EXCEPTIONAL DEMAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26641, 11 December 1947, Page 8

EXCEPTIONAL DEMAND

FISHING LICENCES IN OTAGO SALES RECORD EXPECTED The demand for fishing licences, as far as returns made to the Otago Acclimatisation Society to date are concerned, has been exceptional this year, and the secretary of the society, Mr L. Millar, told the Daily Times yesterday that he expected a record for fishing sales, his estimate of the likely total being over £2500. Mr Millar added that it was expected that the half-season angling licences which may be used on and after December 20 would be ,m the hands of the society’s agents next week. He ascribed the increase in the numbei of licences issued to the excellent conditions and to the fact that all waters carrying trout have been' fishing exceptionally well The Mataura River, which was discoloured for the greater part of October, cleared up early in November, and some good bags have been reported. For an evening's fishing, one WyndHam angler secured 18 fish while bags of 15 for a day’s fishing are not uncommon. The Pomahaka is another river which has settled down and is producing some excellent sport. On the opening day two limit bags of 20 fish were reported, and since the snow water has cleared, Dunedin anglers have secured from 10 to 15 fish for a week-end. Possibly the most consistent stream in Otago for the early part of the season is the Waipahi, and even before the Labour Day week-end no fewer than 10 limit bags had been taken. Good fishing is reported from the Shag River, but latterly it has become low and clear. Good bags, however, can be secured from dusk till after dark- • , „ .' The Upper Manorburn Dam in Central Otago which contains mostly rainbow trout has produced excellent results, a party of four anglers from the Roxburgh district, fishing only at the week-ends having already secured over 400 fish from this water. Butcher’s Gully Dam, which is much more accessible, has not yielded good results to date. It was heavily stocked in 1946 with young fish salvaged from the Fraser River, and this was followed by an exceptionally dry spell Which affected the food supplies available so that any fish taken have not been in the best of condition. Subject to the conditions being favourable, the society intends to salvage all the fish possible from the smaller streams in Central Otago and to transfer them to the permanent waters. Together with the transfer of such fish as bullies and minnows, this should materially help to build up good stocks in all the Central Otago dams.

The prospects for the vacation period appear to be brighter than for many years past, but anglers visiting districts outside Otago will be weil advised to make themselves conversant with the local restrictions pertaining to those districts.