago, and was exhibited in Hawera. Except for a black spot at the end of its tail and another on the tip of its nose the eel is canary yellow in colour. The eel was caught by Mr Charles Davis in the Kaupokonui River about a month ago, since when it has been kept in captivity by Mr Les Mackay, of Otakeho. As long as two months ago M r Davis first saw the eel and made several attempts to catch it, at last managing to capture it on a small hook. The hook with which the freak was caught is still inside it, but nevertheless the eel still appears to be quite lively, and-has created a greatdeal of interest, especially on the part of the Maoris. ' During the past few days several people have commented upon the number of “fish” found in the drinking water (states the Stratford Post). These are about half an inch long, and somewhat resemble freshwater crayfish. Whilst the “fish” are quite harmless, it is somewhat startling to note one swimming round in what should be a glass of clear water. A record catch of trout for Taupo was taken by a party of four, headed by Air T. Riekit, of Taupo. Fishing in Whakaipo Bay, about eight miles from the Taupo township, on the northern shores of the lake, not far from the mouth of the Alapara stream, the party caught 69 trout in an hour and a-half. The fish averaged 71b, and the largest was 121 b. All were in excellent condition. Captain E. T. R. Carlyon, of Hawke’s Bay, caught 22 trout, averaging 71b, at Waitahanui for an hour’s fishing.