ANGLING

Southland Times, Issue 22293, 7 April 1934, Page 15

ANGLING

(By

“Matuku.”)

As indicated in last week's notes the larger streams were rather high for fishing last Friday and Saturday. The smaller streams were also carrying rather much water and with an easterly breeze the trout proved difficult to catch. The Waiau was the resort of a number of anglers last Saturday, but it was several feet above normal and slightly discoloured. Experts with the dry fly got one or two fish, but the majority of anglers returned with empty bags. The Waiau, however, is rapidly falling and if the weather continues fine it should give excellent sport this week-end and for the remainder of the season. The fish seem as numerous as ever and with the chance of striking a run of sea fish the prospects for the remainder of the season in the Waiau are good. The smaller streams, such as the Orawia, Waimatuku and Makarewa, were also above normal last week-end, but were clear and not too discoloured for fly fishing. The fish in these streams, however, had evidently had a surfeit of food washed down by the flood and proved difficult to catch. The easterly wind was also put down as a contributing factor for the failure of the fish to rise.

On Easter Monday the Aparima provided interesting and varied conditions for the observant angler. This river was fairly high, but clear, and was dropping rapidly after the flood of the previous week. At Ringway at 11 a.m. the surface was smooth as glass and a prolific rise of trout was to be seen all up and down the pools. Conditions appeared to be ideal for the dry fly and operations were commenced with a dark Red Spinner fished dry which accounted for a plump half-pounder in the first ripple. A long calm pool stretched upstream. The fly was tried out on several rising fish without success. The surface was so smooth and glassy that the fish saw the gut or the angler, or the fly was not suitable. A small Cochy-bondhu was tried and a onepounder was netted out of a swift run near the bank. It was apparent, however, that although conditions appeared favourable, it was going to be difficult to get many fish. The billy was boiled and after lunch a fairly strong south-easterly breeze had sprung up and there was a nice ripple on the surface of the pools. On proceeding to a favourite reach several fish were found rising out in the rough water and conditions now seemed favourable for a successful afternoon. It soon became evident, however, that whatever the trout were rising at, it was not the Cochy-bondhu. The dark Red Spinner, Red Quill Gnat, Lilius Dreton, and Red Poma'haka were all tried out on these fish without success. The angler was then compelled to acknowledge himself beaten and another- fishing problem was unsolved for the present at any rate. These fish were feeding continuously and there was no difficulty in casting a dry fly over them without putting them down. If these anglers could have happened on the fly they were taking they would no doubt have got a bag without any trouble. By careful angling a couple of fish were got in the eddie along the banks, but it was obvious that these were casual fish and the main rise of fish was missed. About 4 p.m. the wind changed round to the south-west and became stronger. The pool that was so smooth in the morning was now ruffled and was again tried with Red Quill Gnat fished dry. Two fish over half a pound each were bagged. The surface, however, was now so rough that the fish could not be seen rising and conditions seemed more suitable for the wet fly. With the wet fly fished across and down, the whole bed of the river is covered at each cast. Fishing dry upstream only a narrow strip is covered each cast. If the fish can be seen rising they can be cast over and when the surface is rippled the rises cannot be seen. By putting on a wet fly cast with a Dark Red Spinner and Pomahaka, half a dozen fish up to 11b were caught in the next hour. This shows the necessity of changing for changing to wet fly when conditions are not suitable for dry fly fishing. In the evening just before dark the wind dropped again and the surface of the water was glossy and smooth as in the morning. The fish continued to rise and a couple more were secured on the wet fly. There seemed a prospect of a good evening rise, but time did not permit it to be tried out. The angler had by careful and skilful fishing got a dozen trout and had had a most interesting day. Some day he hopes to go back and find out what fly will take on an afternoon’s rise on such as occurred on Monday and thus solve another angling problem. Observations on the Aparima indicate that it is well stocked with fish of fair size. In the semi-tidal waters near the Gummies Bush bridge there are some fine trout and the natural bait or minnow fisherman should do well in this locality. The angler should choose a rough day or try night fishing. The water is very clear and on a calm bright day the fish are difficult to catch. To the dry fly angler the different types of rise are most interesting. The wet fly fisherman does not see the rise as a dry fly man does. In the swift waters of the Waiau the trout comes up at the dry fly with a rush, with a head and tail rise as if he means business and generally is well and truly hooked. The Waiau trout are unsophisticated; they have not yet had much education in dry fly observations. Also the Waiau is so swift that unless the trout is quick and lively he docs not get the fly. On the Oreti one gets various types of rise. When the crickets are about and the Red-Tipped Governor is used in the rough current, the trout come up with a rush and take it boldly, similar to the Waiau fish. Sometimes, however, the Oreti fish are just dimpling in the little eddies along the banks, taking small floating flies, etc. When the Oreti fish are feeding thus they should be fished for with a very small fly and they take it almost without breaking the surface. The angler, if he watches closely, sees a small dimple and his iiy disappears. The fish apparently sucks down the fly without breaking the surface at all. The size of the fish that makes these small rises is sometimes most surprising. Judging by the rise one expects a “sprat” and finds that he is attached to a hefty two-pounder. On the smaller waters such as the Dunsdale or Otapiri the fish rise quietly, and confidently and can be struck quickly. On the Makarewa and other streams when large fish rise at the dry fly the temptation is strong to strike too soon. One sees the fish before he takes the fly and the tendency is to strike as soon as the fish is seen. This is learned from wet fly fishing when one sees the fish after he has taken the fly and turned away. The dry fly angler, however, soon recognizes the various types of rise. In Southland our waters are so varied that all types of dry fly fishing are to be obtained. Also there is growing up a young generation of anglers who are experts on the dry fly and who will take full advantage of the opportunities offered to learn.