ANGLING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 178, 14 December 1912, Page 7

ANGLING.

(By "Ripple.") The recent fine spell of weather has induced most Anglers to "throw a fly" on the. various streams, and although no large catches are reported some nice fish { have been successfully angled. ' The 1 waters arc very clear, and there being; an abundance of feed in the streams it 1 has been found necessary to use the fin- j est of tackle to deceive the fish. T have 1 heard of several good three and four ! pound rainbow fish being taken from I the Waiwakaiho on the fly. One local ; angler reports that a five-pound fish played for an hour and a half before being netted. Eltham anglers report excellent fish-, ing in the Waingongoro river, especially in the upper reaches. A few days ago Mr. IToneylield, while clearing out a drain on his farm, secured a large eel which measured a good Oft of the tape and turned the scale at 'something over 201bs. Speaking of eels, the natives have secured some great, catches during the last month. The writer saw a native one i evening last week with a bag of no less j than 74 eels taken from oiie'hole in the j Waingongoro river. The fish averaged ) from one to 181bs, and were all taken on a bait of worms fashioned into a "bob." But it is in the day time that the average natives loves to hunt the tuna. Clothed 01% in Nature's most pleasant smile of anticipation, he steps into the river, armed with a short stick to which is lashed a gaff hook. With his toe he feels under every stone and bank, and if an eel happens to be there its existence is speedily ended. One rip of the gaff hook secures him, and in another second ho is swimming amongst a host of his fellows at the bottom of a sack or Maori kit. A number.of, local knights of the rod have recently raised a guarantee fund to offer substantial rewards for the socuring of convictions against poachers, Reports come in from all quarters of poaching by means of the dynamite' plug, the acetylene gas lamp, putting lime in the waters and other nefarious methods, and members of the local acclimatisation Society and other sports intend to "make it hot" for any offender caught at these poaching tricks. It is to be hoped that settlers will assist the Society in the matter. It is also proposed to offer a substantial reward for information leading to the conviction of any person found fishing without a license. * One of the greatest attractions for the tourist who visits Rotorua and Taupo is the trout fishing. So excellent has been tke sport provided in these districts in the past that the fame of it hits been carried overseas, and many English and American sportsmen were among the visitors to Rotorua last year. This year, owing principally to the activities of the Tourist Department, the fish are reported to have greatly improved in condition. The disease which for a time at least threatened to seriously affect the trout has now been traced to a parasite distributed by the shag, *and war upon the shag has therefore been declared. The Department js doing every-, thing in its power to exterminate the bird, which has had such a detrimental effect upon the trout, and its efforts in this direction have been very successful. , The,.corner has been turned, and month by month the disease is becoming less: while in a year or two it is : hoped that it will he entirely a thing 1 of the past. Everyone is encouraged to shoot the shags, and the sum of 2s fid is offered for each head obtained. The members of the local Rod and Gun Club arc assisting, and their applications for the use of boats for shooting purposes was promptly granted. It is expected that with the extermination of the shag the disease will entirely disappear. One of the most 'outstanding features of the present season is the excellence of the fish caught in Lake Tarawcra, many sportsmen declaring that they are the equal of the Taupo trout. A large number of licenses, it is understood, have already been issued, and many more should be taken out in the near future. It would appear, therefore, that the revenue from this source is increasing. No phenomenally large catches have so far been reported, but bags of twenty to twenty-five, averaging 71b to S'/ilb, have been numerous. So satisfactory has the sport been that anglers who have visited the district for the first time are arranging to return before the season ends. One and all speak very highly of the courtesy shown them and the assistance given by the flovernment officials.