ANGLING.

Otago Witness, Issue 3996, 14 October 1930, Page 48

ANGLING.

By

Jock Scott.

To be a perfect fisherman you require more txcellencies than are usually to be found in such J. small space as is allotted to a man’s carcass. VARKBR GILMOUR.

Beaders are invited to contribute items of local Ishing news for insertion in this column. For insertion in the ensuing issue they should reach Dunedin by Saturday night’s mail.

A Dunedin angler informs me that the Manorburn dam will not be in good order lor fishing for a month or six weeks to tome. The reaeon he has for coming to Hiat conclusion is the presence of a great deal of snow and ice lying about the dam. The fifc'h are apparently out in the middle of the dam, and in very poor condition. At any rate, those caught were poorly, and some were found to contain spawn. The snow was lying pretty well down to the edge of the water when the party visited the locality a few days ago, and was frosted over and hard. He reports that the Wedderburn Creek was in very good order, and fish in good condition, weighing up to 11b, were taken Another Dunedin angler of several years’ experience states that he was on the Taieri River lately, and only one small fish was taken by him on the natural bait. He. was one of a party which paid a visit to the Shag River about a week ago, and tried the worm and the minnow, getting a few fish of about 41b weight. Coing further up the stream, he took several more trout, and lost a few more. Most of them were small Scotch brown trout, and, to use his own expression, when hooked “ they did go to market.” The heaviest fish creeled weighed about 11b. He offers the opinion that there are not too many fish in the river, and his reason for doing so is that when he approached any pool there was very little sign of the fish making a rush from the shallows along the bank for the deep water in the centre, as has been the case in previous seasons. That, however, I suggest, is not a sure sign of an absence of fish in the river. It may be that other anglers had passed that way not very long before his arrival, or that the fish may have preferred the deep water to the shallow, and were keeping to it. He mentioned that the Shag “ got a big thrashing” from anglers on the Sunday, and that. motor ears and buses were to be seen in all directions. As these all arrived full of expectant anglers, it naturally follows that the river would get “a thrashing” from the rodsmen. The same angler was at the Waikouaiti River, which he found in good fishing order, but was unsuccessful in luring any fish. .He was on the same stream prior to this occasion, his only remark concerning that visit being that “it was the poorest morning I ever had.” I have to thank a Waitahuna contributor, who writes under the nom de plume of “ Sport,” for the following information:—First he tells me he has nothing to report concerning the Waitahuna River, and, continuing, says: "Mr Eaton and myself got Mr J. Pennell to motor us to the lake on Tuesday, and found the weather anything but pleasant. We found the camp all right, though one or two Starlings had got in and done some mischief. We got things shipshape, and reached the lake about 5 o’clock next morning, and were surprised to find it so high. We left the head of the water about five miles from the hut last season, and it is not a mile now. I might say for the benefit of those who have been round the head that it is only possible to get to the grass spur with a car now. The water rose fully four feet while we were there, and was still rising. It has risen so quickly that it has left the fish behind, as we never saw a fish round the edge unless it was in an advanced stage of decay. I should say it will be a month Before J-he fish get up round the head. What, few fish we got were in the pink of condition, but they had come out of the holes on the first day. Mr Eaton and Mr J. Pennell got one fish each, a shade over 51b, while I got one that would make a fair meal for a sprat. On Thursday the weather was bad, and wo did not hurry ourselves. Watty wouldn’t go out in the cold, and I’m not too fond of it myself, and so I kept him company. However, it cleared a bit later, and we went to try the holes. I met Mr Cotton, and we went up the flat and had not long started when J a fis “, about 21b, on the worm. Then Air Cotton got one, and. though we fished about till close to 5 o’clock, we never got another bite, so went to Mr Cotton’s and had tea. Then Dick got the car and we went to the lake, picking up Watty on the road. Not having any particular spot to start at, we scattered, and I soon saw Dick, about 100yds off. signalling to me 1 went over and found that he had hooked a big one and had lost it in the shallow wa«.er through having no net or gaff. 1 hen, as there were no more bites, we went home On Friday we did no good, Saturday the same, but on Sunday I landed one a good 61b—and got two small ones about 11b. Two Dunedm anglers landed one fish each—a good 31b each Watty is now saying that all the fish have been taken out of the lake. Howc\.er ’ Rot four on Monday, and cooled ° ii J r f e ’ b \’*' Lloyd Cotton scored well. Mrs Cotton had a big one on, and it bioke away and picked up the worm the boy was fishing with. He was away playing so I picked up hi 3 rod, and we landed him—lo b, 28m long, 18in girth—a beauty. He had Mrs Cotton’s trace in his mouth. On Tuesday Watty got two wV a iir >nt r' 1 < ♦’ * Rot three about took one about U ,b on V. We sever5 ever ROt a nibble, so °nr car was ready, we went home. All the fish were in good condition.” Among those ayfio visited the Waipori was Ar’r W 6 P °^ tlOn Of the season was Mr H. B. limmmgs and a friend. These two , anglers fished the upper reaches of the river, and found that th« fish were taking Greenwell’s Glory. Mr Timmings secured 1G fish during the day, and Ins friend seven. In Mr Timmings’e catch were included three three-pounders the rest running about 11b. All the fish were in good condition. Another, angler in commenting on the river, expresses the onimou that it has provided the best sport so far. In the upper reaches some splendid baskets have been made with both the minnow and the worm. Those

resident in the locality consider that the Waipori contains more fish this season than it has for a number of years. One good point about the stream is that, even if the fish are not on the move, the locality is an ideal spot for picnicking purposes, and an enjoyable time can be spent.

A Dunedin angler fished the Pomahaka River about a week ago, and found plenty of snow water coming down. The river was a bit on the high side and slightly discoloured. He offers the opinion that directly we get warmer weather the snow water will disappear and angling conditions will improve. He was only fairly successful with the rod;. A friend who was with him, fishing the same river two days previously, took several trout weighing tip to 21b.

Speaking to an angler on Saturday, he said that the results obtained from the Shag River were not up to expectations recently. The. river had fallen—the Shag goes down quickly—since the opening of the season. No baskets of much consequence are recorded as having been made, but bags of eight and nine fish have been made.

A very large number of anglers fished the Tomahawk Lagoon on Saturday week, but very few fish were taken. Nevertheless up to the present the lagoon has yielded quite good fish weighing up to 4lb. Some caught had evidently evaded the. net of the Acclimatisation Society during stripping operations. The contour channel is yielding better results above the “ grab.” which is clearing the water of obstructions.

The Silverstream is not providing very good sport—indeed, so far, only poor sport has been experienced.

The Taieri River has been visited by a large number of worm fishers, but not many trout have been captured. Perch and eels frequently’ form part of the catches that have been made.

In conversation with the secretary of the local anglers’ association, I was informed that at a meeting last Wednesday night the competitions for the season were arranged, and will open with the Labour Day competition on the Shag River. This is an any legal bait competition for the association’s gold medals. A special medal is. to be struck this year in connection with the association’s jubilee. The Contour Channel competition has been reinstated, and will be open to members of the local association and of the Taieri Anglers’ C’ub. Competitions are to be held on the Waipahi, and Tomahawk Lagoon will once again be included. In regard to the Tomahawk competition for bare fly fishers, this will be held later in the season, and the time for finishing extended until midnight. This is due partly to a suggestion made last year by a number of anglers who fished in the competition. It was noticed just at the closing of the competition that the fish secured seemed to be inclined to be more on the take. A series of jubilee competitions. for special prizes donated by the association is to be arranged at a later date. Amongst Hie prizes for the series is a Hardy’s rod. a fly reel, arid a double taper line. Mr F. M'Lean has donated a prize for the angler who takes the largest number of fish in the whole of the competitions, and has confined it to members of the local association.

“ Creel,” writing of the opening day in Southland, says that there was a large number of rods at work on the various streams. Climatic conditions were not good, but some fair bags were obtained. ” Local rivers, especially the small ones, were in good trim, but unfortunately the Eastern District rivers were mostly in fairly heavy spate. The Hedgehope and Otapiri Streams yielded the best bags so far recorded, and a party comprising Messrs H. Halligan. A. L. Whelham. M M’Alister, A. M'Cormiek, E. Davis, and W. Hill had a capture of 31 nice trout at the end of operations from the former stream. The Lora River was visited by some expert rods, who were somewhat disappointed to find that the trout were rather ‘ dead,’ with an exceptional hour about mid-day. On this river Messrs A. E. Tapper and W. Tapper caught a total of six brace, with an average of about lib. Messrs J. Darragh and N. D. M’Kenzie were also successful in landing the same number, the killing flies being Greenwell’s Glory and D.K. Red Spinner.” Messrs J. R. Brown and F. Booth visited, the Hedgehope River, and took nine nice fish, the most effective fly being the Purple Grouse. Greenwell’s Glory proved a good killer, and gave good results to another party of anglers.

The upper waters of the Aparima were in fairly good order, and Mr I. Copeland and Messrs J. Butler and A. F. Grenfell did well, figh up to 41b weight being captured.

“ Creel ” selected the Waimatuku River for operations, and for two hours' fishing in the morning basketed a_ number of small fish. Mr James Robertson made a respectable bag, 21b being the weight of the heaviest fish caught. The Purple Grouse appeared to be the most tempting lure.

Mr W. H. Dunnage landed seven fish from the. Makarewa River, the weightiest fish turning the scale at 31b. At the social held after the business meeting of the Southland Anglers’ Club the" Oreti River was discussed, and a suggestion made by Mr H. A. Lyons that a special effort should be hiade on suitable parts of the stream to plant willows along the banks for shelter and to make pools for containing trout.

“ Creel,” in his comments, says: “It is generally thought that perhaps the angling clubs should combine and inaugurate working bees during the off season, and there is no doubt that a large amount of valuable work could be accomplished. It is noteworthy that both on the Mataura and Oreti Rivers, where this shelter does obtain, good trouting can generally be obtained. That the matter will be seriously taken up by the clubs interested is the sincere wish of the promoter of the idea.”

Our Balclutha correspondent, writing on the 6th inst., states: —"Local anglers who tried their luck over the week-end report but small success. The weather, for one thing, was completely against good fishing. High variable winds are apt to play havoc with fly fishing, and hence returns were but small. Although not affected to the same extent by the wind, Molyneux River fishers did not do very well either on Saturday or yesterday. Mr F. Bower, jun., caught the best fish at Finegand, a nice sevenpounder. That was the only one that fell to his share. Other baskets contained three and four fish, but they were not large. Further down stream, near the mouth of the Koan branch, Kaitangata fishermen did pretty well with the minnow, and one man had nine nice fish to his credit. On the Waiwera Messrs Gerald Sinclair and Poynter caught 16, but the fish were not large. Some who visited the Pomahaka report a total haul of 10 among several rods, whilst a party which went to the Omaru Stream, situated at Glenomaru. drew a blank, the water being low. The Owaka River was well patronised, and the nine or ten rods whipping the stream yesterday all secured catches of small but well-conditioned trout. Only one of the baskets was numerically large, but the fish were numerous, and there can be no doubt that this river has been well stocked. On the Gatlins the fishing was not so good, the water being “ heavy ” in the flyfishing parlance.”

Our North Otago correspondent, writing on the 6th inst concerning angling in his district, says:—“Anglers during the week-end appear to have been fairly successful, as numerous catches of a few fish each have been reported both from the Waitaki and the Kakanui. Mr Geo. Maynard secured three trout in the Waitaki, the largest turning the scale at 61b, and being in nice condition. A threepounder was taken from the reservoir on Saturday. Considerable interest is being taken in the fishing at the reservoir, because it is thought the rainbow trout liberated there should now be beginning to afford good sport. Juveniles have been successful in the Oamaru Creek, one lad catching eight and another nine speckled beauties. In the competition Stan Ombler has to his credit a trout weighing lib 6oz from the Oamaru Creek, and one weighing 11b 9oz from the reservoir.”

During the past week heavy rain has been experienced throughout Eastern Southland, ami in many instances rivers and streams have been swollen and running high. The peak levels were probably experienced about Wednesday evening. and now many of the rivers are returning to normal. At Gore the Mataura River was sft Sin above normal, while river waters were reported to be well over the flats at Jacobstown, these spreading rapidly on Wednesday afternoon. In places the road was completely submerged. The majority of the rivers are still bank high, and in places roads have been almost impassable, but although heavy rain has fallen, conditions are now rapidly improving. Some nice bags of fish have been obtained by anglers since the opening day (says the Nelson Evening Mail). It is reported that most of the streams are plentifully supplied. In the Maitai River one angler obtained 10 fish ranging in weight from 2ilb to 41b. In the Wairoa River another angler landed a trout weighing SDlb. Two Southland fishermen have reason to be pleased with the results of their efforts in the first week of the season (says the Southland Times). While fishing at Lake Waituna Mr J. M. Watson, of Invercargill, landed a bag of eight trout, including one 19-pounder and a 114-pounder His companion, Mr W. Emerson, of Mokotua, secured a bag of 13, including a 14 Jpounder. Mr Emerson was surprised to see his companion suddenly become wildly excited. On rushing over he was amazed to see the 19-pounder. Resolving to land an equally big catch he returned to his position. and shortly afterwards secured a 141-pounder.

Reports on the first three days of the trout fishing season in Marlborough are that there are plenty of fish in the rivers, but that their condition is not as good as it should be at this time of the year (says the Express). This poorness is attributed to the coldness of the season, which has reduced the run of whitebait, for one thing, thus depriving the trout of a source of food supply. The particularly low state of the rivers is also believed to have something to do with the condition of the catches. One party, fishing in the. Pelorus, took seven fish, some of which were in good condition; whilst another fisherman caught nine trout in the Wairau, but all were fairly poor. It is anticipated that with the approach of warmer weather the condition of the fish will improve.

Mr Norman James, of Inglewood, and two friends secured a good catch of fish in one of the coastal rivers a few days ago (says the Taranaki Herald). Their total for the day was 30, and included a number of fish which turned the scale at five and six pounds. A 151 b trout caught in the Halswell River is the latest bag to be reported (states the Christchurch Sun). In the earlier part of the season the Halswell is a very good stream for fly fishing. The warm and nor’-westry weather being experienced will have the -effect of improving conditions for fly fishing, a reporter was told the other day. It causes the flies to hatch out, and thus makes it possible to use this kind of bait.

Favourable conditions were experienced for the opening of the fishing season in the East Coast Acclimatisation Society s territory, and such fish as have been taken have proved healthy (savs the Poverty Bay Herald). One taken by Mr P. J. Roberts at Rere, a rainbow trout, scaled 61b, and showed great condition. .Work at the hatcheries con-

ducted on behalf of the society has been successful, it was learned from officials of the society, and prospects for the season are excellent.

J-he opening of the fishing season saw all the Tapanui enthusiasts early astir. The naipahi was favoured by the majority, who found the river to be in good order, some baskets reaching up to the limit out. lhe Pomahaka, although slightly discoloured, also provided good nshing, some nice baskets being secured, lhe warm rains experienced here for the last few days have brought down a lot ot snow water, and consequently the 1 omanaka is running very high. It will be at least a week before this river is in good order for fishing.

There have been very few fish caught anting the past week by anglers operating m the rivers handy to Christchurch, .there were a few landed from the Waimakariri recently, but the moon has vtn n ', gbts t°° clear for fishermen. Whitebait have been running in fair quantities, and some good catches are reported.

Never have the prospects of a successtul fishing season been more bright in bouth Canterbury than they are at the is the opinion of close observers ot tlic rivers and streams in the district. Pish in goodly numbers and condition have of late been seen in all the rivers, lhe absence of heavy floods durin" the winter months has had the effect of brin-r--mg the fish up the streams steadily, with the result that the waters everywhere are well stocked.

Several small catches of trout in the Ashburton and Hinds Rivers marked the tb ° an ghiig seasons (states the Guardian). The majority of the fish caught were small. It is stated that the fish do not appear to be so plentiful in the Hinds Stream as last year. That an area in the Taihape district should not be severed from the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society’s district is the decision of the Minister of Internal Affairs who recently receved a petition trom a number of anglers residing in laihape and district requesting that an area at present_ in the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society’s district be severed and included in the Wellington Acclimatisation Society’s district (says the Chronicle). The petitioners made certain statements with regard to alleged neglect on the part of the Wanganui Society. The latter, in reply, stated that sums had been spent in stocking the Hautapu River in the area concerned am! also pointed out that nearly all those who signed the petition were not holders .of Wanganui licenses and did not contribute towards the funds of the local society, which was under no obligation to them.

At a recent meeting of the Waitaki Acclimatisation Society Mr Dewar reported that, accompanied by Messrs Stevenson, MThail, and Main.' they had liberated 40.000 brown fry in the Waikaro Creek. He considered that they would do well, as the conditions were good. Mr Main advised him that he had liberated 151,000 fry in the Kaka River. Messrs Swinnard and Currie also reported having liberated 50.000 fry in the Kakanui River and 10,000 in the Oamaru Creek. Mr Duncan stated that 50,000 were liberated in Welcome Creek.