SOUTHERN OTAGO

Otago Witness, Issue 3913, 12 March 1929, Page 77

SOUTHERN OTAGO

A SPORTSMAN’S PARADISE.

By G. E. Fowler. (Special for the Otago Witness.| Modesty is a desirable attribute 14’’ many eases, but at times it may bq carried too far. The North Island troutfishing spots are brought before the noticq of Waltonian enthusiasts, with no uncertain voice, with the result that lovers of the piscatorial art annually, and in increasing numbers, make the North Island streams their Mecca, while the South Island streams are rarely heard of, Happy chance recently took me to the Tapanui district which is situated in southern Otago. There, within a short motor run of Dunedin, lies the beautiful Pomahaka River where fly fishing, equal to any in the Dominion, awaits one. Gently meandering towards the beautiful Blue Mountains, one obtains every class of trout fishing in this anglers’ paradise. For the greater part the river bottom is beautifully clean and sandy, making" it easy for one to traverse the water. Here and there one comes across rushing waters which allow fishing under much the same conditions as exist in the Waikato River, where the water from Lake Taupo joins that river. A few’ miles from Tapanui the Pomahaka and W aipahi Rivers unite, and leisurely, make their way to the beautiful Rankleburn Gorge, which is situated in the heart of the Blue Mountains. Gathering speed in this gorge the two rivers—now. one—flow within the confined walls of this mighty gorge until a connection’ is made with tne Molyneux on the other side of the range. In this gorge a fisherman at lastfinds that paradise of which he has sq long dreamed. A hut, which can be 1 ented for a nominal sum, has been erected by the Tapanui Anglers’ Clnb, and one can drive right up to this abode. The fishing to be obtained at Rankleburn is of the best, and fish of from 61b to 81b may be hoped for. Far from the track of civilisation, with the beautiful bush on all sides, and the cry of the bell bird nearby, Rankleburn has a charm which is irresistible and alluring-, especially to the tired city man. As’ time goes on the present modest but comfortable hut will give way to something much more pretentious, but to the lover of Nature the present conditions cannot be surpassed.

A few- nights ago I walked up the Blue Mountains at the back of Crookston. Thirty minutes’ climb brought me to the top of a ridge from whence, across a gully, J could see the beginning of the mountain-clad bush. In the hour of pleasant twilight, which I spent on the ridge, no less than a dozen fallow- deer came out of the bush to graze. Th 6 closest one was within 50 yards of where I lay, and every movement of these graceful animals was plain to the eye. Being in the velvet, the heads iii most cases were not good, blit a matter of a few weeks will make up that defect. One deer was almost pure white, resembling an .Angora rabbit, but, of course, on a much larger scale. Lying in the grass I whistled to attract the attention of the deer. Up went their heads and for a minute there they remained, like soldiers on guard, endeavouring to ascertain the cause of the noise’. Reassured they recommenced eating, showing no nervousness whatsoever. Most reluctantly, as the shades of night overspread the mountain, I left their haunts with the deer still quietlv feeding.

Some idea as to the great number of fallow deer that is on the mountain behind Crookston may be imagined from the fact that the season for destroyin'* them in that district is for the whole 12 months of the year, no license being required, whilst two shillings is paid for every tail obtained. In the winter time the deer come down in the nights to the flat lands, and do great damage to the turnips and winter feed of the settlers. It is of course quite impossible to fence them out. Owing to the fact that the Forestry Department has now planted the hills in the Crookston district with trees to within a few chains of the settlers’ lands, it is anticipated that the depredations of the deer will be even more serious in the future.

After a furlough spent in the Tapanui district—though an ardent North Islander—l came away quite satisfied that South Otago possesses greater potentialities from a sportman’s point of view than many of the much more boosted spots in the North Island.

Often, as one is worried with business cares during the year’s work, will come the remembrance of the water rushing through the Rankleburn and the little hut so picturesquely perched on the hillside.