We have the trophy winners from our competition (25/2-12/3/17) and also for the Overall Season
Competition
Heaviest Fish - Spinwell Trophy - 5kgs - Helen Austin
2nd Heaviest Fish - 4kgs - Brian Donaldson
Best Condition Factor - PJ Tackle Shop Trophy - 1.66c/f - Bob Mortimer
Master 60plus - Gerald Cox Trophy - 4kgs - Wayne Wilson

Overall Season
Best condition factor - Owen Smith Memorial trophy - 1.66c/f - Bob Mortimer
Heaviest Fish - Anderson Trophy - 5.4kgs - Robin (Auss) Austin
Heaviest Fish for Ladies - 5.3kgs - Sue Parnell

A big congratulations to our winners.
There were no junior trophies won this season so hopefully next season there will be some lucky juniors collecting trophies.
Huge thank you to our weigh-in stations at Gas Alley Temuka and also Bill & Evelyn Whipp's bach at Rangitata

Water Quality
     What is it about the Government that allows them to disregard doctors, scientists, environmentalists and even an OECD report that states New Zealand is pushing environmental limits risking human health and the health of our economy as the world discovers how sick our rivers and lakes really are.
      This blind pursuit of development and intensification at any cost is having the most detrimental effect on our waterways the likes of which has never been seen before. Pollution has virtually wiped out the fish life including native species in our once pristine small lowland streams and anyone wanting to take a drink from them must surely have a death wish.
     These streams were the nurseries for larger rivers and provided sanctuary for early stages of the food chain for several species of commercially caught ocean fish. How will they explain away the predicted tide of nitrates that is about to enter aquifers and rivers and how can they justify this blatant disregard for the environment?
     What is the point of announcing a $3.7 billion surplus in the budget then having to spend a fair chunk of it fixing up the effects on the environment?
     Anglers are in a good position to see the changes that have been occurring and have frequently voiced their concerns over the past few years but on deaf ears it seems. Fortunately with the forthcoming election there is now a clear choice for voters who are concerned about the state of our rivers and the result that farming intensification is having on our environment.
    We should all be concerned at what is happening as we will only get one shot at it before the tipping point arrives, if we are not there already.
Phil de Joux
South Canterbury Salmon Anglers
Association Cbairman