Trout Fishing in the Canterbury Rivers.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVII, Issue XVI, 19 October 1901, Page 742

Trout Fishing in the Canterbury Rivers.

BY A. H. SHURY

(Continued from last week.) There is very good perch fishing to be had in the Ashburton Domain, and in the Wakanui Creek. On Mr liurnard’s land, and on Mr Mullins',

perch up to three pounds each have been taken. The first trout put into the Ashburton river were purchased by the late Charles Reid. Esq., of Westerfield. who purchased 18 trout in 1870 from the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, 93 in 1871. and 23 in 1874. These were put into the small streams at Westerfield, which run into the main river. Tn 1875 Mr W. C. Walker bought 200 and put them in-

to the river at Valetta. Tn 1877 Air James Beswick put in 500. In 1878 Air Farr, secretary to the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, put 1500 into the river between the Ashburton town and Westerfield. Air T eache also placed COO in the stream at Alount Somers. In 1879 Air W. C. Walker put 1000 into the river at Alount Possession; Mr James Campbell put in 500; Air Shury 1000; and from 1880 until 1883 CBOO more were placed in the stream by Air Shury. After the Ashburton Acclimatisation Society had been formed about 30,000 were purchased from the North Canterbury Society, and were placed in the river, and its various tributary streams. Amongst these were many thousands of Fontinalis or American char, but none of these have ever been taken. There are plenty in the limestone creek, Anama Downs, but thev are very small. Mr Farr and

Mr Shury also placed 750 in the North Hinds, but so far as 1 know this stream has never been fished. The largest recorded trout taken from the Ashburton stream was at the coalpits. It weighed 32Mb, and 1 regret to say was taken with a pitchfork, cut up, and eaten. The late Air Peter would have given £5 for it to have had it placed in the Christchurch Museum. The fish in the Ashburton stream take either fly or minnow or natural bait, and good bags can be made from Alount Possession all down the stream to the sea. There are some very large fish in the Alaori lake stream, but they are not plentiful; and from there to Valetta the fish average about 3 to 3Mb. Fontinalis trout were also liberatleyl in Lake Emily, and into the stream which flows from it into the Alaori lake, '•hey have been taken up to one

pound weight in that stream. There is excellent fishing from Valetta to the sea, and some good bags have been made at Westerfield. In the neighbourhood of the town, owing to the number of anglers, the stream is fished too much for large fish to be plentiful, bfit with the fly from three or four to twenty fish, weighing from half a pound to 211 b each, may be taken any evening. The heaviest fish are caught in the lagoon at the mouth of the river, although they are not so heavy as those taken in the Rakaia and in the Rangitata rivers. On March 6, 1898, Messrs Shurj, I’ennett, and Dawson took twentyfour fish, which weighed 107.11 b, and included ones of 13], Ilf, 10, (>}, sf, sf, 5 fib. 'rhe remainder were from three pounds down to half a pound each. One fish of sixteen pounds was taken in the lagoon by Mr Henry Pilbrow. In 1891 a writer in the “Field” in an article “An Angler’s Week in New Zealand.” says: “If you want heavy fish, go to the Rangitata.” I am willing to endorse this if the writer had added “or the Rakaia.” I have fished both rivers for many years, and 1 hardly know which to prefer. I’or the first day’s fishing of the season in the Rangitata for four rods, these were the takes: — A. H. Shury: 7,5, 4.8, .8, 4.8, 3.8, 3. 2, 1. 9 fish, which weighed 31 lbs. R. H. B. Upton: 5,5, 4,3, 2,6, 3,2, 8 fish, which weighed 30 lbs. R. B. Bennett: 6,3, 4. three fish, which weighed 13 lbs. Harris 10, one fish. 'Total: 21 fish, which weighed 81 lbs. If the main mouth of the Rang! fata be on the Ashburton side, for comfort in fishing and for large fish it beats any place I ever fished in Xew Zealand. For about half a mile along the lagoon the stream runs along a grassy bank with splendid fishing. This is par excellence the place for ladies to fish in New Zealand. and has been justly named the “Promenade.” No shingle or wading. I once saw Mrs Hayhurst land a 141 b fish on it, and Mrs R. Jones has landed several up to 101 b on it. Fishing there at the commencement of the season, a fishing party of which I was one took in four successive fishing days 51, 23, 44 and 30 fish, and these averaged 41bs each. There is also first-rate fishing all the way up the Rangitata; but I have usually got better sport in the smaller streams than in the main streams, and this probably because one can cover more of the water in proportion to the size of the stream. On December 7, 1890, fishing below Ealing, I took nine fish, which weighed 45 pounds, and on October 30th five fish, which weighed forty pounds, and on November 20, 1892, 1 took 19 fish, which weighed 10911 bs. On the same day Mr. J. Stevens, fishing with me, got 18 fish, which Weighed 1201bs. On the 2nd of .January, 1895, I took to my own rod 35 fi: h, which weighed 140 lbs, and this is my record for fishing any water in Xew Zealand. There are some very large trout all up the Rangitata 1<» the Gorge. At Cracroft, above the traffic bridge, I once got in a day 16 fish from three to six pounds each, but as the journey is as far from Ashburton as the lagoon, and the lagoon is considered the better fishing, we more often drive to the lagoon. Some of the largest fish in the river are taken at Mesopotamia, above the Gorge, in the Deep Creek, of the tributaries of the Rangitata, where fish of 201 bs and upwards have been taken. 'The scenery here is grand in the extreme, the glaciers that feed the Rangitata being well in sight, and so accessible that one may almost ride on to them. To facilitate the comfort of anglers the Acclimatisation Society has enclosed a paddock of thirteen or fourteen acres, in which they may camp and turn out their horses with security. To show the rapidity with which the rivers rise, I went to Westerfield with Mr. J. Cargill, of Dunedin, and Mr. .J. (’. Quane. I had my rod and line all ready to start, and on arriving there 1 at once started to fish.

Mr, Cargill taking out the horses, and Mr. Quane putting the rods together. The river was in splendid order, and the fates.-propitious. Almost at once I hooked and landed a iish of live pqiinds, and then one of four pounds, and had got another of eight pounds oflj- In landing this fish I crossed the stream. There had been a northwest gale in the hills all the night, though where we were there was neither wind nor rain. Whilst landing the fish I noticed the water getting discoloured, and bits of stick and gorse coming down. I had to go upstream a few yards to get to the ford, and in less tjiap five minutes I could hardly cross. Mr. Cargill did not get his line in the water, as the river was up, and we had to give up and drive home. From the same cause a day’s drive is often wasted. One may be told by the driver of the train that the Rangitata or the Rakaia is in good fishing order, and by the time he gets there the river may be in flood,, because of a northwest gale in the hills, and of which nothing was felt at Ashburton. We often have gentlemen with letters of introduction coming to fish, and I always make it a rule to give as good sport as is to be got. Most of them are real sportsmen; some know very little of fishing. I was once fishing with a gentleman from Melbourne, who from his own showing was a very experienced angler, having killed salmon in Scotland and innumerable trout. It'was at the New Year, and we had been three days at the Rangitata. Up to the present he had only landed one small fish. Mr. Simpson and I had average bags. Our Melbourne friend was fishing alongside of me, and he hooked a fine ten-pound fish or thereabouts. The fish was plunging on the surface, and our friend was holding it tight, not giving it any line. I said, “Let him go, give him line,” and he did. In a minute or two the fish got into the rip, and was going out to sea, when he stopped it, and it immediately got clear. He then turned to me and said, “I was fishing just now by Mr. Simpson, and had another, good fish on, and was letting him go as von tell me. ’ Simpson said, ‘Check liim, hold him in,’ and I Hid, and it immediately broke the line, and now I hook another big one, and am holding it as Mr. Simpson told me-—and you sav Let it go,* so I let it-go, and it never comes back. Now, what is a fellow to do?” Having kept a record, I add a table showing what sport and results fishing- in these rivers may give:

A fraction over lib 13oz average weight. Weight of fish—3 of Hlbs, 1 of ISlbs 2 of 121bs. 2 of Hlbs, 5 of lOlbs, 11 of’ Olbs, 18 of 81 bs, 24 of "lbs, 45 of 61 bs. 65 of Bibs. 128 of 41hs, 163 of 31bs, 237 of 21bs. Under 21bs, 1,564. Below I give some of the best days’ takes, with the weight of the fish, by individuals of our usual fishingparty:— Mr E. B. Simpson, Rakaia Lagoon, 30th and 31st October, 1891, 41, 3J, 12, 12, 8,8, 7,5, 5, 71, 9}, 9, BJ, 12, 9, 6,5, 5,4, 4,4, 3,3, rest small; 35 fish; 173}lbs. M Shury, Rangitata Lagoon, 2nd January, 1893, 14,10, 10, 9,8, 7,7, 7,6, 6,5, 3,4, 4. 4, 3. 3, best small; 35 fish; total weight 1401bs. Hy. Pi I brow, Ra kaia Lagoon, 30th nnd 31st October, 1891, 61, «j, 6, 11, 10, 9, 12, 10, 6, 4. 6. 7,7 j, 12. 9; 15 fish .weighing 124}lbs. J. Stevens, Rangitata Lagoon, 2nd January, 1893, 18 fish weighing 1201bs; Weights not recorded. A. H. Shury, Rangitata Lagoon,

20th November, 1892, 9f, 4. s}, 5,8, 5, 6,9, 2.2, 1,1, 4,6, 8. 7,7, 12, 7; 19 fish, weighing 109}lbs. Geo. Cromie, Rangitata Lagoon, 25th December, 1897, 13 fish, 781bs; 9, 10, 84, 7|, 7j, rest smaller, smallest 3}lbs. 30th October, 1892, Rakaia Lagoon. A. H. Shury, 7J, 6J, 6J, 10, 6, 14, 7, 7. 4; nine fish, weighing 681 b 12oz. 27th December, 1892, Ashburton Lagoon, 6,6, 6,6, 6,6, 6,6, 4|, 4,4, 4,4, 4,4, 4,4, 4, IS fish 881bs 12oz. H. E. Curtis, Rakaia Lagoon, sth and 6th February, 1898, 101, 101, 10}, 7}, 7), 6}, 51, 41, 8 fish 62}lbs. Photo. A. H. Shury, Rangitata River, 7th December, 1890, 9 fish weighing 451bs; average 51bs. J. M. Dawson, Rakaia Lagoon, 6th February, 1898,- 11}, 11, 6}, s}, 41, 5 fish weighing 39}lbs. A. H. Shury, Rakaia Lagoon, 30th October, 1891, 12, 7,6, 7,8, 5 fish weighing 401bs. H. E. Curtis, Rangitata Lagoon, 20th December, 1897, 7,6, 5,5, 4j, 4, 3,3, IJ, 9 fish weighing 38}lbs. J. M. Dawson. Ashburton Lagoon, 6th March, 1898, 41, 3}. 13), 3J, 2}, 41, 3}, 3s, 3i, 2J, 1,3, 2J, 41, 14 fish weighing 54} lbs. R. B. Bennetts, Ashburton Lagoon, 6th March, 1898, 6}, 2}, 3}, 10, 11}, 5 fish weighing 33flbs. After the takes of trout recorded, it may be as well to give a word of advice concerning the tackle necessary to kill such fish. Always purchase the best you can get. It is false economy to buy cheap casts or gut. When only small fish of two or three pounds each are found, one shilling casts will do, but in the Canterbury rivers, where large fish are frequently taken, you must have good tackle, or you will find when fast to a big one that you lose cast, phantom and fish—and it is extraordinary how big these fish that break inferior casts are—generally about twenty pounds. The reel and line should be suited to the rod. On my 15-foot rod I use a 3} inch winch and 80 yards of line—4o yards of American waterproof line, size C, backed with another 40 yards plaited hemp, same size. With a line of this weight you can easily cast 26 to 30 yards if necessary, but a 20-yard throw is quite long enough if you do not wish to . make a toil of;a pleasure. Many anglers use a lighter line, as they say they are cheaper and quite strong enough to hold any fish; and they can have a smaller reel, also cheaper; but they will find in throwing against a wind the light line will not compare with the heavy one, always provided the line is not too heavy for the rod.

My traces are best Imperial gut, and have three swivels. I usually have only five, or at most six, lengths of gut in the trace. I hardly ever lose a fish by the trace breaking. Wire casts are very strong, but break easily if in throwing against the wind you get them kinked, and unless carefully looked after rust easily, especially when fishing in the salt water. There is great difficulty in getting phantoms properly mounted. The top hook is seldom near enough the head, and the miudle hook is usually too near the head, and not near enough to the tail, and the wire is generally too fine. I usually remount all my phantoms with Masheer hooks, tied on with fine' silver wire. This is much more dura >le than silk for mounting. I also add another- ring to attach the trace to, in addition to the ring in the nose, of the phantom; this makes the trace last twice as long, and saves many a phantom and fish. I make the rings of stiff German silver wire, about a thirty-second of an inch in diameter, and solder them. If you use lighter wire they are liable to break with heavy fish.

The baits most in use are the whitebait and transparent whitebait phantoms (soleskin), Nos. 1,2, and 3. Blue phantoms and Devons from IJin. to 2}in. for fishing the large rivers; all baits should be mounted with Masheer hooks. The fine wires with which most imported minnows are mounted just straighten out or break off, but the Masheer. though taking more force to drive the barb home, never breaks or lets go. Bright shell minnows and spoon baits are both good. On the south bank of he Rangitata a great many fish are taken on the natural bait with the

Archer spinner. I prefer the Crocodile, but you want a large-sized one to take a fish nearly half an inch between the jaws. The gaff can be be anything from a bit of fencing wire lashed to a flax stick or a shark hook, fixed to a cane; but the most convenient is the telescope gaff, drawing out to 3 feet or 3} feet The point should be opposite the angle, and hot the square, as it materially stiffens the gaff. The point of the ordinary gaff is too short. I usually get mine lengthened by welding n bit of steel on sufficient to make the hook three inches -in length, With a hook of this sort you never drop a fish when once garted, even if you have to carry it 20 or 30 yards through the river to bank. In gaffing a fish without assistance, the fish should be fairly well spent, then wind in the line to about half the length of the rod, take the rod in your left hand as far up us you can conveniently balance it, and then bring the point of the rod over your right shoulder, so getting the fish well within reach; put the gaff over the fish as near the shoulder as possible, and then, with a good pull, drive the gaff through it and land him. Holding your rod in this way there is no danger of breaking your top, which, if you hold your rod out over your left shoulder, you very probably will do.

The telescope gaff is best carried in a ring attached to your right brace button. It is more out of „he way, and easier to get at when wanted than in any other position. The accompanying photographs were taken of the catch made at the mouth of the Rakaia on sth and 6tli February last, and were shown to His Excellency Lord Ranfurly when on his official visit to Ashburton. . The portraits are the members of our usual party, and although a great deal was thought of this particular take of trout, if you compare it with some of those recorded above, ■ it- is very small. All that can be said in its favour being that the fish were till good ones, there being only one small -fish (a 11b fish) in the catch; and it was taken the day the Governor vfdited Ashburton. Below are’ the weights and ; names of the anglers as they stand,in the photograph. To give an idea of the size of the fish, a two-foot rule is put. on the second fish, right hand row, and third fish of middle row. This take has been favourably noticed in the London papers. A. H. Shury, 5 fish—94, 8, 71. 5. 21 lbs. Total 32Jlbs. J. M. Dawson, 5 fish—UJ, 11, 6S, 54, « lbs Total, 39}lbs. R. H. Upton, 4 fish—64, 6J, s}, lib. Total, 19Slbs. H. E. Curtis, 8 fish—loJ, 104. 101 74, 74 6?, 54, 44 lbs. Total, 62} lbs. 22 fish averaging 71bs. Total weight, lalilbs. I omitted to state that at the mouths of the rivers, in addition to the common brown trout, the Californian salmon is frequently taken. There is very little difference in appearance of the Californian salmon, which is a sea trout, and not true salmon, and the brown trout. In fact, I am not able to distinguish between them until they are cooked, when the ordinary brown trout is seldom more than cream coloured, sometimes orange, but the flesh of the Californian salmon is deep red, not the salmon pink of true but a deep red. I have never taken this fish far from the mouth of the rivers.

osDCo-lff) n ST o CO -4 o cn CO CO M g CO 00 -Q o p § QOMO>CHOOCJSn»fkO>QOC?22 No. of times I was out. g M H ti H No. of blank 00 to m oo rf* WW 00 *u ca W w days. IO 8 o co S £<ocncncn-qSMW ca w m >(» ui h cn a a cj ca No. of fish. awwmwowojmwhmTotal weight tO OHWffig