The run is on as fishing fever hits the Rangitata!

Fishing fever hit the Rangitata River at Peel Forest this week with 48 Waimataitai years 5 and 6 students taking part in a Fish and Game fishing afternoon. The day couldn’t have been better with brilliant sunshine and a relatively clear river. The afternoon started with a look at the invertebrates and there were a few unexpected finds. The most popular invert was always going to be the toe biter with a large stonefly coming in a close second. Following this Fish and Game staff went on the hunt for bigger species with the electric fishing machine, finding two juvenile salmon and a large bully. Luckily we had prepared some brown trout and adult galaxids earlier to add to the mediocre catch.

 Most of the students were keen to wet a line so spread along the bank to try their luck. With around 30 rods, the water was churned to foam with spinners covering every square inch of the pool. Some having never held a rod before perfected the art of casting and by the end of the day could cast as well as the more experienced anglers in the group. The total catch for the day was two sticks, a jersey and a number of tangles. Despite this they all went back to camp proud with a fish each, even if it was only a chocolate one!

 
Picket line on the Rangitata River at Peel Forest

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