TROUT FISHING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 104, 19 May 1937, Page 12

TROUT FISHING

Own Corregpondent.)

A Disappointing Season UNENTERPRISING OFFICIALDOM

(By Teleeratih—

AUCKLAND, Last Night. The trout fishing seasou just closed has been a very poor one on the whole in the chief angling districts at Rotorua and Taupo. Never in previous history have anglers had so many blank days in a season. There hias been (a pnonounced scarcity of fish. The season seems to be a late one and to crown all the anglers' troubles the Department of Internal Affairs is closing the waters more than a fortnight earlier than usual. As against the poor sport recorded this year it is gratifying to note that the fish seem to have increased very much in si2e in both the Rotorua and Tauop areas. The largest fish recorded is a 16-pounder from Lake Rotoiti, and fish weighing over 121b. are recorded from Lake Taupo and the Tongariro river. Large fish have been taken in Tarawera rivev and Lakes Okataina and Tarawera. While day fishing has been poor almost everywhere, it is only right to say that the dry fly anglers at night have done well both below and above the Huka Falls throughout the season. More licences than ever were issued this season and anglera have been loud in their complaints of overcrowding. The same old pools and river mouths at Rotorua, Taupo and Tokaanu were over-fished all the season. Tracks at Taupo cut a few years ago have been given over to blackberry and scrub. More people are taking up the sport of angling each years and the facilities provided are xapidly becoming less. The officers in charge of the fishing at Rotoraa land Taupo seem to give their chief attention to writing optimistic reports of poor fishing. Now that the season has elosed those in control should see that the number of rangers) is increased and greater vigilance shown in detecting those who do great harm by taking large quantities of spawning trout out of the rivers running into the lakes and out of the tributaries of the Waikato. It is common knowledge that very serious harm is done in this xespect by both Europeans and Maoris. The detection of offenders is diffieult, but should be undertaken with vigour. Fishing is a great Dominion 'asset, but its control reqnires great reforms.