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TROUT FISHING WITH MAURICE RODWAY - Weekly Column: February 1, 2002
 Southland, New Zealand

Unlocking Mysteries

There are many mysteries surrounding trout fishing. The greatest is caused by the different environments that anglers and trout live in. While water and air are two different elements they have similar characteristics. They both flow, and substances can be dissolved in them. They both contain gases, both life giving and dangerous. They transmit light, electricity, sound and heat, to varying degrees, depending on the substances dissolved in them.

While the two have similar properties their densities are very different. The difference in densities means that there is a barrier at the interface of the two. Sound waves do not pass easily across this barrier and light waves are refracted to distort the picture underwater to the observer above. Looking out from under the water is even more restricted since the water surface reflects most of the view back to the underwater viewer. Only objects overhead can be seen clearly to fish or anything else looking out. Objects beyond 49 degrees from vertical are distorted and compressed.

This barrier and the differences between air and water make the world of a fish quite alien to us. Before underwater viewing devices were invented, such as the divers mask, we couldn't see fish or their world from an underwater perspective. Anyone with an old natural history book will notice that fish were drawn leaping out of the water or lying on the shore.

The angler's view of the lives of fish is similar. In clear water we can see in to a limited extent but it is not possible to see fish from the surface when they escape to hide or when the water is deep and a little murky. As a result of this our imagination tends to dominate our concept of the lives of fish. We cannot tell exactly how many fish there are in a riffle or a deep pool. We can often see several trout rising when a mayfly hatch is occurring but we have no way of knowing if all the fish are partaking in the feast or if only a few are.

If we see no fish and catch none we sometimes think there are none there. This is rarely the case but finding out just how many there are there is virtually impossible, even in small rivers.

If we knew the answers to these questions decisions of fisheries managers would be more confidently made. If it was known for sure that lots of trout live in a river the regulations could be liberal. The uncertainty that exists at present means that regulations need to be restrictive, in case there are not that many there.  Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, the division between the water and the air will continue to be a barrier to unlocking these mysteries for some time yet.

Maurice Rodway
Southland, New Zealand                           E-mail: mrodway@southlandfishgame.co.nz

Article © 2002 Maurice Rodway, All Rights Reserved.

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