ANGLERS EXPECT TO HAVE GOOD SEASON.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18577, 27 September 1928, Page 9

ANGLERS EXPECT TO HAVE GOOD SEASON.

PROSPECTS FOR FISHING SHOW GREAT PROMISE. Anglers all over Canterbury are overhauling tackle, and dragging rods and gear from their winter retreat. Monday is “the First,” and there will he many of the fraternity on the banks of the different streams on Sunday night waiting for midnight to give the signal to start. In nearly every part of Canterbury the prospects for the season are very bright. The Acclimatisation Society has not liberated as many fry this year as is usually the case, but the rivers are well stocked, and the mild winter, with its absence of floods, has not disturbed the fish. In the Waimakariri there are signs of fish, but this river does not come to its best generally till about the middle of November, when the silveries start to run in numbers. Last season, at about the time mentioned, Waimakariri fishermen got very good results spinning a silvery, as many as then and twelve being caught in a night. The Ashley does not promise so far to be any better than it was last season, and then it was no good at all. This applies to the upper reaches, as in the lower part, near the mouth, there are always fish of good size. Frj£ were liberated there last yea. therefore there may be better conditions later in the season. That once famous fly stream, the Main Drain, has settled down into the path made for it last year, and looks a good stream. Good fly fishing was to be had there at the end of last season, when big bags of small fish were common. Fishermen report that they have seen good fish there l&telv. and indications point to the Drain becoming a favourite haunt again. The Cust seems to be getting smaller and smaller, but there is still enough water with good fish in it to make this favourite stream worth a visit. As the water has decreased in the last few years, the fish have decreased in size. There are still occasional patches where it need*; all the art a man has to catch anything. The Hororata, upper Selwyn and other streams in that locality show decidedly more promise than they did at the beginning of last season. These streams offer excellent flv fishing, but are not very much fished as a general rule. The Lower Selwyn, where undoubtedly most fishermen will congregate is again problematical. The lake is very low, but the lake has been low befo~e when good runs have come in. One promising fact is that recently Mr Edgar Stead saw tremendous numbers of silveries coming in at the mouth. If the bait decides to come up the river on the first, repeating last year’s performance, there is no doubt that the fishing will be good. Prospects, as a whole, may be considered bright for the season. A Rotorua Press Association message says:—A statement appearing in the “ Metropolitan Daily ” in regard to the restricted hours of trout fishing is incorrect. The hours of fishing are from 4 a.m. to midnight, but applies to the Rotorua and Taupo districts only.