ANGLING

Southland Times, Issue 20615, 13 October 1928, Page 18 (Supplement)

ANGLING

(By

“Creel.”)

The heavy rain experienced last weekend effectively curtailed the operations of local anglers, although the smaller streams were in better condition than anticipated and some very fair bags were captured. Now that reports are becoming available, it appears that the trout so far captured are not generally in the usual prime condition experienced in Southland, and it is quite evident that the mild winter, with the absence of “freshes” in the rivers, has not allowed the fish to mend as quickly as usual, after their dehabilitating spawning operations. Therefore the recent floods, although preventing extensive ramifications by anglers, will undoubtedly serve to build the “speckled beauties” up to good fighting form. The above facts should demonstrate that to have satisfactory trout, it is essential to have an abundant food supply, and it is to be hoped that this season the Acclimatization Society will make some effort, even from an experimental point of view, to solve the problem. The Mimihau river was visited by some Invercargill anglers, and fair bags were obtained. Messrs. C. Blomfield and A. L. Whelan grassed 14 trout on the fly, the heaviest turning the scale at 21bs The fish were not in the best of condition. Messrs. Osborne, Oughton and Snow had a total of 19 at the end of operations, most of which were captured on the minnow lure. From the Lora River Messrs. Wishart, Morgan and Tinnock had a splendid fly bag of 27 fish, averaging easily lib. The heaviest trout weighed 241bs. and D.K. Red Spinner was the best killing fly. From the Makarewa, Messrs. T. S. Mackie and G. F. Strang caught a good sample of 19 fish, taken on the fly and on the minnow bait. From the Waipahi, Messrs. D. John and J. Tinnock caught a score of fish up to 441bs. weight, and here again both the minnow and fly lure were used. From Duck Creek, Mr. Walter Aitken grassed two five pounders on the minnow, and these fish were in good condition. On the Dunsdale on Wednesday Messrs. J. D. Campbell and C. Wilson creeled nine nice fish on the fly. Not so many anglers at last year appeared on the Waipahi for the opening of the fishing season this year, reports the Mataura Ensign. Visitors and local anglers were successful in obtaining fair baskets. The larger fish were not taking the bait. Messrs. S. Trusler, P: C. Murray, A. P. Hoffman, C. Mason and H. Jones are among those known to have secured the limit, and Messrs. W. Dillon and J. A. Hellier had just under it. In the evening Messrs. W. Beccard and J. Matheson secured 10 and 6 respectively. The opening of the fishing season on Monday attracted a large number of lovers of the “creel” to the streams in the Wyndham district. The Wyndham River was in good trim. The heavy wind made fly fishing difficult on this stream, except where

portions of the stream were sheltered. Fishing on this river, the following bags are reported : C. Hunt 14, F. Lindsay 16, T. Murray 8, C. Macpherson 9, R. Robertson 3, L. Borrow 3, W. Chalmers 5. The Mimihau River was carrying slightly too much water, but minnow and worm fishing proved profitable, and some good bags are reported. The wind also made fishing unpleasant on this stream. Bags reported on this stretch are as follows: G. Johnstone 24, W. Grieve 20, G. Allan 12, H. Cotterill 24, Colthard 24, G. Kidd 8. The Mataura was running high, and fairly dirty, and was really only fit for worm fishing. This river should improve from now on, provided the weather is satisfactory. The following bags were landed from this river: R. Davis 6, J. Robertson 2, Moore 8. The fish in all streams were fairly plentiful, the ■ condition of the fish generally, being good. > For the opening of the season the rivers were in fairly good order, considering the heavy rains experienced during the past few weeks. HINTS FOR THE NOVICE Up-stream worm fishing in low, clear waters proves very deadly during the early summer months, especially in hot weather, and providing there is no mist on the water trout will often take the worm freely. Tackle. There are different modes of baitingthe Stewart tackle with three hooks, the Peunell with two, and a single hook. With the former tackle almost every fish touched breaks the worm and renders it useless. Thus you need a large supply of worms for a day’s fishing. To bait with the single hook take the worm, dipped in sand, in your left hand, impale the hook in the mouth, running the hook up the worm, leaving about half an inch to wriggle. Single hooks, the worm is threaded up the cast, leaving about an inch to move about in the water. Casting. In casting, the line is thrown back with an easy swing and brought forward with as little force as circumstances will allow, the rod top making more of a circle than in fly fishing. Of course, if a long line is being used, or the wind blowing against you, it is necessary to bring the rod top almost on the surface of the water, thus to extend the line fully and allow the worm to fall lightly on the water. If casting over a strong current to the thin water beyond, should the line be at all immersed, it will pull the worm quickly away, whereas if only the gut alights the intervening water has no power over it. Thus this cast is best accomplished by checking the forward movement of the rod and keeping the top well up. Wading. In wading up-stream, care must be taken | not to send any ripples in front of you, warning the fish of your approach. The thin streams and shallow running water are often the best parts to fish. Cast up-stream, straight in front of you, with as much line out as you can comfortably command, slowly raising your rod top. Otherwise do not interfere with it, and allow the water to bring the worm down in a natural way. When to Strike. The stopping of the line will soon show when the worm is seized; then strike downstream fairly quickly and firmly, not allowing him time to gorge, and you will often find—using a single hook—your worm little the worse, three or four inches up the gut. At all times you should fish straight up in front of you, not casting sideways. If you cast the latter way the worm does not come down naturally, even in shallow water.