ANGLING

Southland Times, Issue 22188, 2 December 1933, Page 7

ANGLING

(By

“Matuku.”)

The fine weather of the last 10 days has brought all the snow off the Takitimos and Eyre Mountains and the Oreti and Aparima are now clear and free from snow water and in good fishing order for wet or dry fly. The warmer weather conditions make angling most pleasant and no doubt many anglers will take advantage of it to visit their favourite streams. Christmas holidays are now approaching and anglers will be making arrangements to visit their favourite angling resorts. Southland can probably supply better all round fishing than any other district in the South Island, but, distant fields are ever green, and many anglers will no doubt wish to try other districts. The upper waters of our large rivers provide a delightful change of scene and climate and are ideal resorts for a fishing holiday. The following spots are favourite resorts and can generally be relied upon to provide good weather at Christmas: The Pomahaka is about 60 miles from Invercargill and, at the Government plantation at Conical Hills, excellent fishing is available. Also, on the Upper Pomahaka towards the junction of the Leithen is a popular resort. Anglers should particularly remember that it is a serious offence to light a fire in a State Forest and they cannot boil the billy while in the plantations. Anyone breaking this law is liable to run foul of the forestry ranger who strictly enforces this law. Further east, the Upper Waikaia Valley provides excellent fishing and ideal camping spots. Piano Flat, 16 miles north of Waikaia Township, is a favourite spot, being very sheltered and surrounded with beech covered mountains. The next valley is the Upper Mataura in the vicinity of Athol and Garston. The Mataura river here is clear from mining debris being above the sluicing at Nokomai and is a beautiful crystal clear stream. There are ideal camping spots on the river bank under the shade of large willow trees. These spots are mostly private property, but anglers will find the farmers most kindly and no objection is made to camping on their properties. Proceeding easterly, the next stream is the Oreti between Lumsden and Centre Hill. This stretch of the Oreti provides miles of excellent fishing water and is well stocked with trout. The average weight is lower than was the case a few years ago, but, on favourable days, excellent bags will be got. From a camping point of view one drawback is the prevalence of north westerly winds in the locality. There is an absence of natural shelter, but the angler will find that even a clump of gorse or broom will provide wonderful shelter for a tent. The north westerlies also interfere with dry fly fishing on this stretch, as one is casting up-stream dead against the wind. Mossbum anglers get big bags in this locality. One of them has gone to the expense of publishing two books on the subject of his favourite sport so as to give his fellow sportsmen the benefit of his experience. The Aparima on the new road between Mossburn and Nightcaps also provides excellent fishing and camping sites. The upper waters of the Pomahaka, Waikaia, Mataura, Oreti and Aparima are all easily accessible by motor car, rail or bus and, being well inland, provide a pleasant change of air and scene for Invercargill anglers. If the weather continues dry and hot from now till Christmas these streams will be very low and clear and will seem a hopeless proposition for wet fly anglers on calm sunny days. Anglers will find the natural cricket very deadly under these conditions and a skillful dry fly angler will also succeed in taking fish. For the wet fly angler my advice would be to concentrate on the evening rise and continue to fish after dark. Some years ago the writer was one of a fishing party on the Upper Mataura who failed to catch fish during the day or evening. They fished on after dark and found that sooner or later the large fish came out in the ripples to feed. Some evenings it was 10 o'clock and on occasions 11 before the large fish moved. Sooner of later, however, they came on to feed every night and good fish were caught. The next river proceeding east is the Mararoa which is in a class by itself. It is fished with a large dry fly and large fish are caught in the day time. About 25 miles inland from Centre Hill the Mararoa debouches from Lake Mavora which is claimed to provide the best brown trout dry fly fishing in the world. Cruising fish of 10 or 121 b. are taken on the dry fly in the Lake in the day time and also with wet fly and minnow at the outlet after dark. Unfortunately, the road is only a track, fit for a motor-truck or a light car. The fishing, however, is unique and compensates for the discomforts. Proceeding easterly the next fishing is the salmon fishing at Te Anau. Salmon are caught trolling from a boat at the outlet of Te Anau and a short distance down the Waiau River. There are also a few pools on the Waiau between Lakes Manapouri and Te Anau which can be fished with an American bait casting outfit or with a long fly rod and loch sized flies. The boat fishing is very easy and even ladies can successfully catch salmon. The river fishing, however, is fairly strenuous as the river is swift and the stones are large and make wading very rough and tiring. Anglers visiting Te Anau for the first time should get in touch with Mr Govan of the Te Anau Hotel or the hatchery officials who will give all information regarding the fishing. Anglers proceeding up the Eglinton valley should take their rods and try out the Eglinton river. The salmon are not yet very numerous, but there are some scattered up and down the river. They will take a large fly .or minnow. The limit of salmon in this stream is three per rod per day. An energetic and enthusiastic fisherman who wishes to explore new ground can walk from the head of the Eglinton valley to the Howden huts in the Hollyford and thence down the Hollyford. The Hollyford is reported to contain numerous large fish and will no doubt prove a popular fishing resort in the not far distant future.

Any angler who fancies he is skilful at catching trout is advised to put in a few days at Manapouri accommodation house and try his skill on the large brown trout which abound in the Waiau river in that vicinity. The experience will probably cure him of any conceit he may have of his ability as a fisherman.

Coming down the Waiau valley trout can be caught in the Waiau at Monowai, at Wairaki mouth, at Clifden and at Tuatapere with either fly or minnow. At the Waiau mouth in Tewaewae Bay there are a number of fishing camps and the tidal water fishing here, is well known. When the smelts run in from the sea the trout follow them and wonderful bags are caught. The fish are silvery, sea-run, and in excellent condition. Anyone proposing to fish here would be wise to arrange to occupy one of the fishing huts as the river mouth is exposed to the westerly gales. The Waiau mouth often, provides excellent fishing at Christmas time. The runs of smelt, however, are erratic and uncertain but if a run occurs great bags of fish are caught. Anglers who may be spending the holidays at the Rocks are within handy distance of the Anarima fishine. They will get excellent tidal water fishing in the tidal waters near the Gummies Bush bridge past the Riverton cemetery and further up at Thombury or Fairfax excellent fly fishing is available.

After very hot days the evening fishing will probably prove most successful. No. 3 open competition held by the Southlan- 1 anglers resulted as follows:— M. McAuliffe, 19 fish. 1621 b 1 H. A. Lyons, 11 fish, 151 b 2 W. R. Lang, 17 fish, 1941 b 3 Mr Lang failed to weigh in ta the specified time owing to car trouble (want of petrol) and therefore forfeited first prize. The weather conditions were not favourable as regards the larger streams which were swollen and discoloured.

The Oreti is the favourite standby of Invercargill anglers and will be heavily fished during the holidays. About Centre Bush and Dipton are favourite camping spots for anglers. At Christmas time the mining claims on the Upper Mataura and Waikaia generally close down for a short period and the Mataura river gets clear. Fishermen, therefore, can expect good fly fishing in the Mataura between Christmas and New Year. The Mataura is a wonderful stream and if it clears somewhat, good fishing Tan be obtained everywhere from Balfour down to Fortrose.

In addition to the foregoing streams there are a number of smaller streams which provide delightful fishing and camping spots. The following may be mentioned, the Orawia, the Otapiri, Hedgehope, Dunsdale, Otamete, Waimea, Mimihau, Waipahi and the Wyndham. The upper waters generally provide the most shelter and prove the most popular. The foregoing notes should prove to

the angler that Southland provides streams of all sorts and conditions and he should have no difficulty in selecting a spot for a fishing holiday. Almost all the above streams are within easy reach of comfortable hotel's, so that those who do not think to camp can get good accommodation. Anglers who visit holiday resorts further afield may fit fishing in with other amusements. Visitors to Queenstown can get brown trout and landlocked Quinnat trolling with a minnow from a rowboat in the Kawarau arm of Lake Wakatipu, particularly in the evening. Fly fishing can be got in the Kawarau river below the new dam. Moke Lake and Lake Kirkpatrick are two small lakes on the slopes of Ben Lomond well stocked with Brown trout. With a breeze to ruffle the surface they can be caught with the wet fly. On bright calm days these fish can be seen chasing and rising to dragon flies.

If these fish are watched carefully and a dry fly cast into the ring of their rises they will take same. Diamond Lake, near Paradise, and Lake Hayes, near Arrowtown, will also provide dry or wet fly fishing. Brown trout can also be caught in Lake Wakatipu off the mouths of the Lochy, Greenstone, and Dart rivers. Lakes Wanaka and Hawea and surrounding district also proyide interesting fishing. Trolling from a boat or launch in these lakes an angler will get Rainbow trout, Brown trout and quinnat salmon. The Clutha and Hawea rivers and the Makaroro and Hunter

rivers at the head of the lakes are also well worth fishing and are stocked with rainbows.

Anglers visiting Timaru are within easy distance of the Opihi and other Canterbury rivers. The Temuka and Ashburton rivers are also favourite streams near the towns of the same names.

Visitors to Christchurch can try out the Lake Ellesmere fishing and the fishing in the Selwyn river. The large snow-fed Canterbury rivers, the Waitaki, Rangitata, Rakaia and Waimakariri also provide good fishing, particularly in the tidal waters. The inland lakes on the headwaters of the rivers, particularly Lake Alexandrina, near Tekapo, provide good fishing.

Further north the lakes and streams in Nelson provide good fishing, particularly Lake Rotoroa, which is now well stocked with rainbow. Space does not permit me to give details of suitable flies or minnows for the various streams and lakes or further details of the localities, but further detailed information regarding any particular locality will be gladly given in reply to inquiries addressed to “Matuku” care The Times Office.