FISHING SEASON

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 60, 2 November 1931, Page 3

FISHING SEASON

YESTERDAY'S BAGS TARAWERA PICK OF LAKES IN THE ROTORUA DISTRICT GOOD DAY AT TAUPO Conditions on the majority of the waters in the Rotorua 'district were inclined to be difficult for the opening of the trout' fishing season yesterday, and bags on the whole were smaller than those taken on the opening day last .y&ar. The pick ot .the Rotorua watgfs appears to have been Lake Tarawera, where several limit bags were obtained, and all parties had a very successful. Conditions on this lake were ideal and the fish were in excellent condition. On Rotorua and Rotoiti a choppy wind made fly fishing - difficult, and very few parties managed to approach double figures. The fish, however, were stated to be in better condition than those taken in these two lakes when he season opened last year, and anglers generally report that under more favourable weather conditions, and as the season progresses, the fishing in both lakes will be quite up to the standard of that of previous years. Conditions were good at Taupo and catches taken were fully equal to those of last year's opening day. The majority of the fish were in good average condition the jack-fish being inclined to be backward but the hen-fish very fat. Limit bags were obtained by a number of parties and the Tainui and Kingfisher flies were among the most deadly lures. Three rods on the upper end of the lake secured twenty eight fish of which the heaviest was 7§lbs. and another party of three adjacent to this secured 33 fish with the heaviest 821bs. Above Huka Falls Above the Huka falls on the Waikato, the fish were inclined to be shy of the fly, but using the spoon, a Rotorua angler, Mr. Len Fisher, secured a limit bag. There were 14 to 15 rods on the stretch of water above the falls, but as the majority were fly fishing they had not a great deal of success. In this v/ater, the fish were not quite up to the condition of those caught on the first last year, nor did they appear to be so plentiful. Off-Day in Ohau Channel It was an off day on the popular Ohau Channel due largely to the westerly wind which muddied the water and made conditions very difficult except during a period of about half an hour when the wind changed to a northerly direction and the fish were rising. Very few rods on the channel met with much success and several reported losing their quarries owing to the half-hearted manner in which the fish were going for the bait. The channel is at a very low level at present and experienced anglers state that this is making fishing difficult. In many places, the water has entirely changed since last May; deep holes are now to be found where previously there were shallows and in other places sand banks have taken the place of deep water. The largest bag reported on Rotoiti and Rotorua was 11 fish secured by a lady angler at Hamurana, but the majority of the | bags were in the vicinity of half a j a dozen. In the Ohau channel and in ■ the fly areas on the two lakes, the j fish were taking the red and yellow j Matuka, when they were rising to the | flyGood Fishing on Tarawera About a dozen trolling parties were out on Lake Tarawera and all of these enjoyed a larger measure of suc- | cess than fell to those on the other j lakes. Dr. Wallis and Messrs Curry j and Butler of Rotorua secured a i limit bag and several other parties | were similarly successful. The changej able winds which made conditions I difficult ou Rotoiti and Rotorua were not felt to the same extent on TaraJ wera and the condition of the fish in this lake is also stated to be better than that in the majority of the other district waters. Rotoehu and Rotoma were fairly popular but here also, the fishing was affected by the generally tricky conditions. No-lax-ge bags are reported and catches were medium both in numbers and size. All the smaller lakes had a quota of rods and trolling parties particularly met with fair success. Fly fishing conditions were more .difficult and the fish generally were not taking well. As is usual at the beginning of the season, the great majority of the rods in the Rotorua district were on the lakes and the stream fishing was almost generally left until later in the season. Saies of licenses both in the Rotorua and Taupo districts are reported to be up to the numbers of last year. At Taupo, all launches were booked for yesterday and accommodation houses were well filled.