THE FISHING SEASON

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14836, 29 November 1913, Page 7

THE FISHING SEASON

BEST FOR A DECADE

(By R.A.8.)

Anglers generally are very well satisfied with- the results obtained so far this season, which, in the .opinion of "old hands," is. quite the best expeiTenced for the last ten or twelve years. -' The Waimakariri has distinguished itself this week by the production of an 18-pounder, which was captured by the Rev. \V. C. Oliver. The fish measured 27 inches in length, and 22 inches in girth, and was taken on a Gold Devon near Whit&'s • bridge. In addition to this catch, several baskets of two and three brace have been taken with live bait at Stewart's Gully. Sport in the Lower Solwyn and in Lake Ellesmere, adjoining the river mouth, is quite up to the standard. One evening recently a local enthusiast landed seven trout, five of them weighing fully five pounds a piece, and tho remaining two, four and two and a half pounds respectively. Two other anglers killed fifteen fish between them, in this ,caso . also, strange to say, the majority weighing just over five pounds. Lady enthusiasts have been meeting with* very fair success at the mouth of the river, their manner of handling their captives exciting much favourable comment amongst the men-folk. A style of fishing rapidly , coming into favour amongst those usually frequenting the lower Selwyn is tho trolling of a bully behind a boat, both in the river and lake. A very fine fish, weighing about 5J pounds, was thus i secured just opposite the huts last week. Higher up the river a. largo "T.F.M is proving very, deadly at dusk. "Bed Tip Governor" was responsible for the killing of four very fin© trout in the Ashley, near Rangiora, two ■of them weighing fully four pounds. Teinuka rivers are rather high at present; nevertheless fly enthusiasts are obtaining very satisfactory catches. The capture of another-tagged trout is reported this week—No. which was liberated in the Iselwyn on June 15th last, and showed an increase in weight of 21b. • Monday next marks tho opening of the season for perch and tench, and ; also of Lakes Lyndon, llubicon. Grassmere, Mirimar, and Sarah. Plenty of perch are to be obtained at Little River, where a Gold Devon or a Whitebait Soleskin are usually very deadly. The lakes, of course, are well known as the-resort of some very fine rainbows, and it is to be regretted that they are so difficult of access. Last year Lyndon produced a large number of these trout, the best lures being "Wagtail" minnows, and almost any flies which have a porportion of red or claretcoloured materials in their construction.