ANGLERS FIND RIVERS LOW

Southland Times, Issue 23380, 11 December 1937, Page 15

ANGLERS FIND RIVERS LOW

HOLIDAY PROSPECTS

(By

MATUKU)

Last week-end the streams were all low and clear and during the daylight hours fish were difficult to catch. The Makarewa and tributaries are getting lower than ever and the fish seem sluggish during the daytime. The evening rise can generally be depended on to give good sport and an angler should endeavour to fish these streams in the evening. The Aparima in its lower reaches contains a good stock of fish and on a suitable day a good bag can be got. During the present low water conditions the fish are easily disturbed and during the week-ends after one or two anglers have fished the water and disturbed the trout, it is difficult to get them to rise. An angler will have a better chance of successful fishing during the week days if a visit can be arranged. The Oreti in the lower tidal waters still contains a good stock of trout and with a fair breeze on a falling tide good sport can be depended on. The trout do not seem to have run up from the tidal waters, probably owing to the low state of the river.

Reports from Te Anau show that a few salmon and rainbow trout are being taken between the Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri, but the fish are difficult to tempt and do not seem to be very numerous. The rainbow trout seem to outnumber the salmon this ceason.

With the approach of the Christmas and New Year holidays anglers will be arranging for holiday fishing and a few suggestions and hints may be given which may be of assistance. Many anglers combine camping and angling and most of the streams in Otago and Southland provide excellent opportunities for this combination. The Oreti has been looked upon in the past as Southland’s premier stream and can be depended upon even now to give good sport. Near Mossbum and Lumsden large fish can be taken on the dry fly. The Irthing above its junction with the Oreti is well worth a try out and contains a good stock of fish averaging about IJlb in weight. The Mararoa and Lake Mavora can also be depended on to provide good sport. Lake Mavora fish rise freely to the dry fly during the day time and to the wet fly after dark. Lake Mavora probably yields brown trout of the largest average size to be got in New Zealand at the present time. The principal drawback to Lake Mavora fish is the very poor road, passable only in fine weather. At Lake Te Anau salmon and rainbow trout can be caught between Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri. An American bait-cast-ing outfit will be most successful for this fishing although both salmon and rainbow rise freely to a wet fly such as a Demon or Alexandra on a No. 6 or No. 4 hook.

It is reported that good sport is. to be had on favourable days with the dry fly on the lower Waiau near Clifden. The Waiau mouth fishing should also be good at the holiday season. The upper Waikaia at Piano. Flat and the Mataura about Nokomai and Parawa and the Pomahaka about the Leithen Gorge are favourite camping and fishing spots and will attract their usual quota of anglers. Reports indicate that all these streams are well stocked this season and should give good sport