Club Night: February 19th, start time of 7:30 p.m - Canterbury Anglers Club
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
February 2019
Established in 1949
NZ Registered Magazine
Canterbury Anglers’ Club (Inc.)
P O Box 16-778 Hornby
CHRISTCHURCH 8441
Club Night: February 19th, start time of 7:30 p.m.
TBC… Some scheduling issues shall we say?
1| Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
Canterbury Anglers Club Inc.
Executive
President Ian Joseph 021 259 4042 president@canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
Vice President
Secretary Liz McDowell (03) 355-7709 clubadmin@canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
Treasurer Barry Swaney (03) 310-6834 treasurer@canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
Immediate Past President Gary Batchelor 021 02361004 gandmbatchelor@gmail.com
Committee
Andrew Wells 021 771-600 info@canterburyanglersclub.org.nz Graham Cargill (03) 358-2129 gandygargill@xtra.co.nz
Bill Bennett (03) 356-3461 wdbennett@xtra.co.nz Jim Tritschler (03) 3135432 tritschlerjames@gmail.com
Dave Sherriff (03) 337 2657 davidsherriff1@hotmail.com Mark Taylor (03) 359-3442 taylorsnest@xtra.co.nz
Fred van Slooten (03) 358-2223 fredvs@slingshot.co.nz Warwick Burton (03) 383-1603 burton.enterprises@yahoo.co.nz
Garry Hill (03) 322 6206 garryjohill@xtra.co.nz
Convenors
Activities Mark Taylor, Fred van Slooten Hut Bookings Yvonne and Graham Cargill
Building Warwick Burton Membership Dave Sherriff
Club Archives Fred van Slooten Trophies Garry Hill
Club night Graham Cargill & Garry Hill Welfare Officer Bill Bennett
Fish of the Month Garry Hill
Out of committee convenors
Magazine Editor The position could be yours! Librarian Grant Holmes
Life Members
Bryan Coulter Ted Gilliver Len Isitt
Alan Lynn Richard Marles Ken Twyman
General club meetings: 7.30 pm on 3rd Tuesday of each month except December & January
Meeting venue: Waimairi Lions Club, 338 Avonhead Road, Avonhead, Christchurch 8042 (the cricket club/ tennis club entrance).
Committee meetings: The Committee meets on the Monday following the Club Meeting, currently at a private residence since the Fish
and Game rooms are not available for our use. You are welcome to attend – please contact a committee
member for details of the meeting venue. There is also a Committee meeting on the last Monday in January.
Club trips, events
Trip Based at Date Convenor
Clearwater weekend Lake Clearwater Lodge 8th – 10th March Mark Taylor
Sea Fishing week Okiwi Bay – Nelson 2nd – 9th April Mark Taylor
Sea Fishing charter Moeraki 25 – 26th May Mark Taylor
Alf Palmer Otematata 1st – 2nd June Mark Taylor
2| Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
The (Anglers’) Angle February 2019
The Official newsletter of The Canterbury Anglers’ Club (Inc.)
Index President’s Report
Club trips & activities ................................. 4 Hi All,
Obituary – Cam Bailey................................ 6
Lake Brunner November 2018 ................... 7 Hope everyone had a good Xmas and New Year.
Are we safe eating high country trout? ... 10
Nitrates: Today’s Hemlock ....................... 11 I was invited to a meeting of the Canterbury Fly Fishing Club on the 29th January by the
Creasy’s Column....................................... 15 President John Roche, where I was made very welcome.
Club Trophies ........................................... 16
Hut Fees ................................................... 16 The Club had 2 speakers; Kieran Lee from Fisherman’s Loft - who is well known as pretty
Hut Rules .................................................. 16 handy when it comes to catching fish. He spoke for about an hour on fly fishing around
a lot of the lakes around Canterbury. It was very interesting to hear of some of the
methods he used.
Editors bit
The second speaker was a fishing guide from Montana who regularly comes over to NZ
A small-ish magazine this month. The time to go fishing in Murchison with a Kiwi guide, the Club members also take him out while
available is less than commitments to hand… he is here, also staying with them. On one of the main rivers in Montana the Madison
While we await a replacement editor, the they use a rest and rotation process to allow the rivers to recover, also saying that
committee are going to undertake to share the tourism contributes more to the economy than agriculture. Most of the fishing he does
editorial around. First up this month is Graham is in drift boats like a dory, one rowing and two fishing.
Cargill:
I spoke to quite a few members present that our huts were available for their use as
Way back in 1949 a small group of “then long as they had a sponsor and the huts are booked through the right channels. A few
young” men founded the Canterbury Anglers members were interested in joining our club, also talk about amalgamation?
Club. From these small beginnings we now
have a club with over 100 members, a number Hope to see more of you on our upcoming events.
of lady members and three extremely well
developed (huts). Collectively the Lodges have Cheers,
a conservative value of over $600,000.
These Lodges haven’t just appeared out of the Ian Joseph
blue, but through the concerted efforts of President
many members over a long period of time. Canterbury Anglers Club
Working bees, fund raising etc. As a result of
the Christchurch earthquakes our insurance
premiums have risen dramatically so that our
annual auction, plus our lodge fees are largely
eaten up by our insurance costs.
Here’s the challenge, become an active
member, have a few days away at one of the
lodges. They all have good cooking facilities,
hot water and flush toilets. Over the last six
years only 40 or so of our members have used
the lodges, and it is mainly the same people. If
another 30 members used the huts/lodges for
at least one weekend a year it would help the
finances considerably.
Graham Cargill
If you have contributions for the magazine,
please send them to:
mageditor@canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
Thanks very much to those that have
contributed this month.
Next club meeting: Closing date for articles and info in the next issue:
February the 19th: 7:30 pm 3rd of March
3| Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
Club trips & activities Club night program February club night: Tuesday the 19th. A last minute unavoidable change of plans, has meant that our scheduled speaker has had to pull out. Still working on a replacement at the time the magazine went to the printers. Graham Cargill Club trips February 8th – 10th: Rakaia Fishing Weekend We will be staying at the Lodge. There are 8 beds available so be quick to secure yours. There may be others who wish to bring caravans, motorhome’s or tents. This will be our first get together for 2019 …come and enjoy the weekend. March 8th – 10th: Lake Clearwater Staying at our own lodge at Clearwater, this is a great weekend to use the club facilities and enjoy a weekends fishing at the lakes on our doorstep. April 2nd – 9th: Okiwi Bay This is a week-long trip, so the sooner that you advise me if you want to come along the better. I have got accommodation booked in a very nice modern house (sleeps 16), and require $150.00 per person deposit. I know that there will be 3 - 4 boats going. The plan is to fish out of Okiwi Bay which is close to French Pass. May 25th – 26th: Moeraki Sea fishing charter out of Moeraki. June 1st – 2nd: Otematata The Alf Palmer Trip. Mark Taylor Club hut bookings The hut booking calendars are now available on the club website, so if you are wanting to book a lodge and have internet access, please have a go at booking it yourself via the club website. When you do so you can see straight away if the lodge is available, and when booking you get an email confirmation that your booking has been sent straight away. When Yvonne confirms the booking you will get an email back to confirm. Using the website booking system allows Yvonne and Graham the freedom to enjoy their retirement, instead of being tied down to taking bookings and then responding. It also allows for others on the committee to help out with confirming bookings, if Yvonne and Graham wish to get way for a weekend or longer. If you don’t have access to the web, please ring Graham and Yvonne in the first instance. Thanks, CAC Exec and Committee 4| Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
Excerpts from the minutes of the last Committee Meeting
Huts
Clearwater: Internet access is available at the lodge using a Wi-Fi based service put in by another hut holder. Details of how to
access it are on the notice board in the lodge, and on the hut holder’s notice board in the village. Prices are very reasonable.
Rakaia: Working bee this month on the same weekend as the fishing trip.
Cass: Fred is going to take a look at the shower which is only producing cold water, despite the hot water working at the
vanity.
Fish of the month
No club night, so all fish of the month entries are held over until February club night. November went to Paul Centofanti.
Garry Hill
Recipe corner - Creamy Smoked Trout & Dill Dip
Ingredients:
1 cup (240g) sour cream
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
100g flaked smoked trout fillet or smoked salmon
1/4 cup chopped dill leaves
sea salt and cracked black pepper
olive oil to serve
Place the sour cream, garlic, lemon rind, mustard, trout or salmon, dill, salt and pepper in a bowl and mix well to combine. Drizzle with
olive oil to serve. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve with crackers or sliced toasted sour bread. Makes approximately 2 cups.
Mrs. Simpson
November Club Night
The last Club night in November was our end of year Pot Luck Dinner.
The night was well attended by club members (male and female), who all enjoyed the many and varied morsels of finger food brought
along. Not surprisingly trout and salmon were a popular theme, with several members bringing along different presentations comprising
smoked fish of both varieties, including some sockeye salmon.
The night concluded (after desert of course) with some convivial conversation and a cuppa. Another great night with good company.
Graham Cargill
Life Members
Life membership has been awarded to the following members:
Mr Don Brown 1963 - 1985 Mr Richard Marles 1989 -
Mr George Bligh 1977 - 1990 Mr Alan Lynn 1991 -
Mr Bert Danielson 19?? - 2006 Mr Fred Nicoll 1993 - 2013
Mr Ron Kennedy 1981 - 2014 Mr Bryan Coulter 1993 -
Mr Doug Mackenzie 1981 - 2004 Mr Barry Holmes 1994 - 2014
Mr Vic Mehrtens 1981 - 2008 Mr Don Neale 1999 - 2014
Mr Barry Brightling 1981 - 1998 Mr Ken Twyman 2006 -
Mr Eber Hollander 1981 - 1987 Mr Kevin Lynch 2011 - 2015
Mr Ray Ramsay 1984 - 2001 Mr Len Isitt 2013 -
Mr Al Creedon 1986 - 1991 Mr E (Ted) Gilliver 2015 -
Mr Joe Chidgey 1987 - 2010
5| Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
Obituary – Cam Bailey It is with heavy heart we mourn the passing of a lifelong fishing mate and good friend; Cameron David Bailey, club member, and former committee member. The loss to the club will be felt in many areas. Cam was a doer and a giver. He gave his time freely, he gave good and timely advice to all who asked, and some got the advice they needed, like it or not. He gave his transport when needed to go fishing – North Island or South Island, no matter what the time was. The VX Landcruiser could tell some stories, even after suffering a few dunking’s. He gave his time in the kitchen with skill and panache, as those who were invited to the legendary Black Tie or Fisherman’s themed dinners he put together can attest to - even if some did not quite see the evening out. Cam was well read - he could hold a conversation on any subject, and you could never be sure if he was shifting the plot to suit one of his many yarns which he was able to deliver with a straight face which had you daring to disbelieve. I remember one story he told in a West Coast pub that lasted four hours. We never bought a beer in this time, rolled out drunk as skunks but left behind a couple of happy punters who had been royally entertained for the afternoon. He was a man to rival one other in the club when it came to buying fishing gear (who is Athol talking about – Ed?). He was a retailers best friend, had to have it, nothing but the best. On the up side - if you were away fishing with him and you were short an item Cam could oblige, and always did (that’s oh so true – Ed). Cam was not a glass half full sort of guy, from day light to dark it was full on, always positive (unless you were talking about the labour party), sometimes demanding “You - fall in, three ranks, move out”. Rest in peace Cam, you’re a legend old friend. Cheers, Athol McLeod PS: Bet he had scrap with St Peter about wearing his waders through the gates. 6| Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
Lake Brunner November 2018
The Trip to Brunner looked in jeopardy after State Highway 73 was closed due to severe flooding and washouts. The road was only opened on
Tuesday prior to the trip. Evidence of the damage to roads was obvious, especially if you took a side trip over the Mount White Bridge to look
at the by-pass bridge to the Hawdon Shelter, which was completely wrecked.
Thursday evening saw Delia, Nathan and I arrive at the accommodation at Ruru to find Paul, Sue and Sam had arrived a few hours earlier with
the kayaks, beating us to Brunner.
Most leave on Thursday to head
across the pass to get 3 nights on
the coast, but not all. Karl had to
work on Friday and after a late
call worked out that if he drove
straight to Cass after work, he
could team up with Garry and
head across the pass together.
Peter Woodrow came over with
his granddaughter Grace on
Friday, which was great.
Friday morning I went out with
Nathan to fish a few a few spots
around the lake. The previous
heavy rain that flooded the
Waimak and Rakaia, also left
Lake Brunner about 1 m above
normal. Most of the shoreline
around the lake was under
water, leaving little shore access
to the lake. Most of the beaches
and paddocks were covered in
water.
Paul and Sam headed out in their
kayaks armed with fly rods in
search of trout. They fished
Swans retreat lagoon with little
success. The water was quite
discoloured, making spotting
very difficult.
It was hard to fish from the shore
as the normally dry beach areas
were under water, and the fish
had taken up residence leaving
no space for the angler. Never
the less some of the bigger trout
were cruising these margins, and
we lost and landed a number of
healthy brown trout casting
amongst the reads and grasses
from the boat. The trout in these
areas were generally in better
condition and size, than those
caught trolling out in the lake.
7| Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
Garry teamed up with Peter and Grace, to give Grace a thrilling experience at
catching a “wild” Brunner brown trout. I am sure this will be an experience
she will never forget.
Friday evening saw Paul, Sam and I fish the shallows near Moana from the
boat. One small manoeuvre saw Paul’s fly line disappear over the side of the
boat when repositioning. Initially it seemed like a snag, but the line
continued to pull until the fly line proper broke - and then it was noticed his
Sage rod tip was also broken. Turned out the line got caught in the jet unit...
Luckily, Sage offer a very good replacement guarantee. (Note from Ed – been
there, and done that…).
Garry was not sure what he let himself in for, when on Saturday afternoon
Garry accompanied Delia, Karl and myself to Greymouth. En-route we took a
detour across an open cast gold mine down Maori Gulley Road at Kokiri. A
landscape looking totally out of place modified by large 30-ton diggers. And,
as for the road through the middle, serious 4wd only. Another detour took
us past the site of the old Brunner Mine. A pit stop in Greymouth and a more
sedate trip back to Brunner.
Later on Saturday Delia insisted that Nathan take a banana on board, to see
if we could dispel the myth about bananas and boats. Well - we did all catch
fish so “myth busted”.
Peter and Grace returned to Christchurch on Saturday. Great you could get
over in the end and terrific Grace came too. Tony Hallam had other
commitments so was unable to come this year.
On Sunday morning Karl and I fished in Iveagh Bay trolling and casting,
landing a total of 5 fish before heading back for a final clean-up and back to
Christchurch.
Another
great trip
and the
weather
played ball for the most part. Thanks to all those who came.
Fred
Foot Note: Paul, Sue and Caitlin were involved in a serious car crash mid-
January 2019. Sue remains in a Care unit, but is out of Hospital. Recovery will
be slow and we wish them all the very best. They are still keen to make
Brunner again this year so here’s hoping it comes together. Fred
8| Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
Photos: Page 7: Paul and Fred with some typical Brunner trout. Gold Mine at Maori Gully. Page 8: Gary Hill and Grace, Grace with her haul of
trout. This page: The Hawdon bypass bridge.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let
them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the
air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping
thing that creepeth upon the earth.
The Bible - Genesis (ch. I, v. 26)
What this project is about: the truth about ocean decline. This website
seeks to review the current problems, from coral-reef death, to kelp
forest over-fishing, to global fisheries depletion. We are not
exaggerating the problems -- the facts speak loud enough. We want
you to realize how serious the problems have become; learn that
today's ocean problems are at the global and ecosystem level.
http://www.shiftingbaselines.org (2003)
Weather has some to do with it.
The moon has some to do with it.
The wind has some to do with it.
Barometric pressure has some to do with it.
However the best day to go fishing is any day that ends in a Y!
George Carr
The act of fly casting is an example of the science of motion. The act of
fly-fishing is an example of the passion for art.
Jim Slinsky
The water you touch in a river is the last of that which has passed, and
the first of that which is coming; thus it is with time.
Leonardo Da Vinci
9| Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
Are we safe eating high country trout? By Rex N. Gibson The Upper Clutha Anglers’ Club is one of the clubs which regularly advise members whenever there are 1080 pellet drops in its region. Many warnings about eating trout from the 1080 areas have occurred over recent years; from several sources. What is the risk to human health? In 2015 Professor Ian Shaw was widely quoted on the topic following an item on the Stuff website and in The Press. He is Professor of toxicology at the University of Canterbury and author of “Is it Safe to Eat?” (Springer, 2005), and “Food Safety - the Science of Keeping Food Safe” (Wiley-Blackwell, 2013). Most people are aware that New Zealand is one of a very few countries where 1080 leads to vehement debate and outright disagreement. This is because our “clean green country” uses 1080 extensively; whereas most other countries have either banned or severely restricted its use because of its non-discriminatory and extreme toxicity. President Nixon banned it in the USA decades ago; primarily because of the cruel death which it induces. 1080 is used to control animal “pests”. To decide if an animal is a pest you have to demonise it; much as political leaders do when they want to get the public behind them in a war which “requires” killing “the enemy”. As we have so often heard “In war the first casualty is always the truth”. There is a significant amount of pure, white crystalline 1080 imported annually for incorporation into baits designed to appeal to our marauding furry “pests”. So, what is 1080 and why is it so toxic? It is the sodium salt of fluoroacetic acid and is converted to fluorocitric acid in mammalian (including human) cells - this stops cell metabolism (the citric acid cycle) dead. The fluorocitric acid produced from 1080 stops the cycle dead in its tracks. This stops energy generation and kills the cell. Prof. Shaw stated “This process is called lethal synthesis and is a very devious mechanism of toxicity.1080 could spell death to any cell it enters. It does not discriminate between cells or target animal. Providing the cell has the citric acid cycle it is doomed. So, if anyone tells you that 1080 can discriminate between pests and native or farm animals they are talking complete and utter rubbish”. In regard to its “safety”, Prof Shaw noted that “Surprisingly few reliable data are available to base this on”. Studies have been carried out on dogs and rats. Our metabolism is not the same as dogs or rats However, based on dog studies about 0.4 mg taken by mouth would kill a 5kg infant. This is a very low dose. Other studies in rats suggest that 0.4mg would harm, but may not kill a child. Prof Shaw introduced this toxicological conjecture to illustrate that we don't know how much 1080 is needed to kill or harm a child, but that the dose is likely to be very low. Does it affect fish; such as trout? Actually nobody knows. There is no definitive study. The internet is full of “fake news” = forcefully stated opinion. The most commonly stated opinion is that cold blooded animals, like fish, are less affected; but no supportive studies appear to be published for wild fish. Of particular interest to anglers are trout which ingest mice. A colleague of mine reports 20 mouse carcasses in one large trout. Mice are competent swimmers and carnivorous trout treat them as an easy meal. Check it out on YouTube. There is no evidence on how much trout flesh we can safely eat from 1080 areas. We must ask “why not?” 10 | Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
In mammals it causes a very slow painful death, particularly in herbivores. This is why Andrea Midgen, CEO of SPCA, recently stated “1080
causes intense, prolonged suffering to animals and therefore we cannot support its use”. This is not surprising. This has been the SPCA stance
in Australia for some years.
As a rodent killer it is ineffective. Some years ago I published an analysis of the fecundity of feral mice in North Canterbury. I also did a parallel
study on laboratory mice to check their reproductive potential under “ideal” conditions. We can safely conclude that wild mice are sexually
mature in less than 50 days (probably about 42) and a female mouse will produce a new litter every 25 days. Each litter will average six
offspring. One pair of surviving mice and the subsequent generations can thus potentially produce around 9,000 offspring in a September to
May year when food is plentiful (e.g. a mast year), and the predators removed (which 1080 is designed to do).
The internet and You Tube carry many stories of illness attributed to 1080 contact. The reality is no credible scientific study has answered the
questions 1080’s opponents are asking. There is also no universally accepted smoking gun. Is this justification sufficient to allow the continued
bombarding of our bush ecosystems with 1080 pellets?
Dr Quinn Whiting-O’Keefe, a clinical trials specialist was quoted in the Press as saying “The principles of good research designs are well
established, and …. Have not been followed by DOC in the research supporting their assertions on the use of 1080 …. If Healthcare used this
standard of evidence we are likely still to be bleeding patients as a cure for pneumonia.”
Some experts state that in areas where bird numbers are recovering that brodifacoum, not 1080, is responsible for pest control. Dr Fiona
McQueen, a consultant rheumatologist and author of “The Quiet Forest: The case against aerial 1080” proposes various alternative
approaches. Her book is well worth a look.
She states “Some human elders remember a time before 1080 when there were more native birds in the bush. Let’s listen to what they have
to say. Poisoning can only do harm.”
Nitrates: Today’s Hemlock
By Rex N. Gibson
Are our nitrate laden water supplies killing us? Sadly New Zealand now has one of the highest bowel cancer rates in the world; and it is
growing. How is "God’s Own country", of just 4.8 million people, which markets tourism, and its exports, as "100% pure" (and "clean and
green”) in such a medical crisis?
It’s the sort of statistic - along with other unenviable ones - which belies the marketing claims. All is not well in “God’s Own”. Governments
may turn a blind eye to statistics like bowel cancer rates but many, including scientists, are deeply concerned.
On a recent dull spring morning a small group of like-minded folk met in my garage. No we weren’t plotting “the revolution”; or were we? You
decide. The bench had been cleared and Victoria University’s newest scientist recruit, Dr Mike Joy, led us through the process of determining
nitrate levels in bore water samples. The study was commissioned, commendably, by Fish & Game NZ.
11 | Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nzLeft below: Dr Mike Joy Right below: The portable Nico real-time nitrate test unit Mike had previously alerted me, another executive member of the NZ Federation of Freshwater Anglers, Fish & Game NZ HQ, and the news media, to a Danish study published in the International Journal of Cancer, relating to nitrate concentrations and a significant health issue for New Zealanders; colorectal cancer (often referred to as bowel cancer). New Zealand has one of the highest colorectal cancer (CRC) rates in the world. The question is “Why?” CRC is the second highest cause of cancer death in New Zealand, over 1,200 a year. In New Zealand, Colorectal cancers cause as many deaths each year as breast and prostate cancers combined .It also kills more than suicides and the road toll combined. Our eclectic group around the garage bench included a Fish & Game staff member, a sculptor and environmentalist, a Fish & Game councillor (also a farmer), a retired vet with aquiculture degree qualifications, and yours truly. We all share a commitment to improving the quality of our water resource. We had collected or received 114 samples of bore (drinking) water from across Northern Canterbury (Loburn to Ashburton, Christchurch to Methven), and more were dropped off during the morning. Mike had brought and set up a portable apparatus (a Nico real-time test unit) for measuring nitrate levels. So, what did the Danes find? Dr Jörg Schullehner’s team from the Department of Public Health at Aarhus University said “Our study shows that people who were exposed to the highest concentration of nitrate in drinking water (above 9.3 mg per litre of water) had a 15% greater risk of getting CRC”. They assessed nitrate exposure among 2.7 million adults based on 200,000 drinking water analyses from 1978 to 2011, and included 1.7 million individuals with the highest exposure levels in their main analysis. That was a very robust study. The cancer risks remained significant even at low levels of nitrate deemed acceptable by current drinking water standards. This standard was 50 mg nitrate per litre of water, but the increased risk of cancer started at just 3.8mg/L of water. Schullehner added “Today, the problem is mainly concentrated in the small private wells, as well as places with high nitrate leaching and where the local soil and geological conditions mean that nitrate can more easily be leached to the groundwater”. This exactly parallels the problem in New Zealand’s intensive dairying areas. Left: Sample testing Right: Recording 12 | Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
Each sample was tested and the results tabulated. Fifty-eight of the 114 registered readings were above the current threshold for potentially increased cancer risk; almost exactly half (50.8%). Aarhus University gave 3.8mg/L as the “lethal” point. Many of our Canterbury’s samples exceeded this significantly! Dr Joy said “the sad thing was that the results of the random sample came as no surprise”. Fish and Game’s chief executive Martin Taylor stated that the results showed "the cows are coming home to roost. Some detractors will say this is scaremongering. It is not!” If the drinking water (nitrate) levels have the potential to kill us, or at least give us cancer, then what are the rivers doing to kayakers, rafters, picnickers and anglers who use these waterways? The health risk arises when nitrate is converted into carcinogenic substances that are known as N-nitroso compounds in the body. Colorectal cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in Denmark and New Zealand, and the third most frequent worldwide. The findings also back up Dr Alastair Humphrey, Canterbury’s Medical Officer of Health, whose warnings over nitrate levels go back years, largely in regard to the acute effects of “blue baby syndrome”. In this nitrates are converted in the gut of babies (and via pregnant women to foetuses) to nitrites which lock onto haemoglobin molecules and reduce the oxygen supply to developing organs, including the brain. New Zealand’s highest levels for CRC occur from Canterbury to Southland. The highest rates occur in “Pakeha” New Zealanders. This area is now also the heartland of “industrial dairy”. Is industrial dairying “cancerous”? The Danish study gives us “direction”. New Zealand just has to follow it. Below: Labelled Canterbury samples Canterbury, Otago and Southland have regional councils whose have often been considered AWOL when it comes to environmental health issues for the last couple of decades. Nitrate leaching into depleted water catchments has increased exponentially. Many of these areas rely on subterranean aquifers for drinking water. Most people living on the region’s farms drink bore water from them, as well as those living in urban areas such as Christchurch. The nitrate leaching from cattle urine and, especially, from over-application of water, urea and phosphate fertilizers on pastures is significant nationally. Is this a medical crisis; a true “time bomb” situation? CRC can take 20 years to appear. Perhaps the shareholders of the corporate farms (which dominate the South Island’s east coast) who reside in Remuera, Karori, Fendalton, etc. are more concerned with “the bottom line”, than the colorectal cancer levels in those who actually live on the land. It has an almost Dickensian feel to it. One commentator said “When they have felled the last tree, eaten the last steak, drained the last river, and poisoned the last aquifer, perhaps then they will realise that you cannot eat money”. Another F & G study, also led by Mike Joy, has now shown that Northern Canterbury’s rivers are infected with two strains of anti-biotic resistant E. coli. Nick Smith’s “swimmable rivers” targets were a joke. Now they are becoming a very sick joke (a deliberate pun). When will it stop? In a bizarre moment I recalled the old line about “Drink and be merry, for tomorrow you die”. Just as Socrates was sentenced to death by drinking hemlock, will our nitrate laden water do exactly that to us? Footnote: Rex N. Gibson is an ecologist and scientist and with a deep personal interest in rivers and public health. Journal Reference: Jörg Schullehner, Birgitte Hansen, Malene Thygesen, Carsten B. Pedersen, Torben Sigsgaard. Nitrate in drinking water and colorectal cancer risk: A nationwide population-based cohort study. International Journal of Cancer, 2018; DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31306 13 | Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
Separating Stuck Rod Joints
There can be a problem that affects all rods with joints, sometimes they just stick and it is the Devil’s own job to separate them.
With the exception of strong surf rods, one of the worst ways to try and unstick the joints is to have a friend grab one side of the joint and
you the other side, and pull. It is very hard to keep the rod dead straight and a broken rod at the joint is a common result. Even worse is
for you and your friend to try and twist the rod in opposite directions as you pull. Result – same as above. This is especially true of light
spinning and fly-fishing rods.
There are two methods that work for me – but I am totally at a loss to know why.
First, put the behind your back, clasp the rod with each hand on either side of the joint and pull apart. I have seen this work, and
experienced it myself, on apparently immovable joints.
Second method, and again I do not know why it works, is to pack the joint with a bag of ice or frozen peas for about ten minutes, then pull
apart.
Stuck rod joints can be avoided by a couple of quick tips:
• Before joining the rod give the male joint a good rub down with a cloth to remove dust or fine sand.
• After cleaning the male spigot rub it a few times up and down the side of your nose. The natural grease imparts a very fine
lubricant.
When joining the rod pieces, just seat the two halves firmly together, never force down on the joint. Ramming the two pieces together is a
definite ‘no-no’.
And finally, it is a good idea to test that the joint is firm regularly during a fishing session. A loose joint, can lead to a broken rod, because
the overlap between the male and female parts becomes too short. This is especially important when fly fishing.
14 | Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nzCreasy’s Column By Hugh Creasy It was a sky of deep grey, sulky and close to tears. The air was still, thick with scents of grass and pollen. The approach to the river was a blue carpet of pennyroyal that refreshed with minted scents and a riverside bog was edged with lemon balm where hover flies trembled and darted over muddy water that later in the day would release clouds of mosquitoes. Blackberry formed a barrier, but a pause to pick the ripest fruit upon which only a few tiny insects scurried, quenched a building thirst. Succulent and delicious. Thorns were skirted and the river came into view through a curtain of willow. The river ran glassy, grey-green, with not enough light to show fish holding deep, but the chances were they had moved to white water. The long reach revealed only reflection, pretty enough but sterile. In the humid heat only a few birds crossed the river and a hawk soared the up draughts over the willows, lazily turning in its endless search for prey. It was a long walk to the head of the pool, and the boulders were slippery with half-dried algae that did not speak well for the health of the river. It has been a hot summer and great swathes of algae lined the water in the reach. Only at the head of this deep pool, where white water bubbled and frothed did the river seem to come alive. The only way to fish this aerated water would be to use a long leader and a weighted fly, to cast into the bubble line and let the fly drift with back and side currents that would, with luck, attract a strike. There was nothing natural about the drift. As the fly swirled in the current, I gave the rod tip an occasional lift, just in case a fish had latched on to it. The rod tip jerked downward and the line tightened, I struck and embedded the fly in a branch of willow that washed to the surface and rolled, a weighty tangle of line and leader enclosing it. I dragged it to the shore. Any fish in the water at the foot of the rapid would be well and truly alert to my presence, and I had probably ruined my best opportunity to take a fish. After 10 minutes or so spent disentangling line and leader, I was ready once more to resume the hunt. The white water rapid upstream looked inviting with large boulders and pocket water, and riffles over gravel, that kept the water aerated. I turned over a few stones in the shallows and there were hard-cased caddis attached, as well as net-builders and a few very small mayfly larvae. My 4-metre leader was far too long for such tight water, and I changed it to a couple of metres and a half metre tippet. This time I used a lightly weighted nymph that looked something like a hatching caddis. I suppose the conditions were ideal for Czech nymphing, a method I have read a lot about but have never practised. In any case my 5-weight rod was too short to effectively cover the water with such a method, so I stuck with the conventional. Wading was treacherous, over slippery boulders, covered with slime, and I spent an awful lot of effort clutching my wading stick and trying to stay upright. A few years ago I watched competition anglers fishing such rapids, and they did so at such high speed and with such confident footing that I could not hope to match. My progress is tortoise-like, and careful, but still I trip and slip and there’s usually blood coming from some part of me that made connection with sharp stone. It took a dozen casts before my fly was taken, and that by a trout of diminutive size that zipped about the rapids at high speed before I could release it. It must have suffered considerable bruising when banging into boulders, but it swam away fast and disappeared, now educated on what not to eat. Wading fast water is tiring and dangerous, and you have to cast so often to cover holding water that fatigue, both mental and physical sets in. The grassy bank looked inviting and I tottered from the water, glad to obtain some relief. It was humid and windless. I leaned back in the long grass, a stretch to ease aching muscles, and my back touched an electric wire, hidden by the grass. The shock wasn’t great but its effect was. I damned the river, the weather, fish, or their lack, and the farmer who left his fence on when there were no stock in sight and hadn’t been for days. Home, then, and lunch and a snooze till sundown. In the cool of the evening the fish would move. In the light of the moon I would hear their rises, and see the splash. Night fishing would be my saviour. With it would come challenge enough to test the patience of Job. Maybe I should stick to golf. 15 | Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nz
Club Trophies
The annual trophies competed for by financial Club Members are:
Adams Brown Rooster The heaviest fish caught by a junior, on a club trip
Anniversary Trophy The best photograph taken by or of a club member (see convenor for full rules)
Ashby Berg Cup The best conditioned rainbow trout, caught by a male member
Benmore Trophy The best-conditioned fish caught on the Alf Palmer Memorial Trip
Bryan Coulter Trophy The heaviest fish on rod & line, on a Club Boat Trip
Canal Trophy The heaviest fish caught in the Waitaki Hydro Canals
Coleridge Brass Monkey Trophy The heaviest fish caught during the Coleridge Brass Monkey Competition
Conservation Cup For conserving the fish population on the Alf Palmer Memorial Trip
C.R.Ogier Cup The heaviest salmon caught by a club member
Cromb & Merritt Shield The best conditioned brown trout, caught by a male member
D.C.Wilson Shield The heaviest fish caught in surf, on rod & line
Drewery Cup The heaviest trout caught by a club member
Fly Anglers Shore Trophy The heaviest fish caught by a shore based angler on a fly, on the Alf Palmer Memorial Trip
Junior Delegate’s Trophy The junior member who catches the heaviest trout, on Junior Day
Kevin Lynch Trophy The member of the Alf Palmer Memorial Trip Team, who caught most fish
Lady Isaac Trophy The heaviest Salmon caught at Rakaia whilst staying at the Don Brown Lodge
Marles Benmore Trophy The heaviest trout caught on the Alf Palmer Memorial Trip
NZ Farmers Cup The best-conditioned trout caught by a lady member
Richard Marles Challenge The most fish caught on the Richard Marles Challenge Weekend
P.G.Ellis Cup The best-conditioned trout caught by a junior member
Salt Water Lure Cup The heaviest fish caught on a fly, in the sea
Secretaries Trophy The heaviest rainbow trout caught by a club member
Spackman Cup The heaviest trout caught on a Club Trip
Hut Fees
Fees for the Club huts are as follows:
Member’s Flat rate: $20.00 per person per night if you are willing to share with other
members. To book the facility exclusively for yourself, or your group, then refer
below. The rate for children is: Under 5 yrs. free, 5 - 18yrs. - $10 ( accompanied and
booked by a senior member)
Accompanied non-members As for club members
To book a hut for yourself Clearwater and Cass = $50.00 per night (maximum)
Rakaia = $100.00 per night (maximum)
Caravans/campervans on site: Casual = $15.00 per night, plus $10.00 for each additional person
Long term = by arrangement with the Committee.
Hut Rules
1. Huts may only be booked by financial members of the club.
2. Bookings may be made, no more than 90 days in advance.
3. The Club member who makes the booking must be in residence when the hut is used and is responsible for the
behavior of guests and any damage, should any occur.
4. Only one hut booking can be made at any one time.
5. Any damage must be reported immediately.
6. Empty gas bottles must be returned to the booking convener for refilling.
7. At peak times – Christmas to 15th January and all long weekends hut bookings shall be considered exclusive, but
will be subject to a ballot if more than one party wants to book. The ballot shall be held 60 days prior to the
occupancy date.
8. Through the balance of the year bookings shall be on a first come basis.
9. Bookings can only be for a maximum of seven days.
10. All hut users to take note of specific instructions on the safe use of equipment in the huts as detailed in the
manuals provided in each facility.
11. Intentions books are placed in each hut, please use them, it may save a life.
12. If the lawns need mowing when you are staying at any of our lodges, it is expected that you mow them. Fuel cost
for the mower will be reimbursed. The reward for mowing them is that you can shout yourself a beer when they
are done.
16 | Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nzCanterbury Anglers Club (Inc.): Membership application & renewal form
Please tick the appropriate box:
Are you A new member Or An existing member
Type of membership (tick one) Fee: (All less $10.00 if paid prior to the 1st September)
Junior (under 16 years) $40.00
Intermediate senior (16 to 20) $45.00
Senior (over 20 ) $70.00
Family (principal adult/partner & dependant junior children $75.00
attending secondary school up to and incl. Yr. 13)
Magazines will be distributed by email, please confirm your email address below unless the following applies:
- Require magazine by mail as I do not have a broadband internet connection (tick the box)
- Require a hard copy of the magazine - $20.00 surcharge for this applies to the above subscription (tick the box)
Name:
Address:
Post code:
Phone: Fax: Mobile:
Email address:
Family members: (please list partner’s name, and dependant children’s name and D.O.B.)
Which of the following types of fishing do you do?
Trout - spinning Salmon - spinning Sea - boat
Trout - fly Salmon - lure Course fishing
Trout – trolling/ harling Surfcasting White baiting
Payments: Please return this form and remit with appropriate amount to the Treasurer at a club meeting, or post (cheque only) to:
Canterbury Anglers Club Inc., P O Box 1602, Christchurch Mail Centre, Christchurch 8140.
Direct credits can be made to: 11-7800-0048004-11. Please include your name for reference.
Found that missing fly…
17 | Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nzCanterbury Anglers Club (Inc.)
Fish of the Month Competition Entry Form
Name: Date of catch:
Address:
Species caught:
Trout Salmon Other F/W
Brown trout Quinnat (Chinook) Perch
Rainbow trout Land-locked Tench
Brook trout Sockeye
Salt water
Details:
Location:
Club trip Angler signature:
Shore fishing
Boat fishing Witness signature:
Canal fishing
FOM entries can be emailed directly from your phone to garryhill417@gmail.com
Download a copy of the FOM Entry from our Web Site onto your phone for ease of making an entry each month
Entries for FOM must be in the hands of a committee member before or on Club night each month
Entries for the current season close on the 3rd Tuesday in June
Any individual can only win FOM once in each financial year
All entries are potential Trophy winners even if they are not FOM winners for that month
Happiness is: a friend to go fishing with, his dog (barely visible - asleep), a nice day and a stream somewhere to go fishing…
18 | Our new club website is now online: www.canterburyanglersclub.org.nzYou can also read
