FISHING TRIP

Southland Times, Issue 20661, 17 April 1929, Page 6

FISHING TRIP

NEW GROUNDS NOT PRODUCTIVE.

INVERCARGILL PARTY’S EXPERI

Last, week-end Mr A. E. Smith, with his son, Mr Horace Smith, proceeded to Lake Te Anau for a final flutter with the salmon as the season closes at the end of this month. After successfully fishing at the outlet of Lake Te Anau they decided upon discovering pastures new in the fishing area. From Lake Te Anau they proceeded downstream into the Waiau river and eventually reached Lake Manapouri. They describe the scenery passed on the drift dow-n the river as magnificent, with the bush-clad hills down to the water’s edge. But in regard to the fishing they experienced a blank, having no luck whatsoever, not even sighting a fish. Two of the party, Messrs W. M. Jenkins and Jules Tapper, were content to remain at the outlet of Lake Te Anau and enjoyed good sport among the salmon. One of the party got fast to a heavy fish which he afterwards declared he had as much chance of stopping in his rush as that of a bolting traction-engine and which, after taking out the whole length of the line, eventually broke away with the trace and hooks. On their return to Invercargill the party witnessed a grand sight when passing Burwood Estate, where an immense flock of paradise ducks were feeding on the stubble paddocks. Their numbers were estimated to be close upon a thousand, and as they rose and took to the wing the sight would have made many a sportsman’s finger trigger itch. The Pukekos (swamp turkeys) in the vicinity of the sanctuary at Te Anau were exceedingly tame and almost as domesticated as the barn-door fowl. The captain and officers of the Eleanor Bolling, relief ship of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition, were at Te Anau as guests of Mr E. Govan, of the Te Anau Hotel. They were thoroughly enjoying themselves in the wilds of Southland, and were having a general good time of it with excursions on the lake and with rabbit shooting and wild pig hunting. The roads at the present time right from Invercargill to the shore of Lake le Anau are in splendid order.