ANGLING

Southland Times, Issue 21832, 8 October 1932, Page 17

ANGLING

(By

“Creel.”)

Opening Day. It can be safely stated that not for many years have conditions and rivers been so suitable as were experienced practically throughout the whole of the province last Saturday. The rain fed rivers were very low and clear, and quite a lot of slime was noticeable and proved rather a nuisance sometimes, especially when a hooked trout made a black guard rush for safety within its precincts. Under these conditions anglers on the small streams found it necessary to fish up and fine with light tackle. By adopting these methods some splendid bags were obtained, notably on the Otapiri, where a good head of trout was seen, most of which were in a well mended condition. “Creel” visited this river on the lower readies and had a most enjoyable day. Operations were commenced about 8.30 a.m., the light Nor’ West wind being favourable and the fish moving freely. The clear water and sunshine, however, made the trout difficult to land and several nice fish were "turned over” only. A 4x cast was used, and results immediately improved, and as a close inspection of the under water life had revealed the Dark Red Spinner nymph, two flies of this pattern were adopted, and several trout were made fast. About 10.30 a.m., a change of fly was apparent on the water, the colour of the nymph suggesting a Male March Brown fly, and it proved the conqueror, 15 trout from Jib to 21b weight being killed by this pattern. At 5 p.m. a limit bag was secured, ten of which were taken on the Dk. Red Spinner fly. An so ended the opening day on the Otapiri. The Oreti river was in splendid order, and the following bags were obtained by fly enthusiasts: Messrs J. N. Armour, E. Davis and J. W. Smith who, fishing past Dipton, all returned home with limit bags. The trout were in excellent condition and were rising freely, Mr Neil McKay, of Dipton, also met with a good deal of success in the same locality. Limit bags were also obtained by Messrs A. L. Walker, C. Biomfield and T. Copeland. Mr Horace Smith secured four fish which were not in very good condition. In the same locality Messrs P. C. Hazeldine and Angus McDonald caught limit bags, while Mr R. Stroud, a novice secured half a dozen. Mr E. S. Gent and his son bagged a total of 56 for the week-end on the Male March Brown and the Priest flies, while Mrs Kent produced a brace on the Gardenia fly. A fishing party consisting of Mr P. B. Witt, Mr Gordon Macauley and Mr S. M. Macalister, spent an enjoyable week-end at Mr Macauley’s wellequipped new fishing hut “So-Big,” near Mossbum. The fish were not plentiful but were in keeping with the name of the camp, a brace of four-pounders being caught by Mr Witt. The fishing lodge built by Mr McMacauley is a well appointed one and available for parties comprising about four rods. A motor shed is also available. . Mr E. Henderson took six fish of average weight at Oporo. A party of four rods secured eleven fish at Otatara, averaging about 21bs, while the heaviest was 3.11 b. Another angler at Otatara got seven fish weighing 181 b. Mr 0. Davis hooked four fish, of which the heaviest was 51b, from the Oreti, at Otatara. Anglers who visited the Morely found the water somewhat low. The fish took the fly freely, the best flies being Greenwell’s Glory, Dark Red Spinner and Red Tip Governor, but to the creeper they did not respond readily. Although plentiful, the trout here were somewhat small. From this stream Mr J. Mair secured nine fish on Saturday, while Mr lan Talbot landed eleven the same day. On Sunday Mr A. Gerken, using the creeper, hooked eleven. Mr D. Mills got a bag of 24 for the two days and Mr R. Hornby caught 14 at. Feldwick. The largest fish taken from the stream weighed about 21b, . . , Fishing in the Apanma, m the vicinity of Fairfax, on Saturday, Messrs

J. and H. Elder secured limit bags, the largest fish being about 211 b. In the same stream at Hazlett’s, Mr C. W. Wilson for two hours’ fishing secured ten fish, including several of more than average size, Mr J, P. Butler and party experienced good fishing on the Aparima near Fairfax where a total of 25 fish were caught, including sotpe very nice specimens. The heaviest weighed about 21b. The trout which were not rising very freely, succumbed to the Love’s Lure and March Brown flies. In the same locality Messrs J. S. Nelson and T. S. Mackie each landed half a dozen trout and Messrs J. D. Speirs and T. D. Pearce accounted for four or five each.

From the Makarewa river, Messrs W. Mitchell and another rod secured a total of 26 good trout up to 31b weight on the fly. The river was in good order and the fish in good condition. Mr D. Wishart, from the same stream, secured six brace of nice heavy trout.

Mr Cleine, of Winton, got a limit bag of good fish from the Oreti. Six fish averaging IJlb in weight, were taken from the Oreti near Lumsden, by Mr W. Henderson.

From the Makarewa Mr James Robertson, president of the Southland Acclimatization Society, landed half a dozen fair specimens. At Otatara Mr G. I. Moffett landed a sea-run fish weighing 41b. Fishing with worm and minnow on the Mataura on Saturday, Constable T. Matthews secured five, the heaviest of which weighed 2Jlb, his wife four, and his daughter six, a total of 15 for the family. Sergeant A. Henderson finished up the day with six. Constable A. McRae and son took 11 and Messrs W. and J. Gorton four each. G. H. Webb landed five. Mr and Mrs R. Hosie secured nine.

From the Otapiri on Saturday Messrs G. W. Braxton (25), W. Hay les (11), G. Wilcox (12), caught their fish on the Red Tip Governor, Claret Jessie, Male March Brown and Dk. Red Spinner flies. The heaviest specimen weighed 21b. The following extract is taken from the current issue of the N.Z. Fishing and Shooting Gazette;— By the kindness of the author, Mr A. W. Parrott, we have received a reprint from the’ Salmon and Trout Magazine of March, 1932, of a contribution made by him on “Age and Growth of the Te Anau Salmon. Some new data on Atlantic salmon growth in New Zealand.”

Since the discovery was made, now many years ago, that Atlantic salmon were fairly established in the waters of New Zealand, the burning question arose: Did they migrate to the sea or remain altogether in fresh water, limiting their migrations only to the more spacious waters of the lakes in the river system in which they were established? The very best expert opinion has been sought on the question by submitting entire epecimens for inspection to the highest salmon authorities at Home. While defining these fish as a true type of the species, those authorities have by general inspection of scales, almost unreservedly declared them to be landlocked, to use a rather loose term. They said that there is no evidence to show that these fish migrate to salt water. This latest work of Mr Parrott’s while going a little further in scale investigation by calculating from the scales the annual length increment, still seems to have the same bias regarding the fish’s movements or rather, want of them. While this latest paper is a valuable addition to preceding works on the subject, interesting and so far as it goes exact, still we submit that the paucity of material examined here and at Home, coupled with the want of other reliable information, such as would be acquired through extensive markings of smolts and adult fish, captures and recaptures, besides investigations in river, lake and sea precludes us from accepting the dictum of no sea migration as final. Here we have a great work at,hand, and it is to be devoutly hoped that the Marine Department will see to it that the Waiau basin is reserved for a type of sporting fish second to none which, with care and cultivation, will yet come into its own in our waters.

The fishing competition promoted by Mr M. Gonley for Otautau fishermen on opening day attracted considerable interest, but no limit bags were secured though several nice fish were landed. The prizes were won by Colin Hope 1, D. C. McCrostie 2 and R. Brown 3. Except in one or two instances, small catches were the order of the day at Wyndham. On the upper reaches of the Mimihau, H. Richardson (25), C. C. Werry and Bruce Leitch (9 each) had a good day’s sport, as also did G. Johnstone, who lured the limit of 25. At “Malton,” H. Heath grassed 7, the fish in each case being hard to move, and in poor condition. The most successful lures were the Dark Red Spinner, Jessie 4, and Greenwall’s Glory. The Mataura was very discoloured, and from that stream J. Robertson landed 11.

At Tapanui the local streams were well patronized. The Pomahaka was in good order for an opening day, and quite a large number of enthusiasts were fortunate in securing good bags. A party which joumeved to the upper reaches of the Waipahi met with little success. The stream, which is very low and clear, will not be in good fishing order until a fresh is experienced. The best local bag was secured by. Mr W. W. Mackie, who landed 20 nice fish weighing 251 b, the largest turning the scale at 221 b. Other good baskets were: Master F. Kennedy, 22; Messrs K. Rodger, 14; F. Lischner, 8; C. Murray, 7 (the largest one weighing 3}ib); D. D. Edgar, 5; H. Blamires, 4; W. Graham, 18; A. Gordon, 17; Jas. Mclntosh, 13; I. Black, 7; P. Boylen, 5; D. Beattie, 12. At last week’s meeting of the Otago Acclimatization Society the Tapanui Anglers’ Association was granted a medal for an angling competition for artificial bait fishing. Information with reference to further bags captured during the opening days is to hand. From the Otapiri Mr Challis grassed a total of 17 nice fish on the dry fly. Red Tip Governor was the killing pattern.

From the Mimihau Messrs A. L. Whelham, G. Scandrett, and F. Birse had a total of 18 fish up to 21b. weight on the dry fly, Mr W. H. Dunnage spent a few hours on this river on Saturday afternoon and reports that the trout were very “dead,” small bags being the order of the day. The numerous rods on the river made the securing of “maiden” water somewhat difficult. Fishing the Hedgehope on the way back to town the bag was increased to five and a half brace, including a nice trout weighing 31b. 70z., which was caught by Mrs Dunnage.

Over the week-end on the Aparima Mr M. McAuliffe and another rod landed a tally of 67 fish, with the heaviest 2Jib. Priest and Female March Brown were the most successful flies used.

An experienced angler, Mr Albert Butt (Boggy Bum), spent a day on the Otapiri on the opening day, securing •18. The Lora was visited the foilowing day, but the trout were found to be very .quiet, some three brace being placed in the bag.

Limit bags were obtained on the Oreti at Stag Creek last Saturday by Messrs. H. Geddes and E. Crofts on the fly. The trout were in good condition, although’the river is reported to be very low and slimy.

Using the minnow on the Oreti, Mr Ben Marshall caught eight very even fish, with the heaviest weighing 31b.