WITH THE ROD.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1924, Page 9

WITH THE ROD.

SPORT IN TARANAKI. OPENING OF SEASON. (‘By "Ripple.”) On Wednesday next, October 1. the earth, and the waters of the earth, and the fullness thereof, will belong to the angler. He will stalk forth with a great, glad heart. Rejoicing that spring has come, and he can once again indulge in the only pastime that counts—angling for trout. Not *in boastful or noisy spirit will he hie to his best beloved stream, but with lowly supplication to the gods for a share of favours, that will make the opening day one to be remembered. For the past week a great change has manifested itself in the disposition of the true angler. He has emerged from the torpor that for the five long months of the close season has enveloped him. Even the veteran rodmen, with more fishing seasons behind them than they care to admit, exhibit a queer, suppressed excitement. and may be observed gazing up at the sky, watching the barometer, and hoping that the weather will be propitious. Folk who do not know the keen thrill of rod work while a ■well-conditioned trout is straining the silken cast io well-nigh breaking point, consider the angler an odd creature who should be pitied. Let such folk give the game a trial, and one good capture will convince them that there is no pastime that is so interesting enjoyable, and productive of good health. ANGLING MORE POPUlak. The splendid results from the trout hatching operations at the Pukekura Park hatcheries have enabled the Taranaki Acclimatisation Society to give practically all streams in the districts liberal yearly dressings of young brown and rainbow fish. The splendid increase in fishing licenses issued shows that angling is becoming very much more popular. Last season provided excellent sport. Our waters contain the right feeding for trout, and, compared with other districts, our fish mature very quickly. This year reports from all streams state that there is a splendid showing of well-conditioned sizeable fish.

It is quite satisfactory to see the number of boys and youths who are taking up angling. Older anglers can encourage these ‘•colts” by giving information and advice when opportunity offers. Angling is not learnt in ’one season; in fact, any experienced angler will tell you that each year teaches him many points on which he was before quite ignorant. Especially is thia so in fly fishing. I would like to see all anglers, young and old, strive hard to become proficient in the art of throwing a fly. There is no form of angling that can equal this branch of the sport, and, given the necessary efficiency in the art, there is no bait fisherman who can equal the tally of the “fly” man in numbers of fish taken or in the quality. It k> always the gajnest and prhnest fish that come most readily to the fly, because it is these fish that are ever on the alert at the feeding times in the swift rushing rapids, where natural flies become engulfed as they “dib*’ on these waters, and where the fly fisher loves to cast his flies. SPORT FOR YOUTHS. There are numbers of lads and youths that are longing to become anglers, but have an idea that the cost of the outfit is too heavy for them. This is quite an erroneous idea. Any of our well-stock-ed sporting houses provide very reasonably priced rods, reels, lines, casts, flies, etc., that are well within reach of most lads. Old anglers do, it is .rue, purchase high-priced outfits, but the youthful angler should not attempt to use costly gear until a little experience is gained. Rods costing from 25s to 35s will be found quite serviceable and effective for the firet three or four years. By that time the youthful angler will know how a rod should be treated and he can then please himself about purchasing a more expensive one. Remember, too, that a light rod will give far greater sport than a thick, heavy pole with no life in it.

Budding anglers will, I feel sure, find old rodmen ever willing with advice in making a suitable selection of gear to commence the pastime with. But to all prospective anglers I would sincerely recommend the inclusion of artificial flies in their outfit. It will take juet a little patience to cast the fly correctly, but there will be a compensating pride in the capture of the first speckled beauty. Youths learn most pastimes much more quickly than adults, and they will surprise themselves at their early proficiency in fly-fishing if they will but indulge in just a little perseverance and determination to succeed. Take the word of an old angler who has tried all kinds of lures—there is nothing that will give such lasting prid? and pleasure in angling as taking your trout on the artificial fly. No hunting about for bugs, grubs, beetles, worms, or other loathsome creatures. Your flybook is opened in a second, and two or three minutes are all that are required for changing a fly if you feel so disposed. Further, a brilliant tussle may be reckoned on if you hook into a fish with the fly, as in fly fishing the thick horny lip of the fish is the part invariably “struck.” With bait fishing the trout swallows quickly and the hook is certain to pierce the soft membrane of the throat and prevent the fish putting up a scrap of more than a few seconds.

A few artificial flies, that have proved themselves splendid “killers” in Taranaki waters in past seasons:—

Daylight flies; Bradshaw’s Fancy, Hardy’s Favourite, Hofland's Fancy, iCoch-a-bondhu, Twilight Beauty, Female March Brown, Purple March Brown, and R.A.B. ,

•Evening flies: Peverel of the Peak, White Moth, Royal Coachman, Coachman, Red Ant. Tne above are for brown trout.

For Rainbow trout: Almost any fly that has a red body or red hackle. But if these fellows are “on the feed” they will take almost any fly offering. ’Finally —Small flies give better returns in fish than large ones. The difficulties of easting a large fly, especially on a windy day, are many. You cannot reach the distance required. With small, neat flies. easting to surprising distances may be made. Also it is easier to deceive a trout wim a small pattern fly.