FISHING NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20488, 5 March 1932, Page 5

FISHING NOTES.

THE SIZE LIMIT.

[XICMHUVX TO THE TRESS.]

[By Black Gnat.]

These Notes, which ate written by a mail of long experience and considerable theoretical knowledge, will appear every Saturday. Letters containing news items or question*, and addressed "Blade Gnat, care of the Editor of The Press, wu receive prompt attention each week.

The North Canterbury size limit of 9in for trout is lower than that in force in most other parts of the country and there are good reasons for suggesting a substantial increase *in the minimum size for takeable fish. Whether an angler seeks sport or food a 9in fish is of no use to him, and should be returned to the water and given an opportunity of growing to a reasonable size. Again the wisdom of having a standard size limit is to be doubted. A lOin fish might gladden the heart of a youthful angler in a stream like the Avon or Heathcotc, whereas an older angler would not be thrilled if he caught a trout of that size in the Waimakariri. There are, of course, many anglers who throw back any fish under lib, but there are any number of others who will kill any fish they are legally entitled to. In the smaller fly streams such as the Main Drain and Avon the limit could vory well be increased to 10in,.and in the largo rivers a 12in (roughly Jib) limit could be advantageously imposed. No one goes to the back country lakes to catch small fish, yet many fish of round about lOin are killed in Lyndon. A limit of 15in (about lilb) would be by no means too high for the lakes. The writer recently saw a youth, who had been watching an older dry fly fisherman, won over from bait fishing to the dry fly. Liko many others, he had had the idea that the newer method was very difficult to master, but a bag of six small fish, of -£lb to lib in weight, which he obtained on the first day ho tried the dry fly convinced him otherwise. Immediately he returned the four smallest trout to the water, a thing which he would not have'been able to do had they gorged a worm.

Three lakes worth visiting, but seldom fished, are Meremere and Hawdon near Craigieburn, and Sarah at Cass. All contain both brown and rainbow trout. The Sarah brown trout are exceptionally well conditioned fish averaging around 71b. In the other two lakes the browns are much poorer, the females being fairly good, while the males incline to "slabbiness."

Good quinnat fishing is obtained by local anglers as far up the Waimakariri as Staircase. It is a little early yet for the salmon to be up so high, but by the middle of March there are usually large numbers of fish about.

Quinnat run up some of the smaller creeks flowing into the Broken river and in one of them rainbow and quinnat have been observed sharing the same spawning beds. A farmer living in the neighbourhood, who has on several occasions watched the fish spawning, says that small trout often lie immediately below the reeds and pick up the spawn as it is deposited. The quinnat, however, frequently turn round and chase the small trout out of the way.

There are a few large rainbow in pot-holes in the Broken river and as it is impossible generally to wade the stream or to follow a hooked fish downstream round bluffs, local men have on several occasions fished the river from on horseback.

One large rainbow in the Broken river was observed to ehase a small grey duck. The trout, when captured later on a spoon bait, was found to contain a full-grown yellow hammer. The angler, in telling the tale,'did not suggest that the bird had been taken in flight, but assumed that the rainbow must have taken it as it floated downstream.

Anglers who wish to keep fish fresh in camp or to send them away might try the following method of beating the blowflies: Lay a number of flax leaves flat on the ground, and on them pile a lot of manuka twigs. Clean the fish and bury them in the manuka. Next take up the loose ends of the flax leaves and tie them tightly over the manuka. The air will penetrate freely through a package made in this manner while the flies will be unable to penetrate it.

Fish will keep well if they are cleaned so soon as they are caught. Not only should the guts be taken out but the gills should also be removed. The. drier fish are the better they will keep.

TVhen going fishing it is a good idea to include a small roll of adhesive tape in one's kit. A fairly good mending of a broken rod can be made if a few small splints are lashed on with tape.