THE FISHING SEASON.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14832, 25 November 1913, Page 3

THE FISHING SEASON.

IN SOUTH CANTERBURY

.FROM A COB-ESPON-ENT..

The natural consequence of the recent heavy rains was a satisfactory fresh, which haa put tho South Canterbury fly streams in first class order; and even whilo the water cleared, good baskets were obtained on the Kakahu, Hae Te Moana, and Waihi. On Thursday, thirty-seven takeabte trout wero killed in two hours on the Upper Waihi, with a large red quill. On Friday were landed forty-one from tho Hae Te Moana; and from the Kakahu, several takes, numbering between twenty-five and thirty, and averaging a trifle over half a pound a fish. On Sunday, in the Kakahu Gorge, an angler had thirtyone trout, weighing thirty-five pounds,* the ' largest a five-pounder. In "tho clearing waters of the Upper Opihi, excellent sport was obtained near "Hanging Rock" and below Pleasant Point, but it is uncertain that the dry fly was the killing lure. Creeper fishing is what they call "a crying 6hame" on the Upper Opihi, and it accounts for many of the most numerous catches. Those Opihi anglers who go forth merely for the purpose of slaying trout, aro much addicted to the use of this bait, and if they are in lucky mood there is a strong probability that they will kill fish; but the unlucky creeper-fisher seems to fall foul of every snag in the river, and one can almost sympathise with a "fly man" who rejoices in any loss of tackle which may occur.

On Friday the Rangitata, at the upper bridge, was in perfect fly order, and a couple of anglers between them had eight fine trout —apparently fresh run—that would average about four pounds each. These had been caught with a Hardy's favourite and a large blue upright.

It is reported that a heavy run of migratory trout ascended the Orari, and above tho Clandeboye bridge, two rainbows were landed among the rest. These fish weighed something over a pound each, and probably were escapees from a side stream which is preserved by Mr G. Macdonald, near Orari Station. %, The Ohapi has given further sport, and sad to say there is a fisherman who contemplates a laps© from strictly sporting ways; like this. The Ohapi is full of big trout, which seldom or never will rise to a fly and only occasionally will run at a minnow ; so it is proposed to fish the Ohapi with a loathsome ,worm during three whole days, and in this last resort to thin out tho old cannibals who are a curse to the younger generation. Doubtless the loss of tackle on snags and flaxroote will be "enarmous," but the long black fish will be better in "kedgeree" than in the stream. On a certain occasion one of these great brutes took hold of a 6mall trout which was being played ashore, and held Fast until both were netted. a fact the cannibal measured thirty inches —the proper length of a fourteen or fifteen pounder—but he scaled only four pounds. In such cases even a Lee-Metford lure might be excused.

Aif angler who spent most of a season in New Zealand, has written an article in the "Field" which limits our list of duns to eight. Thus, with an addition of the corresponding spinners and a red dragon fly, we have only a collection of seventeen dry flies in our poor little country, but as it happens the state—ient of tbe English angler is not quite correct. There are fourteen which are different, known here, and there must be several more. The most killing flies at tho present moment include The Red Upright—red. quill— Greenwell, Hardy's Favourite, Ret? Spinner. Coachman, and Red Governor; the la6t not least.