From THE TAUPO FISHING CLUB NEWSLETTER JULY ’19
Following extracted from the Taupo Fishing Club newsletter. In addition to the usual fishing club stuff – i.e. – a report on the Winter Fly Fest and a guest speaker – (Bob Gutsell of NZ Sport Fishing Council) and heaviest rainbow prize (to Shirley Fraser) and barbless v’s barbed hooks article and fundraiser (with Chris Dore) to send lady anglers to the Commonwealth Champs and NZ Fly Fishing Team Clinic and Annual Trophy night awards and Taupo Sports Advisory Grant,bi-monthly catch results, etc. – all the usual fishy stuff you might expect to see in a fishing club newsletter, but what really impressed was the following which gave SWMBO warm fuzzies (She Who Must Be Obeyed is the Manger at TRM – a lady of refined sensibility and delicate constitution who appreciates such exceptional voluntary community tasks.) I mean how many other fishing clubs in NZ have appointed an “Environmental Coordinator” role to deal with vermin along the stream banks? (Their newsletter images would not copy so images of another local anon environmental champion are from TRM library)
Message from our Environmental Coordinator:
Hi I’m Janet Oldfield, I’ve taken on the role of Environment Coordinator for Taupō Fishing Club, The idea for the Whakaipo Bay, Mapara Stream Trapping came about at the beginning of 2019,
Shirley Fraser, our club president put the idea to club members to see if we could organise a trapping team, supported by Didymo Dave, and interacting with Robyn Ellis of Greening Taupō, and Preditor Free Taupō.
Interested club members met at the Mapara stream, for trap demonstration and then set out to place 11 traps.
The team consist of 8 members on a roster to check the traps every week, Mark Wyllie, local to the area, acts as guide and compiles a weekly report.
Positive feed back indicates improved native birdlife, with a running total of pests eliminated as follows:-
Feral Cat 1, Ship Rats 23, Water Rats 5, Mice 3, Hedgehog 9, Stoats 4, Weasels 3.
In addition to this effort, Janet has started a volunteer group to help clean up Taupō in admiration of Carol Lamb’s efforts. The TFC will take responsibility for the ‘Club Hub’ at AC Baths Reserve, we open our arms to more volunteers. During the first outing the group collected 7.19kg of rubbish, consisting of bottles and cans.
Thank you Janet on behalf of the Club and community for stepping up to this role.
Fly Fishing with Wairakei Primary School
TFC has been asked to start a weekly fly casting class for their ‘Developing Passions’ electives. Six new students each week will attend the 1hr lesson. Our members are looking forward to share the fun of fly fishing.
The first class begins on the 21st of August
