FISHING SEASON

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20951, 2 November 1939, Page 8

FISHING SEASON

ROTORUA AND TAUPO OPENING DAY CONDITIONS BETTER THAN LAST YEAR Considerably better condition than last year were experienced for the opening day of the fishing season in Rotorua and Taupo areas yesterday. At Rotorua the fish caught were, for the most part, in excellent condition, while those at Taupo were described as being up to last year’s condition and sometimes better. The Ohau Channel appeared to be the most popular of the fishing areas at Rotorua and those who were there by dawn were in time for a good early morning rise, both in the channel itself and also at the mouth of the channel. All the anglers located at Cochrane Park fishing lodge, on the banks of the channel, were successful. Th 6 largest catch was one of seven trout of good condition up to 51b. One angler caught five fish before breakfast, while another secured five during the morning.

About mid-day a strong westerly wind churned up the water on this side of Lake Rotorua and continued throughout the afternoon, making successful fishing almost impossible. Fair success was secured by a number of trollers who were operating early in Lake Rotorua. One party ; of two rods secured eight fish and i another five fish. A visiting angler operating off Sulphur Bay, in Lake Rotoiti, t secured his limit, the fish being of up to 51b. and in fairly good condition. Bags At Taupo Mr S. Thorne George, of Auckland, took three fair fish at Taupo before breakfast. Two local anglers, Mr A Northcroft and his son. took five and eight fish respectively, averaging 1 about 4slb. An Auckland angler stated that of the fish taken in the Waitahunui a number were females that had not yet spawned and that the largest he had seen up to three o’clock were about 61b. A Waitahanui resident said the day’s fish seemed to average better in condition than on the last opening day, but it was too soon to know whether this improvement was general or merely the run of luck. In the Huka Lodge area on the Waikato River six rods all took fish before breakfast. The fish showed condition definitely better than on the opening day last year.

Trolling catches were not large, owing to the morning being cold and .tormy and the new 200 yards restriction leaving little water available. Fish taken trolling were described by a local angler as being smaller than those taken on last opening morning, but in good condition and averaging about 41b. Of a catch of 13 fish taken by two Auckland rods trolling, 10 were in good enough condition to be smoked. Another trolling catch of a dozen for three rods was described as being on a par with fish taken last year.