ANGLING SEASON

Southland Times, Issue 21824, 29 September 1932, Page 6

ANGLING SEASON

OPENING ON SATURDAY THE RIVERS IN GOOD ORDER BRIGHT PROSPECTS On Saturday morning anglers will wake up in a mood of joyful expectancy, for another fishing season will have begun, bringing with it seven months of pleasure on Southland’s many picturesque rivers. It often happens tnat when the first of October dawns the streams are still swollen and discoloured; but for this season’s opening the rivers are in very good order and the prospects of excellent sport are bright. Information from various sources points to the rivers being well stocked with fish. From the trout’s point of view the winter was a good one, there being 1 a very satisfactory supply of food in the streams. The tagging parties that have been active during the winter months report, large numbers of well grown fish in the Oreti and Aparima, and it is safe to assume that this applies to other rivers.

So far there have not been as many applications for licenses as in previous years, the depression no doubt accounting for the falling off, since not a few keen fishermen have had the misfortune to be thrown out of employment. The Acclimatization Society has done its best to assist the sport by allowing the payment of licenses to be made on the instalment basis. An innovation that is appreciated is the issuing of licenses to youths from 16 to 20 years of age at 10/-. Nevertheless it would appear that there will be rather fewer rods on the rivers this season than last; but this has its compensations, for better sport should be Obtained by those who are fishing. It is unlikely that there will be fishing at the Waituna Lagoon during the first week-end or for some time, since the lake is closed. On the lower reaches of the Mataura sluicing operations have discoloured the river and only worm fishing will be possible. Otherwise all the Southland streams are in good order; and unless heavy rain should fall between now and Saturday anglers can feel confident of a successful commencement to the season. The fact that October 1 falls on a Saturday this year is fortunate, since it gives anglers a full week-end’s sport for the opening. Southland fishermen are also fortunate in that there is almost a complete understanding between landowners and anglers regarding the use of riparian property. In certain northern districts a clause has had to be added to licenses in order to give landowners some authority over trespassing anglers. Happily Southland farmers are most sympathetic to fishermen; in fact many men on the land find relaxation on the water with a rod in their hand instead of a plough handle.