fly fishing on Hokkaido, Japan

[Gary Grossman]

Hi, I’m off to Japan next week and may be able to spend a day or so fishing on Hokkaido.

[Rich Kovars]

These should give you an idea:
http://www.amago.jp.lv/b-streams/flytying/tenkara.html
http://www.amago.jp.lv/b-streams/flytying/tenkara3.html
http://www.amago.jp.lv/b-streams/flytying/tenkara2.html

Be sure to check out the whole site:
http://www.amago.jp.lv/index2.html

There are some interesting maps and wonderful drawings of the native fish.  I stumbled across his site a while back.  Very interesting.  My nephew is a teacher in Hokkaido, so I hope to visit on my next business trip to Japan and wet a line myself.

[yuhina]

Gary,
Hokkaido would be a awesome trip! Are you planning to catch some sea-run taimens?

I know some spey junkies use a lot of tranditional spey flies for Dolly and Salmon.
http://dyun5.exblog.jp/i13/

For Amago and Iwanas, I think the generic little dry or nymph would work well. Especially if you will fish pocket waters in the mountain. Otherwise I will throw big streamers just like these guys did.
http://44tightloop.blog99.fc2.com/
http://tightloop4.hp.infoseek.co.jp/index.html

[Gary Grossman]

Thanks guys, turns out that I’ll only have one day to fish, so probably will hit some streams close to either Sapporo or Hakodate. cheers, g

[Zach Matthews]

Whilst in Sapporo, you will, of course, drink the local beer, and think of us, right?

Zach

[lighthouse]

I hired a guide out of Sapporo this past August.  The link is here: http://www13.plala.or.jp/somerise/.  

We threw #10 Stimulators, #12 EHCs, and some traditional wets on steelhead hooks.  Despite the seemingly-huge flies, the fish lived up to their diminutive reputations–countless 4-7″ yamames, a 10″ iwana, and a couple smallish browns.

That said, the guy’s latest report (9/1) claims that the salmon and sakura masu are entering the rivers in record numbers this year.

Last, keep an eye out for bears.  Folks up there are seriously concerned and warning signs are posted at every river.  Bells and dogs seemed to be standard issue.

Best of luck and don’t forget to hit up a shop to stock up on tying materials.  There are so many cool Japanese hooks, tools, and materials that never make their way over here.

[Abe Mathews]

Whilst in Sapporo, you will, of course, drink the local beer, and think of us, right?

Zach

Mmmm…the big silver can of love.

I’ve always wanted to go to Japan, but until now never thought of fishing over there (duh).

Hope you catch some interesting fish!

[Author]

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