ROD AND LINE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20740, 25 February 1939, Page 9 (Supplement)

ROD AND LINE

(By “Irideus”) BROWN TROUT ON ORDER 200,000 FROM WESTLAND CASTING TOURNAMENT PLANS News items of particular interest to Waikato anglers during the past week include that reporting the decision of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society to purchase 200,000 brown trout ova for liberation next year, and the announcement by the Hamilton Acclimatisation Club of its plans for the holding of a casting tournament in Hamilton next month. Both decisions have the writer's warm commendation as steps calculated, in their several spheres, to improve angling in the district. Apart from these two items, there has been little encouraging angling news of late. Sport, apart from one or two isolated bags of well-condi-tioned trout from the Waikato, has not been particularly good, though in this respect the area is not as badly off as other centres, where angling has been worse than for some years. Even in the far south, in the Invercargill district, rivers have been in poor order since before Christmas, and not even above-average sport from now on until the end of April could bring the full-season returns up to standard. At Rotorua and Taupo, too, both the aggregate bags and the individual fish have been disappointing, pointing to the need for a more thorough examination of the fishery problem in the Government-controlled areas, in the interests both of local and overseas sportsmen. (Wore Brown Trout Needed As the writer has stressed on several occasions before, it is his belief, and a belief fairly generally held among Waikato anglers, that the introduction of brown trout to our streams would be a major step in the improvement of fisheries generally. The brownie appears to be a more stable stream inhabitant than the rainbow, and while he is not such a spectacuar fighter his free-rising qualities should more than outweigh any deficiencies in fireworks. The chief demerit of our fishing here in the Waikato at the present time seems to be an absence •M free-rising fish. Experience shows 'hat in the majority of streams, from the Waikato downward, the only •eriods of the day at which a rise may bo expected are the early morning and the evening while even at such times the display put on by the fish is frequently disappointing. More than a head of heavy fish wc need a stock of trout which will rise steadily throughout the day, so that anglers will be able to make the most of that most, enjoyable pastime, “fishing the rise.” Trout Cultivation What is now generally recognised is that trout fisheries must be cared for in the same way as sheep or dairy farms. There must be constant supervision and examination of stocks if a good strain of fish is to be maintained, and the necessity for the introduction of fresh blood from time to time must be recognised. Naturally, with the extent of acclimatisation areas, the co-operation of each individual angler is necessary if ultimate success is to be achieved, and it is vital that individual anglers should recognise that. Just' so long as that fact is ignored will the full enjoyment of efficiently organised angling be denied to the majority. Many anglers are of the opinion that there should be as little interference as possible‘with natural conditions of trout-reproduction, but natural reproduction is not enough. The heavy trout is no more natural than the heavy prize-winning bull or steer, both being to a greater or less extent the result of controlled breeding. Admittedly New Zealand trout in most cases have greater natural advantages in the way of feed, and in the short-term natural reproduction may appear adequate to any needs, but in the Waikato there are many streams where the need for selective breeding under man-controlled conditions is most apparent. Liberation of fingerlings raised from hardy ova should do much to improve conditions.

The Casting Tournament The casting tournament being arranged for March 18 promises to mark an important milestone in the progress of organised angling in the Waikato, and should be but the first of many meetings both interesting and profitable to the spectators and participants. The most notable event on the programme is a teams match for a challenge shield, presented by the firm of W. 11. Tisdall, Ltd. This contest should arouse considerable interest throughout an acclimatisation area already well known throughout the Dominion for enthusiasm in matters piscatorial. Teams of four will compete both in distance- and accuracy events, the trophy being taken by the team securing t.he highest aggregate of points. The writer understands that, the shield will be the subject of annual competition among angling clubs of the district. Principal Events Details of the complete programme have not, yet been finalised, but according to information available this week the tournament will be opened with a trout-fly distance event, heavy tackle. followed by a trout-fly distance event for light, rods (of or under'. A trout-fly accuracy match will come next, followed by the teams contest. It is understood that at least two members of each team will be required to use light rods. There will also be distance and accuracy bait-casting events included on the programme. Fuller details will ho available later. Arrangements have been made with the Hamilton Domain Hoard. 1 understand, through the chairman. Mr W. 11. Paul himself a pUnoor angler in the district’, for the holding of the tournament at the Hamilton Lake, and with such agreeable surroundings only favourable weather is required to make the meeting a most successful social gathering. Restriction of Cast Gauge I also understand that the committee responsible for arrangements is very sensibly considering t.he restriction of the gauge of casts used in flycasting events to 0-X or finer. The usefulness .of a easting tournament progressively disappears the further conditions in it are allowed to alter from actual fishing conditions, since the primary function of such a meeting is not to provide some persons with the opportunity t.o carry away a load of trophies but to provide competitors and spectators alike with practical tuition in getting the mostcut of their tackle under any conditions that arc likely to be met with at the waterside.