FISHING SEASON OPENS TODAY

Southland Times, Issue 24863, 1 October 1942, Page 5

FISHING SEASON OPENS TODAY

RIVERS HIGH AND DISCOLOURED The state of the larger Southland rivers is not favourable for the opening of the fishing season today, but it is expected that the smaller streams, such as the Orawia and Wyndham, will enable the angler who can cast his rod on the opening day to have fair sport. Although it is believed that a fair number of sportsmen have already taken out licences, it is not expected that many will be able to visit the streams today. Most men are too busily engaged to take off any time for sport in the middle of the week, and transport facilities are scarce. It is more likely that fishermen with motor-cars and a small reserve of petrol will prefer to make up week-end parties so that a full load of sportsmen may go to the rivers on each occasion that a car is run. .There are some anglers, however, /who live within walking distance of attractive trout streams and they will probably be tempted to cast a fly or minnow this evening if the weather is fine and the stream in good order. The heavy rain and snow which fell towards the end of last week caused a fair rise in most of the Southland rivers, and they were still running high and discoloured yesterday. Some of the small streams, however, were recovering normal condition yesterday and they should be fishable today. EASTERN PROSPECTS Although the streams in Eastern Southland have been running a little high during the last few days, it is thought that they should be in good order for the opening of the fishing season today. The Waimea, the Otamete and the Waipahi all offer good prospects, and the Wyndham and the Mimihau streams should also be in good order. The bigger streams, including the Mataura, the Oreti and the Pomahaka, will probably not be at their best for some time yet as snow is still melting in the high country. There has been a good demand . for licences and tackle at Gore, and it is evident that there will be a good number of anglers out trying their luck on the first day of the season. Some lines of equipment are unprocurable, but anglers will not be inconvenienced to any great extent. Since the outbreak of war the activities of anglers have been steadily reduced because of the petrol restrictions and many streams have had little fishing during the last three seasons. The spell should have a beneficial effect.