DISTRICT ANGLING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 92, 9 December 1931, Page 6

DISTRICT ANGLING

RANGERS' REPORTS FEWER FISHERMEN BUT MORE GOOD CATCHES REPORTED 125LB BROWN TROUT TAKEN The fortnightly rangers' Vjreports received by the Conservator of Fish and Game at Rotorua (Mr. A. Kean) record further good bags although general indications are that owing to I unfavourable fishing conditions, the numbers of anglers operating on the different district water s have fallen off. The fish taken, however, are improved in condition and as soon as the green beetle is off the water, it is anticipated that angling conditions will improve. At present the beetle is very plentiful and renders competition by artificial lures difficult. "During the past fortnight, fishing has been very hard, particularly in the lakes," the Rotorua report states. "While anglers admit that fish are very plentiful and can be seen rising well at times, they are very difficult to catch. At the present j time, most classes of trout food are very plentiful. Large runs of smelt are taking place in Lakes Rotorua and Rotoiti and the hatch of the green beetle is very early this season and above normal. Floods were experienced in all of the Bay of Plenty rivers but they have cleared and are now fishable." Waikaremoana Fishing at Waikaremoana had improved, the report states, and some hice catches had been reported. The average weight of the fish taken was about 21 lbs, which showed that recent plantings of fry had been successful. The largest catch during the fortnight was taken at the Aniwaniwa by Mr Lindigar, and consistd of 23 good fish averaging 21bs. They were all taken on the March Brown and Rattray's Favourite the largest fish being a brown trout \Aeighing 45 lbs. Mr. W. Cook secured 17 fish averaging 25 lbs. including one of 9 lbs. taken at Waikare-iti. The remainder were taken on the fly in the Aniwaniwa and averaged 251bs. , Messrs B. and G. Johansen, of Wairoa, secured 13 while trolling near Hopurahine. This catch was taken during half a day's fishing and averaged 25 lbs. Mr. T. Hall landed 9 on the spoon while trolling at Wairaumoana. This catch averaged 2 lbs. the largest fish being 341bs. Other catches averaging 2|lbs. were taken mostly on the spoon. Nine fine-con-ditioned fish were taken by Mr. H. Howard while fly fishing in a small lake near Waikaremoana, the average catch being 21bs. Bay of Plenty Area The Waikaretaheke has been providing good fishing. In this water Mr. Halford secured 15 good-condi-tioned specimens for several evening's fishing. The catch averaged 25 lbs, the largest fish weighing 51bs. Reports from the Bay of Plenty area stated that some very good fish had been taken lately. A ten-pounder had been caught by Mr. Perry while using a spoon in the Rangitaiki while a 71 pounder had been caught by

Mr. C. A. Timbs while fly-fishing in the Whakatane. Another good fish was taken frorn the same. river on the spoon and weighed 71bs. Mr. A. Donaldson had secured a catch of nine fish averaging 21bs using the artificial minnow in the Waimana. Other catches of from one to eight good fish averaging 2J lbs were taken for a half a day fishing in the Waioka, Waimana, Whakatane, Rangitaiki, and Tarawera Rivers. Kaituna Fishing The Kaituna River near Okere was carrying a good class of young trout averaging about 251bs. Mr. L. Fisher, of Rotorua, landed 10 during three hours of fly fishing and Mr. Adolph

took seven for the day averaging 25 lbs. His best fish weighed 51bs. A party of three rods secured 32 at Rerewhakaitu for a day's trolling. The largest fish weighed 51bs. Tarawera had not been greatly fished owing to the strong wind. Most of the catches taken on this lake were by trolling parties and the numbers of fish taken ranged from seven to 13. Trolling for half a day on the Blue Lake Mr. Haslet landed six smali fish averaging 51b. but these were only in fair condition. Trolling In Rotorua For one day's trolling on Rotorua, Miss Shaksab took 13 good conditioned fish averaging 2§lbs. Mr. L. Clark of Melbourne, had taken 61 fish during seven days trolling on Rotorua .This angler comes to Rotorua each year and fishes for about five hours a day for the thre months he is here. Two rods secured 87 for 11 days' trolling on Rotoiti. This catch averaged 251bs. the largest fish weighing 71bs. The Waikato River in the Wairakei area had been very little fished. In the vicinity of the main Taupo-Roto-rua bridge over the Waikato River, Messrs Charles and Blake had taken a catch of 28 which included a 125 lb. brown trout. At Rotokawa lake, Mr. Fulljames with the dry fly took two catches of nine and ten fish averaging 3£ and 3 lbs respectively. Archbishop Averill and Arehdeacon Sinkin took 13 fish averaging 3llbs. using the spoon and fly at Wairakei. Mr. Rochfort and party in the same locality took 15 fish averaging 3§lbs. Taupo Report The presence of a steady southwesterly wind for the majority of the period had resulted in decreased angling activities, stated the Taupo report. Launches had been out frequently on Taupo but only for short periods. The largest catch reported was one taken by Drs. Church and Pitchkley in the launch Sunbeam. The average weight of this catch was 451bs. Messrs Needham and party in two successive' outings in the Tainui, had secured 12 and eight fish respectively-aver-aging 45 and 41 lbs. Messrs Jackson and party in the launch Dawn secured 11 good fish averaging 5 lbs, and several other

totals between seven and 10 fish had tyeen taken by launch ,parties. A catch worthy of special mention was that of 30 fish taken by Messrs Le Pine and Mendelson. Each rod took the limit on the fly, the fish averaging 451bs. in weight, and were taken in Taupo Bay during a one-day excursion in a row boat. Above the Huka Falls 10 to 20 rods had been in action every evening each taking 3- to 15 fish. Several individual rods had taken eight and nine fish all in good condition and averaging 41bs. In this locality Mr. G. G. Potts had secured a limit bag on one occasion. There had been little fishing done in the Tokaanu area but trolling parties were having good results. Catches were from eight to 28 fish per party and all fish were in excellent condition weighing in some cases up to 81bs. and averaging 51bs. Taken generally the lake fishing was good but the river fishing poor. . wJ