PROSPECTS FOR FISHING SEASON

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 56, 28 October 1931, Page 5

PROSPECTS FOR FISHING SEASON

OPENINfG ON NOV. 1 FEED AND FISH STATED TO BE GENERALLY PLENTIFUL , HEAVY LIBERATIONS Although it is alriio'st as difficult a thing as the weather to.forecast, the indications for the opening of the fiotdrua and Taupo fishing seasori 'next Sunriay, fTovemher i, are aus- ; piciotlg> The Conservatot of Fish and Game for the RotOrUa Aeelimatisation district (Mr. Av'Kdan) , has been notirig the signs and portents, and is confident that whatever the fishing on the first may be, there will he no shortag'e of fish d'ttring tio Season. Yery thorotigh stdekfhg has now been carried out for some years and the results of this were already apparent in last season's catehes. Experienced anglers who had fished Rotorua aftd Taupo Water s for.many seasons, fldted this impro-^eriienl and it may logidally be asSrimed that It will be maintained this year. The spawnirig season just phst, has also been quite a month earlier than last season, and this should also have a noticeable effect npon the condition of the fish daught during the early stages of the season. From observations dufiug. the spawning period, there appeared to be no shortage of fish In the lake waters. All ovei" the district in small spawning" stteariis, there were fish literdlly in thorisands arid anglers whb have noted the spawnings year by year were of the opinion that both in numbers and size the fish gave proniise of an excellent season. Mr. Kean has also made close observations of the quantity of feed in the waters and states that in this direction also, the indications are very encouraging. Smelt are alfeady tunning up the Ohau channel and this in itself, should bring the fish into this popular stretch of water during the early days of the season. Bullies. are now working back into shallow water, arid about the end of November the green beetle and the koura should be plentiful. Trout feed, of cotirse, is seasorial in its appeararice, but there are stated to be ample indications that there will be no shortage in any of the waters. Fry Liberations To date approximately 2,500,000 fry have been iiberated from the Ngongotaha hatehery iri the various fishing waters oi the district arid stocking is still proceedirig. These liberations, of coufse, will have no effect upon the riumbers of catchable fish during the coming seasori, btit furnish evidence that the feupply for future seasons is beifig Well catered fbr. These fry, in many cdses grow very quickly, and the" riiost forward of those Iiberated last season should be takeable next Season. Given moderately good conditions, a trout should be over the itiib. miiiimum at the age of two and d-half years. In additiori to the artificial liberatibns, however, the natural increase from the present spawning season should be high. There have been nb heavy ffoo'ds tb disturb the spawning grounds and conditions generally have favoured a high pereentage of increase. Fall In Lake Levels

A fact which may or may not have a noticeable effect upon the standard of the fishing during the coming season, is the fall in the level of all the district lakes, with the exception of Taupo which is at a higher level at present than at the corresponding period of last year. This fall in the lake levels was also nbticeable last season, and so far as could be ascertained, improved the fishing. A well knov/n English angler, Mr. F. Turner, writing to the conservator of Fish and Game after his return Home, expessed the opinion that last season the improvement in both the numbers and the condition of the fish in the Rotorua district, was most marked.

"I am very pleasbd with the improvement in the size and condition of the fish in the Rotorua waters," Mr. Turner stated in the eourse of his Ietter. "The improvement is very marked and the average .Weight, f thought, had increased by a good half pound." Improved Access Access to a number of excellent stretches of water will be assisted this season by the number of riew roads which have been opened up in the district and the generai iiriprovfement in the condition of the roads which has been effected during the winter months. The new Galatea estate road from Te Teko, will give access to the fine fishing which is to be obtairifed bn the lower reaches of the Rangitaiki river, while the iriiprovement ,of the road from Rainbow; Mouniain in towards Murupara, wili bring iri.further good fishirig on the upper reaches of the Whirinaki arid Rangitaiki. Another road which will be welcomed by anglers is that which has receritly been fbriried dowh the Waioeku valley between Cjpotiki and Matowai. This. will obviat'e the necessity of nfegbtiating ihe Motu and gives access to some splendid fishing water along the Waioeka stream. The Waioeka comes down through delightful natural hush seenery,- and its long shingly reaches are stated to be well stocjced with fish. Heavy liberations have been carried out in this .'stream ' during the past two yeairfe arid ridw that access has been provided, it shbtild becoirie a vbry pbjjiilar of water.

Amendments in Regulations The Rotorua and Taupo trout fishing regulations for the coming season, remain substantially unaltered although there are one or two amefidmends of interest. Under the Rotorua regulations, the anomalous pdsjtion which previously existed in regard to the fly rirea^ on liake Rotoiti has been adjusted. The ainended local restrictibri now set1 risi'de, "evefy part bf Lake Rotbiti lying within 200 yards of that portion of the lake fehore which cotrilriericbs at a point 300 yafds ribrtli bf thb Tapuaeharuru Stream, and extends thence in a southerly and westerly direction to a point 300 yards north-north-west of Haupara Stream ris a soiely fly fishing atea." This step, has .been .taken ip, order to consolidate tho fly fishing area which previously existed in patches along the

shore of the lake where streams and springs had their inlets. The.-se'rison's regulations Tdr the Taripo distribt, extend the fly fishing restribtions;fb a new stretch 6# wafer ; oit eithbr sidd of Motutere Pdint. .^nly fly fishirig is now permissabie on alf "that part of Lake Taupo lying within 200 yards of°the porfion oi ttie sfiofb" of the lake which extends for a distaric'ri bf. &00> yardS. bri bitheri Side b'f Motrit'etd- Poiflti" . > , . ' : . ! t A n: extensiori., of ^the fly-fishing restrictions has also been made ori the Tongariro, where the stretch from the inlet b'f the s Hatehery , creb'k tb the island -opposite Kowhai flat has . also been reserved for the use.of the artificial fly.Good Strippings i The fish which have been stripped ' on the .sfcfippdrig gr'ourids dt ;T6kaanu ' this season have been particularly vigorous and have provided huge supplies c)£..ofse for all re'qtuirements. ,The mbri erigagdd iri thb §&$$&£ 6 perai tions select , only. the most vigorgus types and it can therefore be said"that the fry t Iiberated from tKe flafchery are bred from selected' stoct. A marked decrease has been. ndted iri the number of dxseased fis"h,.and cullihg bpbratib'ris haivb be'bri almbst .hririe'c'fessary on the stripping.grourids, As iri bast* ye'atk, taggiifg bperatibns t were carried tm'f, hiit' very few fish fagged in prist* seasons were: ta k6ii- in the nets.- Ariglers are irivited tbTbrward particulars of any tagged fish caught to the Gonservator of Fish and Game, as much useful information -can be gained from noting the development of these fish. Early in 1931 a number of fingerlings from qya. iinpbrted from Canada were lilxerated at Kowhia flat on the Tongariro.-. As a.means of identification the adipose.fin was snipped off each of these fish, and in order thqt comparisons may be made with rainbow trout in Taupo waters, the Gonservator ' will appreciate details regarding any of these fish which may be caught during the season. Acct»mmbdatibn Accbminodatidn haS extehded to such ari extent bf recc.nt yearSj that almdst.all fishing watei'S1 in thb district have now comfortable facilities within comparativaly easy reach; Turangi, on the Tongariro -is be coming a very fdvbhf'ite aritlerd1 settlemerif arid a number of netv baehes have recently been buiit there. Gisborne Point on Lake Rotoiti is also pr'oVirig vfery pop'ulat . arid round all the waters small anglers* settlements are growing up. . During the past ten days the Rotorua office of the Internal Affairs Departnient has heen btisy issuirig licenses in prepafatiori fbr the opening day. Weather cbriditiorid,' adcbfdirig to the ''Pbst's" severi-ddy' fofecast, should be slightly wiridy but firie for the cofrimg wfeek-erid and the fact that the fifst ;day 'bf the Seasbri.thiS year fails ofi a Suriday will douhtiesfe add still furtlief fo ihe riimihbf bf rbds which Will be bri the ykridUs waters.