THE TROUT FISHING SEASON

Evening Star, Issue 22146, 28 September 1935, Page 12

THE TROUT FISHING SEASON

[Written by George Howes, for the Evening Star.’] This season gives great promise of abundant sport for the angler.' A good winter, followed by a warm spring and an absence of heavy floods, has been favourable to the development of insect life;in the streams,,and the trout have prospered accordingly. Close to Dunedin we have no streams of any size, but included in the Otago Acclimatisation • district we have some wonderful fishing waters—good enough to attract anglers from all parts of the world. The fishing urge is now on us, and the fisherman greets his brother angler with “ Where are you going at the opening of the season?” In an endeavour l to help the following Hist of fishing waters, with brief comments, is given:— The iLeith, Waitati, Evansdale, Silverstream, and Powder Creek are well stocked with takeable fish, occasionally reaching up to 21b in the pools. The fish are rising freely to the natural fly. Lee Stream and Deep Stream are in, good order with an abundance of trout. The pools hold some large fish. Last season a trout of 91b was taken on a small fry in the Deep Stream close to Rocklands. The Middlemarch district holds a number of small streams well stocked with takeable trout. The floating worm is specially to bo mentioned as suiting these small creeks. The Waikouaiti 'is in good order and holds an abundant supply of trout with large fish in the pools. It fishes best at night, when large flies and the minnow are most successful. It is somewhat discoloured by mining operations, but this is hot altogether a disadvantage, as normally the_ water is too clear for, daylight fishing. The Shag is particularly good. ' Weed is not in evidence, and all the pools show large shoals of fish, some over 2]lb m weight. There are plenty of fish scattered all over the stream, and some good pools where the big fish lie. The contour channel from the Ber-wiek-Outram road to the Waipori River has a splendid supply of trout. Last year fish up to 51b weight were taken in this water. _ The Waipori River gives most diversified conditions. From the power station down, the gorge there are beautiful runs, ripples, and deep pools set in some of the most beautiful bush scenery in Otago. At the mouth ’of the gorge the stream opens out into very fine looking water, and from there to Lake Waipori the stream is deep and rather slow. Fish are plentiful and put up a great fight, and near the lake many large fish run up after the whitebait. The fly is freely taken and is. the best lure for this stream. Mahincrangi Dam has been full all winter and early spring, and is reported to be swarming with fish, and, of course, in this magnificent water trout develop to great size. The Golden Shore and Lake Luella are two of the best localities. Both fly and minnow , give good' re-

suits. Waipori Lake is shallow and may be waded in at certain spots, and is reported to give good baskets of fairly big fish caught on the natural minnow or the fly. The lower Taieri is usually badly discoloured, and local fishermen use natural baits with fair success. Waihola Lake produces plenty of perch, which take minnow or small spoon. For those who like a lazy day’s fishing, the worm will give a good bag of perch here. Tho Tokomairiro at Milton may not appear to be a very attractive stream, but each year splendid bags are reported averaging 21b weight, with occasional fish up to 31b. Both minnow and fly are successfully used. Easly reached by car or train, this stream will provide an attractive outing. The Molyneux at Balclutha is discoloured, but local anglers get some splendid fish with natural or artificial minnow. Towards the - Gatlins district the Puerua gives excellent fly fishing in the upper reaches, and the deep slow water of the lower reaches produces many large fish, usually taken with the minnow. The Glenomaru is small, but splendidlv stocked, and is in excellent order this year. The Owaka is carrying a great head of fish, and it is reported that well upstream many large trout occur. The Tahakopa, below the township is rather hard, to fish because of the few clear spaces, _ but above the township the stream is in. the open and good trout are plentiful. .The Waiwera, into which flow the Kuriwao and Kaihiku, is in grand order, and all these streams are teeming with fish. We have here some of our finest fly fishing water, and it is at its best in the early season. Later on tho great growth of river weed forms a natural protection tor the trout, but also shelters an abundant insect fauna much appreciated by them. Although the Waipabi has been low all through the winter, it is now in excellent fishing condition. Good baskets are usual, and this season should be no exception. Above Ashburton Gorge this stream and the Waiwera were reported last year to yield fish up to 51b on the fly. . The upper waters of Mokoreta at Cairns Station are particularly good; last year an angler took here on the creeper 10 fish of a total weight of oOI.b. All the upper waters of our rivers are partic ularlv worth attention. In the Wyndham district 1 we have the Mataura badly discoloured, but producing many large trout, mostly taken with natural bait, also the Wairakeikei and Mimihau Rivers, these being beautiful clear streams justly renowned for the large numbers of fine trout they produce. Tho Wyndham River is a splendid stream, its waters plentifully stocked with many fairly large fish. The Wyndham district is wonderfully provided with good fishing water which is well worth the extra travelling to enjoy. All these streams are reported to be in particularly fine order this year. ~ _ Tho Waikaka and Waikaia are badly discoloured in their lower reaches, but clear above the mining areas, and are said to hold numbers of good fish. The Pomahaka in its whole . great length, along with its feeders, is in tip-top order. Fish are extra plentiful, and this stream will, no doubt, this year come up to its usual excellent standard.

It appears to be the favourite resort of Dunedin anglers. The large dredge holes at Miller’s Flat and Roxburgh arc said to hold some really big trout and should be worth investigating. The Menzoin Dam, seven miles from Miller’s Flat, is stocked with rainbow. Lake Onslow is 17 miles from Miller’s Flat, and has both brown and rainbow. Both waters are in good order, full of fine fish. Inquiries should be made at the "arage at Miller’s I lat as to the condition of the road to Lake Onslow. The Teviot River, is well stocked , with both brown and rainbow; local anglers favour the creeper as a bait, and last yea? secured good bags. The new. Manorburn Dam at ; Galloway „*gave splendid results last season, and some fish up to 61b. The old Manorburn Dam is reported not to be as good as formerly, but still holds brown and rainbow. The Molyneux from Cromwell to the lakes is undoubtedly the grandest fishing water in Otago. We harm at least 45 miles of wide river fully stocked with, splendid fighting; brown and rainbow, mainly of large size; m fact local fishermen state they return fish up to 11b ■in weight as not worth taking. Yet right along this magnificent stretch ol water, except during the holiday season, one rarely sees an angler, although all the fishermen in Otago could fish there at once without crowding one another. There are plenty of fish, and they are in the pink of fighting condition. „ , , , , , The Lindis is fully stocked; and a good fly stream. At Albertown we have the junction of tho Wanaka and Hawea streams, and both, these have plenty of large trout, both brown and rainbow. Last season many great fish were taken and 51b to 61b were common taken on the dry fly. At night the large fly * very successful and one bag or eight fish averaging 61b was reported from the Wanaka above the junction. Lakes Wanaka and Hawea, with their tributaries, both carry great stocks or fish, and many large ones have been secured. The whole area gives an immense •amount of fishing water amidst the most pleasant surroundings. Lauder Creek and the'Dunstan are reported to be in good order, as is also thenpptr water of the Manuhenkia; fish are abundant in them all, and freely rise to the fly. The Poolburn new dam, although only stocked four years ago, is showing marvellous results. Last season fish of S 4lh were take,, f„d one anger reported a bag of 10 fish, weight 281 b. The Taieri' River from Manfully to Canadian. Flat is again in capital fishing order. Last season fish of 71b and 81h each were reported. Both fly and minnow were successful, and the stream s swarming with trout, many of really large size. The Patearoa, Loganburn, and Lowburn are also in good order, with plenty of takeable fisli and occasional large ones in the Gorge pools. Bowlers Creek, near Lawrence despite its narrow width, is well stocked with conditions of fishing waters are general. There are still many not mentioned in detail, such as thel'rasei, Sunburn, Wedderburm Unner Matanra, Spylaw, Heuot UeeK, etc and a number of dams All have benefited by the good weather comb tions, and trout fishers may confidently expect a good start for the season.