Japan’s 2020 Season for ‘Stream Fishing Kingdom’ Begins

https://i0.wp.com/www.varivas.fishing/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/20200319_1_06.jpg?fit=730%2C548&quality=89&ssl=1 730 548 VARIVAS VARIVAS https://i0.wp.com/www.varivas.fishing/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/20200319_1_06.jpg?fit=730%2C548&quality=89&ssl=1 May 17, 2020 May 9, 2022

May 17, 2020

Japan’s 2020 Season for ‘Stream Fishing Kingdom’ Begins

Field report by Masayoshi Morimoto
March 19th, 2020

I’m Masayoshi Morimoto from Iwate prefecture. The long-awaited 2020 stream fishing season in Iwate opened in March! Living in southern Iwate, I’m most familiar with stream fishing in the mountains. In south central Iwate prefecture, there are plenty of days ahead for standing in mountain streams all around the prefecture. It was a record warm winter in late 2019-early 2020 in Japan, and Iwate was no exception . . . not to mention coastal areas. Even the normally deep, snow- covered inland regions had very little snowfall in December 2019. There is less snow than usual. My concern, however, is focused on both the snowpack level and the amount of water discharged in the streams during the peak run-off. I walked into the valley several times.

Although it varies from river to river, the water temperature is a little higher than the average, I think, and from early on the Yamame trout appear cheerfully.

Yamame = Oncorhynchus masou, or commonly known as Masu Salmon.

During this time of year the big Iwana trout is the best opponent! I’ve encountered 1-footer Iwana fish, including several over 15 inches. Even after so many years, I still get excited when I encounter these large ones in such small streams, unlike in the main fork of the river.

Iwana/Yamato Iwana = Salvelinus leucomaenis japonicus, Trout, Char, Kirikuchi char.

Iwana have such a cute face when they’re small, but the big, mature ones have a tough chiseled look. I love looking at them!

This 45+ cm (17″+) Iwana is my biggest catch of the year so far! I was able to lure this targeted one out from the bottom of the rock. A very satisfying experience in terms of both fishing method and the size of the fish. Normally Iwana violently plunge, diving into rocks or the deep center part of the stream. Still, thanks to the flexibility of VARIVAS Super Trout Advance Bait Finesse Nylon 4 lb. and the strength of Trout Shock Leader Ti-F Fluorocarbon 3 lb., I was able to fish this one out. Notably, the strength of the Trout Shock Leader Ti-F was quite assuring, even after I brought in more than 20 fish and cast 100+ times during this trip, the connection to the snap never broke. It is a leader you can depend on with high confidence.

The mountain stream is beautiful; not only for beautiful fish, but also for the air quality and scenery. I take pleasure in capturing these moments with my camera. I look forward to new encounters as the season progresses.