ANGLING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 130, 19 October 1912, Page 7

ANGLING.

(By "Ripple"). Angling has always been a popular pagune. To the angler who has Led IIZ T iom lt „ has a pesshould become a famous resort for anglers as the streams become more fully stocked With old Egmont in our midst to supply from her eternal snows abundance of good waters, our streams are eminently suited for carry large numbers of trout Of food there is an abundance, while all the streams, dashing down from the mountain side, provide perfect aeration. The rapidity of most of the streams keep the trout in good fettle, and, as a result, the fish are gamer fighters than any taken in quiet streams, the waters of which make the finny tribe so much more sluggish in their habits.

Any angler who has fished a three or k° a ih; P r d J a, ' nbOW trout ™ the Waiwakaiho'or Stony rivers knows the thrill of pleasure that the sport gives. The vvaiwakaiho, in particular, is one of the finest waters'in the Island for the rainbow. Every hundred vards of -iver has ,ts big pool where" the big (and little) spotted beauties lie. These pools are interspersed with perfect runs over stony beds where the fish feed. The angler carefully enters the water at the foot of a rapid, makes his cast here or there, and if he is sufficiently lucky to .strike the fly or bait that the taking, his reel is soon sin»in<i the most tuneful melody that hlart could desire. These rainbow trout are none of your lazy sort. The moment he feels the hook pricking him he leaps clean out of the stream and shows his beautiful burnished sides and perfect form. Then away up-stream he rips, and the angler must keep all his wits about him if he wishes to bring his "take" to the net. Many good fish are lost in these waters hy over-anxiety on the part of the angler to see his catch safely landed, But there is really no reason for haste. There is an abundance of water and snags are'few and far between. Take all the fight out of your fish by giving him his-head and as much line as he likes. If he* is a big fellow he will make you scramble along to keep up with his wild rushes. But these fighting minutes are to the true angler the.very acme of the fishing art. After'a score of .rapid rips around the pool he begins to settle down, but even then he is not easily netted. He floats in to your feet, but at the first introduction of the net you find there is still another bit of dash left in him, and your reel rapidly, scores off a dozen yards of line. It is at this period of the fight that a number of fish make good their escape. Not until your rainbow is safely meshed in the net can you really feel that he is your trophy, and then the angler steps exultingiy from the water and gloats over his capture. There he-lies on the grass, six pounds of glorious quivering fish. Hastily you pull a few handfuls of grass and' put in the bottom of your basket, and in another moment your rainbow is carefully lifted in and you feel you have secured a dish of trout that would grace the table of a Royal party.

The Taranaki Acclimatisation Society is to be commended for its decision in stocking the Waiwakaiho with only bow trout. The species acclimatise well in the stream, as is-proven by the fact that all the rainbows taken are in splendid condition. This year the Society is placing (10,000 rainbow fry in the river. If this quantity of fish can be placed'in the Waiwakaiho for two or three years the stream should be well stocked. Xo angler could wish .for better water. The Society is deserving of Jill the assistance possible from business people, as a well-stocked stream near the town is sure to attract tourists from all parts. In addition to the fishing the angler is treated to some superb scenery as he wonds his way up the river-bed.

It is a well-known fact that many of our smaller streams are heavily poached during the long summer when the water gets low, and the Society hopes that settlers whose properties abut on rivers will give every assistance in securing convictions against the unsportsmanlike poacher. It is pleasing to note that a number of local anglers are using the fly with considerable success on the Waiwakaiho. During the past week several baskets have been secured in this way. In every case the fish, on investigation, have been found to be gorged withi'flies at present hovering over the waters. The most successful artificial Hies used have been the red-tipped Governor. Hardy's favorite, teal and red. Hofland's- fancy. Hradshaw's fancy, black gnat and the Zulu.

Amonctst those who have been successful with the flv are:—Messrs L. I!. Webster, E. Bavley.'.Boddani. Leal. E. Ciriffiths, Ron. I'.ailv. J. Gibson. L. Uae anil C. M.

Hill. There is no doubt that lly-fishing is the most alluring of all kinds of angling. One of its great advantages is that the fly-fisher does not disturb the waters nearly as much as the minnow, worm or '•bully"' fisher, This means that several anglers may go over the same piece of water one after the other. and the last may have just as good sport ::s the first man. So far the hraviest basket T have heard of from t lie Waiwakaiho was secured by Mr. Elliot. His catch of seven fish included a couple of five-pounders, three four-pound fish and two smaller ones.

This season there are quite a number of beginners to be seen whipping the streams. Now that the Acclimatisation Society is doing such good work in stocking the streams the pastime is sure to become very popular.