GOOD PROSPECTS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20922, 29 September 1939, Page 9

GOOD PROSPECTS

NEW FISHING SEASON OPENING AT WEEK-END FAVOURABLE WINTER & SPRING While the restriction on the use of petrol by private car owners and the generally unsettled conditions may have a restrictive influence on trout fishing, the prospects for the new season, which opens on Sunday, in the Auckland Acclimatisation Society’s area, are excellent. The hours of fishing will be from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. and, generally, local restrictions are the same as last year. The licence fee this year, 30s, is unchanged and the licence permits the holder to fish anywhere in New Zealand with the exception of the Government areas at Rotorua and Taupo. Anglers coming into the Auckland Society’s district from another area are required to pay an endorsement fee of 5s as licence in the south are sold at from 20s to 255. An exceptionally good spawning season, followed by a favourable winter and an absence of floods in the spring, has left streams about the Waikato in first-class order. There must be an abundance of small fish, although these will not be “fair game” for the angler for another two to three seasons. However, it may be remembered that similar conditions were experienced two years ago and the large number of young fish which survived that year will be takable fish this season. The Waihou River, which is one of the most heavily fished streams in the Waikato, carried a large number of young fish up to 10 inches last season and these should provide good bags this year. Results of Liberating Policy A policy of liberating fingerling instead of ova, which has been pursued by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society for the past three years, should bear fruit this year as the fish put out two and three years ago should now be up to regulation size. Good results from the liberations should be obtained in the lower reaches of the Waikato River between Hamilton and Ngaruawahia, as a number of fish were taken there last season which, from scale reading, proved to be those liberated as fingerling. Heavy liberations of fingerling have been made in the Kanawhaniwha and Puniu streams, while the bulk of the Waikato quota handled •by the Hamilton. Cambridge and Huntly acclimatisation clubs has been placed in the Waikato River The small streams in the vicinity of Pirongia, notably the Mahararoa should provide good fishing for the early part of the season, but the majority of anglers will probably favour the Waihou in the daytime and the Waikato River below the Arapuni dam for night fishing. Reports at the end of last season indicated that there was a big fish population in the lower end of Lake Arapuni, and good results may be obtained there. Fishing Restrictions As regards restrictions much the same conditions as last season apply, except that in the Te Kuiti area several streams may be fished with fly only. Water on the lower end of Lake Arapuni to a point 80 chains above the Te Awamutu bridge, formerly limited to the use of fly, is now open to any approved lure. The Little Waikato, from its mouth to Pearce’s Falls, is still closed, but it may be fished above the falls. Anglers would do well to note that, owing to the war situation, restrictions apply to the departmental roads leading into the power houses at Arapuni and Hora Hora, and water adjacent will have to be fished without entering upon departmental property. Some difficulty has been experienced in obtaining licences to import fishing gear and anglers may experience some inconvenience in obtaining specified lines. However, there is no serious shortage of essential material and anglers should be fairly well satisfied. Though the main inquiry -will not be until to-night or to-morrow morning, there has been a steady demand for licences and tackle. It is obvious that war preparations and benzine restrictions mast have an effect on the number of fishermen out this season, but, wai or no war, parties of inveterates will be combing the likely stretches on Sunday.