ANGLING NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 23332, 16 October 1937, Page 18

ANGLING NOTES

CONDITIONS ON THE MAKAREWA

(By

MATUKU)

The Makarewa is now lower than it was at any period last season. This certainly favours the fly fisherman and particularly the dry fly angler. Some of the best pools in the Makarewa are difficult to approach by wading unless the river is very low. Last season, the fish in these pools had a complete rest from the fly fisherman, because of unfavourable weather conditions and high water levels. The indications this year are for excellent conditions, both weather and low water favouring the angler. Some anglers are ambidexterous, and this will prove a great advantage on the “Mak.” The angler will generally find that he can wade only along one edge of the pool. If he is on the left bank and is a right hand caster, he will find it very difficult to cast ahead upstream. On the other hand, if he can cast with his left hand, he will cover more water and do so more skilfully.

On Sunday morning there was an excellent risd of good trout in the Makarewa. These fish, if skilfully covered with a small dark dry fly such as a Cochy-bondhu or Greenwell’s Glory, confidently took the angler’s lure and fair bags were got up to six and eight fish. The Makarewa trout seem to be larger this year than last and the rest they had last season may have resulted in bigger fish. I saw one angler carefully stalk a feeding four pounder with a Greenwell’s Glory attached to a 4X cast. The fish took the fly confidently but soon proved that in a snaggy pool a 4X cast was too light to bring him to the net. When the trout realized he was hooked he set out for a favourite snag across the river and the 4X cast was incapable of making him change his mind and the fish and the angler parted company. Ihe angler changed his cast to a size heavier, but no more four pounders came along.

THE WAIMEA The Waimea, as in former seasons, is carrying an excellent stock of trout of good average size. The intensive fishing on this stream does not seem to greatly reduce the size of the fish, which average about to 21b and are in excellent condition. The spawning conditions do not seem to be of the best but in spite of this the stock of trout seems to keep up. The food supply is no doubt excellent, and it is generally considered that the fish stock is continually replenished from the ample stock in the Mataura. The adjoining stream, the Otamete has considerable spawning beds and there is quite a large proportion of small fish in this stream.

Last Saturday, there was an excellent rise on the Waimea but the trout did not prove too easy to catch. They were rising at a very small fly and most anglers’ artificials proved too large. However, most anglers accounted for a few fish and it was certainly encouraging to see the number of fish in the stream. A post mortem examination of the stomach contents proved that the diet of these trout was made up of enormous numbers of insects of minute size. The Waimea contains an ample supply of water snails and these must be largely eaten by the trout. On Saturday, however, the trout were dining exclusively on insects, both nymphs and fully-developed flies.

Last Sunday was a fine sunny day and on most streams anglers’ cars could be seen parked in the vicinity of good fishing spots, while wives and families were picnicking and enjoying the sunshine. All the streams were in excellent order and a good sport was had by most anglers. The streams generally were low and clear for last week-end and the rainfed streams were in excellent order for the wet and dry fly. On most streams during the week-end there was at some time or another a rise of fish and anglers lucky enough to strike a rise were rewarded with good sport. The present indications point to a continuance of these low water conditions and the angler who specializes in the dry fly should have the best of sport. Even the snow rivers, the Oreti and the Aparima, are unusually low and should soon be in good fly order. Some fair

bags were got on the wet fly in the Oreti about Lochiel. There is, however, always a quantity of snow to come down off the high country and it will probably be about a month or six weeks before the fish rise freely to the dry fly in the Oreti. TROUT IN TAKING MOOD Anglers on the Wyndham stream found the trout in a taking mood on Sunday morning and individual bags of up to 15 fish were taken with the dry fly on this stream. These trout are of a fair average size including quite a number - of two pounders. As in the other streams the best rise was before midday. The Red Quill Gnat and Blue Dun of small sizes proved the most successful flies. The indications are that the Wyndham carries an excellent stock of trout this season. The lower portions of the Wyndham do not appear to provide many spawning beds but it is obvious that there must be considerable reproduction in this stream to keep up the stock of trout. The Mataura stream promises to be much lower this year and anglers may fairly hope that it will again provide sport for the fly fisherman. It is reported that fish have been rising freely on certain days during the week and anglers who favour this stream will be well advised to keep in touch with local conditions and take advantage of any rises that may occur. RESEARCH WORK At some recent meetings of local Angling Clubs the work of trout research and the increased licence fee were matters for discussion and sometimes for criticism. The main complaint of the critics is that research and the extra licence fee will not provide him with better fishing. The man in the street asks: “When is research going to give us any results?” It is positively

stated that it would be better to devote the extra money to liberating fry or yearlings, to destroying shags and eels, preventing poaching, etc. The anglers may possibly be correct in their above suggestions. But can the question be disposed of so easily? The object of research is to do away with possibilities and even probabilities, and to replace them with certainties. In time the research workers will succeed and be able to advise with certainty. In the meantime, the angler will continue to get his sport and have his successful and unsuccessful days. If he gets fewer and smaller fish he should bear in mind that probably the principal reason for this is that there is more and more fishing. The investigations of the Research Committee have already proved the effect of intensive fishing in rapidly causing a decrease in the size and number of trout. The Southland Acclimatization Society spends approximately £lOOO a year on hatching and liberating fry. During, say, the last 10 years this work has cost the anglers of Southland say £lO,OOO. On research probably a few hundreds have been spent. The moneys spent on the artificial propagation of fry may have been wisely spent, but, on the other hand, there is no certainty on this point. What is certain is that, in spite of increasing liberations, the trout fishing continues to deteriorate. In next week’s notes an indication will be given of the information already disclosed by the Research Committee’s interpretations.