Japanese huchen (Itou), Trout

Fly fishing for Japanese Hachen “ITOU” in Lake Shumarinai, HOKKAIDOU

I went on a business trip to ASAHIKAWA city, HOKKAIDOU. Speaking of ASAHIKAWA, Lake Shumarinai is famous flyfishing field. Japanese Hachen “ITOU” is living in Lake Shumarinai.
One of my fishing dream is to catch a native Japanese Hachen “ITOU”. Incidentally of work, I went to Lake Shumarinai for fly fishing. Lake Shumarinai is Japan’s largest man-made lake. Very clear water, beautiful scenery,, This is top of lake fishing field in Japan.

13432306_1216861151657278_1011571575967259326_n

Best fishing time is early morning and evening. I started fishing at 4:00 am.

13319773_1216861308323929_4458557087962086532_n

There are many island in Lake Shumarinai. Small island is good spot for Japanese Hachen “ITOU”. But it is narrow space. So fly fisherman must cast by SPAY casting. I have to charter to go to island, 2,500 EN / person.

13423843_1216901121653281_1490716604776676190_n

It is hard to fishing, because I can cast OVER-HEAD CASTING only. OVER-HEAD CASTING is for wide space.

As the result, it is no fish. So I change the method of fishing.

I rent small boat. I started fishing by trolling.

13445733_1216861074990619_3008925714819394864_n

You can see beautiful scenery.

My tackle is as follows.

Type-6 fly line
Dropper(Spoon for lure) 4x 9ft tipet line
Streemer, 5cm, Green & Black

Boat speed is “level 3”.
Good spot for Trolling is Island Nakanoshima and Island Benten.These Island is in front of Boat pier. Staff of Boat pier can speak Japanese only.

13413564_1216861108323949_740571866866493851_n

I can not catch “ITOU”, but I catch 4 Salvelinus Leucomaenis.

It is good fishing and great nature.
If I get a chance to come here, I want to try to fishing of “ITOU”

If you are interested in Lake Shumarinai, please see following web page
http://en.visit-hokkaido2.jp/travelPlanner/details.php?code=6101011000010