FLY OR WORM?

Wairarapa Age, 8 March 1927, Page 4

FLY OR WORM?

AN OLD BATTLE REVIVED. RESTRICTIONS ON RUAMAHANGA. With the season regarded as a poor one, the success of the humble angler who endeavours to entice the shy brown trout with a well-conditioned worm has somewhat perturbed the less successful fly fisherman whose custom :t has been from time immemorial to fish without result with artificial bait rather than resort to the live bait to fili his creel.

In August of last year the artificial bait men were successful in having the Waipoua declared a stream for their class of bait only, and at the annual meeting of the North Wairarapa branch of the Wellington' Acclimatisation Society last night they took further action to get a similar restriction placed on a portion of the Ruamahanga.

Mr. Meredith moved that the Ruamahanga river be declared an artificial bait stream from its junction with the Waipoua to its source. Mr. W. H. Saunders seconded.

Mr. F: C. Brockett opposed the proposal on the ground that many young boj£ unable to travel far afield were restricted to’ fish the water near home for their sport. He moved as an amendment that the restriction be placed on from the double bridges at Opaki to the source. Mr. F. W. Pointon seconded.

Mr. Saunders stated that one angler fishing with the worm on the Ruamahanga before the water was suitable for fly or minnow, had taken 200 fish in a month. Such a large number from one small stretch of water left little for the fly man once the water was suitable for his bait.

Mr. Byrn: “By making this an artificial bait stream we are inflicting a hardship on some of the old sports who are now- unable to use the fly and the minnow."

It was agreed by the movers of the motion and the amendment to compromise on a motion making the Ruamahanga an artificial bait stream from the Te Ore Ore road bridge to its source, the restriction to apply to all tributaries.