END OF POOR ANGLING SEASON

Southland Times, Issue 23182, 24 April 1937, Page 19

END OF POOR ANGLING SEASON

Streams Seldom In Suitable Fishing Order

(By

“Matuku”)

It has been said that there are no poor fishing seasons, but that some are better than others. Anglers are unanimous that the past season has been the worst for the last decade at least. The complaint is not that there are no fish, but that the weather was so consistently unsettled that it was impossible, except on rare occasions, to find the streams in fishing order. Anglers are peculiarly dependent on weather conditions for their sport. On the not too frequent occasions when the overhead conditions were fine, the streams and rivers were generally only partly recovering from flood and were not in proper fishing order. The Oreti, first of all, has been too high for fishing practically throughout the whole season. There has been considerable erosion of banks and river beds, and it is impossible to say what effect this will have on future fishing. This applies also to the Aparima. Reports show that in various places the Aparima has changed its course and found a new bed. It is generally admitted that it takes several years to establish a food supply of aquatic insects in a new channel and until a food supply is present, trout will not remain in these new pools and channels. An angler not acquainted with changes in the river bed may spend valuable time fishing one of these newly established pools which (Contains no fish. The Waiau river has also been scoured in parts, but is generally more stable and fixed than the Oreti or Aparima. Likewise the lower Mataura seems to have less fall and its bed does not seem to be affected by flood conditions. On the infrequent occasions when the Oreti was fishable a number of nice sea-run trout were got, but it is impossible to say what effect the flooded conditions have had on the trout in either the Oreti or Aparima. The Mataura obviously has not suffered, as on the rare occasions when it was clear the trout rose as freely as in former seasons. Rain-fed Streams The smaller rain-fed streams would seem to have benefited by the high waters as very little erosion takes place in these streams. The fish caught in these streams have been in excellent condition and of better average size than the previous one or two seasons. Anglers visiting the Hedgehope, Makarewa Waihopai and no doubt other streams often found the trout feeding out in flood lagoons and runners in the grass paddocks, sometimes several chains from the stream. These trout apparently take full advantage of the opportunity' presented and feed on worms, grubs, floating flies etc. Anglers have developed a new technique to catch these fish and have found that a skilfully presented dry-fly provides a successful method of catching them. When these smaller streams were low and fishable and conditions right they provided good sport. In addition to the streams mentioned above the Waimea, Wyndham and Mimihau have all provided sport on occasions. The Orawia in particular has been heavily fished and maintained its reputation as the best dry-fly stream in Southland. Salmon angling at Te Anau has maintained its success and it seems that the salmon are now fairly holding their own. The size continues to be rather disappointing, but anglers who specialize in fishing for salmon have had quite good sport. The Waiau between Lakes Te Anau and Manapoun has generally been rather too high to enable the best pools to be conveniently reached, but on the whole good bags have been caught. One angler at Clifden on a recent week-end got two salmon weighing 51b and sJlb so it seems that the salmon are gradually spreading throughout the Waiau watershed. Rainbow trout also seem to

be more than holding their own in the Waiau. They are caught below Te Anau and also in the vicinity of Clifden and at various points between. It seems that the Waiau is suitable for rainbow. No reports of rainbow are to hand from the Aparima, and it would appear that for some reason this stream is not suitable for rainbow. About 20 rainbow trout ran into the fish-trap in the Upukororo last winter. The tidal water fishing at the Waiau mouth and at Lake Waituna was at times quite successful. Some heavy bags were obtained by anglers fortunate enough to strike a run of trout at these spots. Prospects for Week-end

This week-end will provide the last opportunity for anglers to try their luck and if conditions are favourable some good bags may be got. If overhead conditions are warm and bright and the streams fairly low it is wonderful when a rise of fish occurs. Hatches of May-flies appear even in June and. the trout may be seen rising freely at them. Anglers should not be deterred by the lateness of the season if conditions otherwise are favourable. Inquiries should be made before proceeding far afield about conditions of the streams. One objection to angling at this period is that a number, of fish are heavy with spawn and their flesh is soft and inferior from an edible point of view.

Anglers will be laying up their tackle for the winter and a little care is well worth while. Rods should be stowed away in a cool dry place and should be laid flat on a shelf or similar support so that they will not develop a bend. During the winter months an angler will be wise to look over his rods and renew any loose or frayed bindings. Any rings that are worn and have sharp edges or broken or cracked agates should be replaced. A coat of rod varnish is easily applied and will provide an interesting job for a wet Sunday afternoon during the winter. Reels should be cleaned and oiled to prevent damage from rust or damp. The experts advise that water-proof-ed silk lines should be removed from the reels and hung up in loose coils in a dry airy room or shed. ■ I have found, however, that if lines are removed from a reel and carefully dried and dressed with Cerolene, they can be kept on a reel throughout the winter. A. line soon perishes if left damp on a reel and a tapered silk line is worth taking care of. Dry-flies should be kept in mothproof boxes. If wet flies are kept in the usual fly-book with flannel or similar leaves, sprinkle some moth balls throughout the leaves. Modem eyed flies will last for many years, but if moths get into a fly-book they seem to concentrate on the feathers and ruin the flies in a very short time. Treatment of Casts It is very doubtful whether it pays to keep gut casts from one season to the next Various gut preservatives are advertised and may be effective. Once a cast or trace has been used and exposed to air and water, however, it seems to deteriorate if kept for some months. My advice to anglers is to scrap their casts and buy new casts etc. next season. This also applies to mountings for artificial minnows. How often do we meet an angler lamenting that a large trout broke one of the triangles off his minnow. An angler is wise to have his minnows re-mount-ed each season. The price of gut has increased in Britain because of the Spanish war and will probably increase in New Zealand next season. However, gut casts are: not an unduly high part of an angler’s expenditure and my advice would be not to economize on casts. Rubber waders should be kept in. a cool dark place as light perishes the rubber. Some people advise wrapping them in brown paper to exclude the light. It is certainly foolish to leave them hanging out in the motor shed until next season, as it will probably be found that the rubber has perished owing to the action of the light. With care rubber boots will last two or three seasons. Canvas waders likewise should be stowed away from the light.