ANGLING NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16327, 17 January 1921, Page 3

ANGLING NOTES.

(BY IRON BLUE.) PR ESENT PROSPECTS. At the moment of writing, the angling outlook may be divided almost equally, and classed both ns very good and very bad. “Extremes meet.” here again, as we are iold ; and while the fisherman who chiefly frequents a certain brook or streamlet, is probably cursing the dry weather as he watches his favourite pools md ripples grow less from day to day ; all those within easy distance of the lakes and rivers have been enjoying some good or better sport. Oi the smaller fly-streams in Canterbury it might be said that those which are not quite dry are dashed near it, and in one way or another tho loss of trout has been enorlt is not unusual to find perhaps fifty or more dead fish in a single pool, and though in many cases they have been moved up to a place where they would find more space and a better chance of surviving, the water in these, little drying brooks becomes almost hot at midday, ami evidently tho heat has proved too much for the trout; Nowadays the next-best-thing is to hope that, a big fresh will bring up a new stock from the lower waters. Here, as it seems at the present time, th :re arc trout for everybody , and especially after a prospect of drying fly-streams. : t is. encouraging to hear nows like this from South Canterbury fishermen : “ Any amount of trout in the Opihi. and more if they could only stop the netting.” On the upper waters, near Pleasant Point, they say, “The flashing is better than it lias been for fifteen years,” and so on. At the end of October J was informed by an angler who goes constantly to the mouth of the Rangitata, that the fishing there was “ good ” ; in December it was “very good and now “ good as ever.” I think l v ill give this fly fishing a sort of rest and go try to find a place in the long row of rods usually to be seen at the mouth of the Rangitata. They do say that if you happen to find a really nice place there, you must eat your grub and camp on it, and be quite prepared to defy allcomers. out this, of course, would be an extra excitement. The worst of this fishing at a river mouth is that frequently there are only a few “ stands” or likely positions at the disposal ot a far greater number of anglers than nill fit, and consequently one must hurrv for a “ stand ” or go away up river and take a chance. Experiences at lvangi-tata-on-Sea have taught me that this hurry may begin by dark or at the dawn and seldom has an cuding • from tlic time—some time before daybreak—when vou congratulate yourself that you are ahead of the next fellow, as you get. water for you r tea-billy at the village pump Then, generally, you find him in tranquil occupation of your chosen “stand ” at the riverside; and of course you give him a bright ** Good Morning,” and wish him the best of sport I.D.T. At Rangitata-on-Sea, great happenings are again expected, for four “expecting ” years have passed since the last good salmon season, and now, if ever the arrival of a swarm of quinnat is calculated to be due. The last big run of salmon, from which all these “great expectations” are derived, begau about the first week in February, when extraordinary sport fell to the share of an angler who chanced to he upon the scene at the right moment. He was fishing at some distance from the mouth, and in addition to a number of salmon he landed a much greater number of large migratory trout; his theory being that the newlyarrived salmon were driving nil tho trout up the river before them. This may Lk? right or wrong, I am not going to hazard an opinion; still, if a man three times as big as yourself comes jostling alongside, one might, very naturally set out, for less crowded quarters, and possibly the theory is correct. Ido know that-it will be a pity if all the expensive arrangements which were made for curing a whole

“ Silver Horde ” of salmon are never to be seen in working order; but on the other hand, it may be very well for our iiotcd New Zealand trout-fishing if this proves to be the conclusion ot' the quinnat case. That run of salmon continued into March, when the Rangitata came down iu heavy flood, and stayed so more or less until the end of April brought the close of the fishing season. In June, a shoal of big salmon—numbering nearly a hundred—were busy with family affairs in a pool by the outflow of the Mount Feel Creek, apd that is the last we have se°n of qmnnnt salmon in any quantity. Bv the way, in tho year following “ the great run.” anglers were eagerly buying their salmon licenses at ten bob a. time, but up to date our very good Government lias failed to deliver the goods; and fpr my own part. T shall be both “ s*prised and pleased ” if we see much of the quinnat salmon between this and May. However, these Rangitata. fishermen are not doing so badly at the present, time, for besides the trout they have swarms of good herring for the catchij«g—not to mention the eating thereof—and the kahawai have been providing them with the very best of sport. As a fish that will put up a great fight for liberty when you have hooked him, the taJiawai is not to be beaten by any trout. Recently news lias arrived of good fishing in the Ahuriri River, away down south m Waitaki, Otago ; also af a very complete netting, a fresh run of trout, and excellent catches from the Orari lagoon—fishing after dark -end onlv a. steady rainfall is required to cause a very considerable improvement in angling prospects at the present time.