"TIGHT LINES!"

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 93, 30 October 1953, Page 4

"TIGHT LINES!"

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1953.

COMING this year the day after the local foody elections, the opening of the fishing season will provide a happy opportunity for election candidates, both successful and unsuccessful, and for any who have busied themselves over problems of the poll, to relax and yield allegiance to the fascinations \ of fishing. In days that are gone, when a Maori chief had settled a dispute with an adversary on the field of battle, not at a ballot box, he would sometimes play a grim jest on his late enemy. The dried head of the defeated man would be taken on a fishing trip, and affixed to the side of the canoe with a fishing line tied to .ap ear. As fish tugged at the bait the head would nod freely, a most diverting spectacle to those privileged to see it. An old Maori angler of such a school, though he might differ in methods, would doubtless agree in essentials with Sir Henry Wooton, who said that angling was "a rest to his mind, a cheerer of his spirits, a diverter of sadness, and begat habits of peace and patienee in those that practised it." In trout-fishing there is an uncloying pleasure, a charm that appeals impartially to youth and elder. And though anglers, being but human, may at times fall into error, still in general, and at most times, they will be found to be, as Izaak Walton of happy memory stated, quiet men and followers of peace. To them belongs the love of wild places, the quiet delight of sunset and dawn, and joy in the beauty of the bird-song and floating cloud and all the unnumbered good gifts of God. As an ancient writer put it, there is nothing more likely than fishing to promote "your solace and to the helthe of

yure body, and specyally of youre soule." This last statement is borne out by the persistent truthfulness of anglers. Years ago a Taupo angler hooked a fish from a boat. In its struggles the fish hurled itself from the water", fell onto. the gunwale of the boat, balanced precariously a moment and then fell into the water. The angler has been telling the story regularly, now for years, and his veracity is proved by the fact that, to date, that trout has never once broken the suspense by falling into the boat. Similarly with the case of two Taupo trollers who were astounded one morning when a large trout flashed suddenly from below, just as an oaf-blade was leaving the water, and snapped its jaws shut a fraction of an inch short of the bladei in an obvious attempt to "take" it. Here again the angler's essential truthfulness has so far prevented that trout from fastening its teeth in the oar. It is a fact, as every real angler knows, that the coming, season promises to be the best for many years. The coming season always has promised this, and always will, and no angler who is one inwardly will ever doubt it. For it is a fact that the angler may enjoy every minute of his fishing even. on days when he actually takes no fish. Of course no angler actually objects to taking a fish now and then. But he finds that pleasure comes to him in his fishing whether he take fish or not. And neither sandflies nor mosquitoes, blackberry nor briar, not even cold water in his waders, can altogether rob him of it. To all our fishermen readers we extend for the opening day of the season, and the days to follow, the angler's traditional wish, "Tight lines!"