ANGLING.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18203, 2 March 1929, Page 21

ANGLING.

QUINNAT PLENTIFUL. Trout fishing is not attracting a great deal oi attention at the moment, the catching of quinnat salmon being the feature as far as fishing is concerned. On Saturday and Sunday large ' numbers of anglers wended tlieir way to the mouths of the ltangitata and the Orari rivers. Something approximating 150 cars and motor-cycles were on tho banks of the former stream on Sunday ulternoon. Some were successful in landing one or more of these big fish, but many did not even get a rise. The fish have now distributed themselves over a wide area, and this gives everyone who cares, an opportunity to get a fish. This applies partic- ! ularly to the Itangitata, but the Orari was well patronised, and cars and other conveyances were to' be seen in all [ manner of places on the banks of this | stream. Experience seemed to tell, and those who had been at the game before were most successful, some of Uiese getting good bags. Mr Harry Cook, of Rangitata, booked five fish, the largest being 281b5., the next weighed 261b5., another was 241b5., and tho smallest turned tho scale at 131 b.— 91 lbs. in all. Country work has monopolised the attention of a great many anglers during the past two weeks, but the good weather has permitted the harvesting of the grain to be well advanced, with the result that all the fishing rivers are being well patronised. A large number of inquiries are being made as to the best streams for salmon, and before the season expires, one expects to see fishermen from all parts of New Zealand, trying their luck in the South Canterbury streams. There is every reason to believe that those who have had experience of this •class of fishing will not be disappointed. The fish are becoming more and moro Elentiful year by' year, and men are ecoming more and more expert in the catching of them. The fish, too, are spreading over a wide area, ana are being caught this year in parts of the rivers, where they have hitherto not been seen. Hopes are being cherished that the catching of* salmon will one day develop into an industry. The salmon caught this year are not only large, but are in excellent condition ; and the general opinion is that the fish will improve both in size, quality and number as the season advances. Although trout fishing has been neglected to some extent, those who have not the facilities to get about have devoted their attention to the streams near at hand. The Opihi and Temuka rivers and their tributaries have been well patronised during the current week; and fair success has been met with. The Temuka has been fishing well, and some anglers report getting from ten to twelve fish ranging in weight from three-quarters of a pound to three pounds. At the Opihi, baskets of from eight to fourteen fish have been taken. Most of the streams have been low a.s a result of the dry weather. The Acclimatisation Society’s ranger and curator (Mr J. S. Mam) has had an apxious time attending to the fish tyhioK have become stranded. In some cases, 200 and 300 fish have cut off in pools sixty or seventy yarde long, but Mr has been able to gfve : them the necessary attention, and th 6 mortality *so far has been slight. v Should rain come shortly, to freshen the streams, some excellent baskets of trout should be ca,nght in the South Canterbury streams.