20.MAY.2013

A fright from Istanbul to Dhaka was probably the worst fright I have ever flew, was a horrible
night mare. More over this seven days trip was definitely the worst business trip in my life, three
nights at hotel and four nights on airplane, visited four cites, Istanbul, Ankara, Dhaka and the last
destination Singapore. Singapore is not a favorite destination for a fly fisher who think too much
people and artificial to fish. Yes, they are right and probably its better to enjoy exotic food and
atmosphere. As you know, street foods in Singapore are the best in the world. If you have enough
time probably you can hire boat and enjoy saltwater fly fishing, such as Mahi, Barracuda, Queen
fish are waiting for you. When I saw my schedule I found six hours to the next fright at Singapore
and as you know what I do was fishing just like I have fished in Singapore a few years ago, when
I fished at the world famous Sailfish heaven, Kuala Rompin, Malaysia, as Singapore Changi airport
is the gate way to the heaven.



On the other hand over night fright from Dhaka to Singapore was very comfortable, picked up
my baggage, change closes and got ready to fish. The way to the first reservoir I chose taxi as
I wanted to be there before sunrise not to miss biting fish. Before rush hour, its very clear and
easy so I got the first spot exactly when I wanted. Tried small flies as fist with intermediate line,
no bite, too dark to get a bite? Set a floating minnow, dreaming to get a big bite, no, nothing.
A bit later when it started bright fish became aggressive, the action had started, the most exciting
mormnet whenever you fish. They were chasing and biting something, it seemed like some good
fish in a bunch of biting fish, however they would not bit floating minnow. Quickly set small flies
again with intermidiate and imidiatly I got a fisrt bite of the day. but all of sudden it came loose
when I was about to land it. Then next bite, it came off just after the bite. The third and the last
bit, luckily a baby peacock was on well maintained grass shore. I knew I should hook another fish
while they were biting but as it should be while I was taking photos it got quiet and they all gone.



Walked around the resovier for a while, no action, no fish so I dicided to walk to the cannal where
we fished our last trip. The water grasses were pretty nice and looked very productive at first but
soon I found water was muddy because of constraction. I saw a couple Tirapia, but no peacock.
Walked up and down along the cannal, found a couple of lure guys, a pair of common sneakhead
with their fry and a few giant sneakhead imidiaterly swam away before I got ready to cast. Found
a good peacock in weeds, soon down into weed jungle and never up again.



When sun was up, it's really hot as it should be and became very slow. Walked to see the lower
resovioer, but soon I gave up even did not wet fly. Found a station near the risovier, the train was
fairly packed probably becase of beginning of the week and just before office work, but less than
one hour ride I got to the airport.



Data
Singapore reservoirs
Weather: Sunny
Temperature: 27 - 30℃
Fishing: 06:00 - 09:30
Fly: Woolly bugger black #10
Want to know more? Email to me.

15.MAY.2013

Unfortunately, due to my new job assignment, I have to travel where I would not like to, but
as you know I always pack fishing gear within my suits case. I googled what I could fish and
found a hotel near the Sea of Marumara in Istanbul, just five minuets walk to the sea, as I hoped
that I probably could fish after work or early in the morning even one hour or less. According
to websites, in Turcky from sea shore along with the Sea of Marumara, Aegean Sea and Black
sea, we can fish seabass, seabeam, mullet and horse mackerel, so I packed a 6wt rod and a
few fly boxes.



After long thirteen hours fight, got to Istanbul on rainy morning. Luckily weather became fine
and a bit time to walk down to sea after day's work. Along the rocky sea shore park I found
a bunch of anglers who set Sabiki on spinning reel. Surprisingly they all were catching small
horse mackerel, sometimes fish were hooked all ten hooks or more. Sabiki is now a kind of
world famous fishing rig which is very traditional and up dated with new Japanese technology.
Sabiki is very much like a fly and used be made by fish skin and feather of birds but nowadays
it is made by synsetic materials, still and more effective way to fish. I wondered if I should fish
now or early tomorrow morning, as only one hour to dinner meeting.



I quickly backed to hotel, ten minutes later I set up small flies and started to fish. No bite,
even small horse were biting Sabiki and locals were landing their dinner. It seemed like fish
were biting a bit deeper and further than I could fish. Carefully fished no to hook up anyone
walking and watching behind me, tried defferent flies and strip, later on, finally I got a bite
and landed a baby horse.



Data
Sea of Marumara, Istanbul, Turcky
Day ticket: None
Weather: Sunny
Temperature: 24 ℃
Fishing: 18:10 -19:00
Catch: Horse mackerel
Fly: Crazy Charley

12.MAY.2013

As you know, sleeping in a small car was not comfortable at all, especally on a very cold night
even in a sleeping bag, but I had well prepared wearing warm closes so it's not so bad as I
thought. Waked up around five in the morning, already a group of fly fishers were getting ready
to fish at the parking, they looked like creek anglers. I also got ready at the parking and headed
the pool where a lure guy landed yesterday. Luckily no angler, the pool, it seemed like booked
for me. Yesterday I fished from left bank so I tried from right bank today which was much easier
for a right hander. Wind was blowing up to downstream which was very dangerous to me as D
loop would be pushed by wind to behind me and heavy tube fly might hit my head. Tried various
flies, nothing, saw fish up and showed its face twice. There were fish but they simple would not
bite my flies.



Gave up this pool, downed to check other pools, lure guys were here and there. Found a good
pool where no lure guy and tried intermidiate, slow and fast sinking line, still nothing. Using sinking
lines was almost impossible, snag too much to fish. Like salmon, Sakuramasu do not eat anything
once they back to river, however sometimes small fish are found in its stomach and they bite lure
and fly.

Again up the river and tried the first pool for a while, fish must be there, but never up again and
would not bite. Time was up, stop fishing as I had to return a rent car. Two days hard work did
not give me any bite, even I could resist the temptation to fish in a small creek for trout and char.



I knew this was what it should be. I have not had enough time to prepare and study at this trip,
as I suddenly found and decided to fish only a few weeks ago, anyway this trip was the first trial
and last challenge in this season because it closes at end May. I think that I would have enough
time to improve a lot until next season.

Old boys be ambitious! I will be back!!

Data
River Sendaigawa, Tottori
Sendaigawa fishery office: http://www.hal.ne.jp/sendai-n/
Day ticket: JPY3000, Year ticket: JPY5000
Weather: Sunny
Temperature: 9.8 - 28.4 ℃
Wind: ESE 2.2 - NNW 3.8
Fishing: 06:30-14:30
Catch: None
Fly: Various

11.MAY.2013

The Oncorhynchus family, sea run Yamame, Sakuramasu is an anadromous fish which returns
to spawn in mother river. As for sports fishing, Salmon fishing in Japan has no long history,
only developed in a few decades ago, because of commercial fishing right and its protection.
Since Salmon and its raw were very important for fish industry, salmon fishing in the river
had been prohibited. However the situation has been dramatically changed nowadays, as
market price for chum and pink salmon became pretty low. The reason is very simple, consumers
like more fatty and colourful fish meat which is very typical farmed fish meat. We import huge
amount of farmed salmon and trout from Norway, Chile, etc instead of local wild salmon. So
now a lot of rivers open for sports anglers.

Sakuramasu is 桜鱒 （Samura-Masu) in Japanese which means cherry blossom trout. I have
no idea why but all Oncorhynchus spices except chum salmon are called as 鱒, trout. It's an
angler's dream fish, very keen and addicted anglers are waded in cold rivers to fish in March,
April and May which is also cherry blossom season.

When I've moved to Kansai, as usual googled to find what's available to fish and found Sakuramasu
are landed in river Sendaigawa in Tottori. I have fished with friends in this river a few times
in April however they only like to fish in small creeks with dry fly. Sakuramasu fishing on fly is
just like Atlantic salmon or Steelhead, mostly we use a double handed rod from 11-left depending
on river size and fish in wide middle to lower stretch of the river. I decided to rent a car and fish
alone for two days. The fish population is very limited, not easy to catch, some angler have been
fishing over ten years have not landed any, but a friend of mine have already landed two in this
season in other area even he just has started from this season made me very excited, truly and
totally envious to me.



After two and half hours drive I got to the river on rainy morning. I started above the bridge where
checked on internet. Actully the river was smaller than I expected and found my 15ft was too big.
No choice since I left my 13ft at my home in Yokohama. The set up was same as I used to fish
in Atlantic rivers for salmon and seatrout in early season, floating line, 10ft extra fast sinking poly
leader with 2 inch aluminium tube fly. From top to end of the pool, one cast two to three steps
down to cover the pool. The pools were also small, as long as I saw not much productive spots,
as there's not much deeper spot, no big rocks and water flow was slower.

Found a few lure guys where looked productive. Fished up and down the bridge, then next bridge
in the morning, nothing, no luck. Checked a few spots, all spots were occupied. Chatted with
a lure guy, it seemed like water was lower than last year and he said last year was pretty good
as long as he knew over 200 fish were landed. Down the river a bit and I met him again when
I was walking up to the pool below the bridge. He said he landed a grilse in this morning and saw
a fish leaped in this pool. The pool looked very productive as water flow was faster, deep and
rocks where fish could hide. When I reached to the corner of the pool, he squatted down on the
river bank at the end of the pool where I was going to fish later and doing something. I wondered
what he was doing, Yes, he just landed a fish, a silver beauty was in his net. Took photos by his
camera with his big smile and congratulated him. All of sudden same all anglers, I became very
motivated and fished till the dusk at same pool.



As it should be no take, completely nothing, no luck. Relaxed in hot springs I really loved it, then
got into a sleeping bag dreaming to hook up a silver beauty. Hopefully something would happen
tomorrow.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oncorhynchus_masou

Data
River Sendaigawa, Tottori
Sendaigawa fishery office: http://www.hal.ne.jp/sendai-n/
Day ticket: JPY3000, Year ticket: JPY5000
Weather: light rain/ Fair
Temperature: 17.7 - 19.3 - 17.9 ℃
Wind: E 1.1 - SSE 0.6 - NNW 4.6 mps
Fishing: 07:30-18:30
Catch: None
Fly: Various

08.MAY.2013

Backed to Kansai and tried seabass. Got four bites, hooked up none. When I knew they were
biting tiny seaworm, it's too late, as fish were not rising any more.

Data
Uozaki, Kobe, Hyogo
The 1st day of Spring tide
Moon age: 27.7
high tide: 18:34, 129 cm, Low tide: 00:10, 83 cm
Sunrise: 05:02, Sunset: 18:50
Moonrise: 03:45, Moonset: 17:14
Weather: Cloudy
Wind: WNW 2.4 - ENE 3.4 mps
Temperature: 17.9 - 17.0 ℃
Fishing: 20:15 - 22:30
Catch: None
Fly: Various

06.MAY.2013

A bit slow but after enjoying three hours fishing at Ozenji fishing pond, we fished at blue gill
pond a bit. Yes, my best friends were there and biting.

Now I know, she really loves to fish!!

Data
A small pond
Weather: Sunny
Wind: SSW 6.8 mps
Temperature: 23.3 ℃
Fishing: 12:30-13:00
Catch: Bluegill
Fly: Foam beetle #14

05.MAY.2013

After a couple of hours sleep, I again headed to Yamanashi with other friend, the rocky, bushy
small mountain creeks where native Japanese char, Iwana lives. Early morning Traffic up to
interchange was much better than I expected, met up another friend who guided me the day
before at river Kanogawa. One the way to the first spot we bought a day fishing ticket and
lunch at convenience store. Nowadays, convenience stores are pretty convenient as its
named not only we can buy a lot for our daily life, but also withdraw money, send parcel, pay
public utilities charges, etc, etc.

When we got to the first spot, unfortunately the road gate was still closed and we found a
bunch of cars looked like angler's. No worth to follows them, we moved to lower part of the
same creek where we saw no cars.



Started from above the weir where I used to, soon we found a good Iwana was calmly staying
in bottom. It did not move at all, looked like still sleeping. It finally awaked and swam away when
friend poked it by rod tip. Strange, no bite, this area was used to be a very productive. I thought
because of lots of pressure during holidays, but soon I knew it when I found a angler's car where
prohibited to park.

Immediately, I changed our fishing schedule and we headed to next creek, a very small creek
people usually would not like to fish. Soon my friend landed a good Iwana, seemed very positive,
but became slow again even we were hitting up very productive area.



I wondered why, the reason was quite simple, an angler who found our car and fished above us
was walking down with his harvest in a bag. A big disappointment, we skipped where he probably
fished. Up the creek a bit , finally we all could land a few small Iwana.



Until dusk, we hit two more mountain creeks. The first creek produced a good Iwana, none
from the second.



The peak of holiday traffic to Tokyo was terrible, we stuck in it a few hours, only got to home
after midnight.

Data
Tributaries of River Fuefuki, Yamanashi
Day ticket: JPY800
Weather: Sunny
Wind: NW 0.7 - WSW 1.9 - SE 3.6 mps
Temperature: 12.7 - 23.3 - 19.0 ℃
Fishing: 08:30-18:00
Catch: Iwana
Fly: Adams Parachute #16, CDC caddis #16

04.MAY.2013

Next morning, we picked up today's my guests near my house in Yokoahma and headed Oshino
fishery since its opening day. For far, since I have started my weblog, I fished together with
my blog readers who were all experienced keen fly fishing gentlemen. Today was a kind of
most unusual and favourable occasions, because my guests were two beautiful young ladies
who were totally beginners. They like fishing, mostly fished from boat on the ocean. Last year
I took them to fish at Ozenji fishery, but it's just a few hours fishing. So actually today was the
first opportunity for them to fish at natural river, to be honest it's too artificial to call it as
a natural river, also more than 95% of fish were farmed and newly released fish in Oshino fishery.

I believe they were pretty lucky, because a real expert fly fisher who's a FFF casting instructor
and a Oshino pro kindly guided them to fish today. Stopped fly shop "Rivers Edge" to buy our
day tickets and flies for guests. The owner selected a couple of killer flies which usually work
well at Oshino and we parked at the top section of the fishery. Equipped with killer fly and guided
by a super expert, they were not beginners any more, immediately they landed a few fish at
the top stretch of the fishery.



And tried to hook up more and more fish, great to see their beatifull smiles.



As usual, midge pupa worked well, probably they mostly eat midge as they constantly rising.
Luckily I could fool a couple of rising fish in the morning.

Backed to fly shop for lunch, as always I ordered my favorite roast beef sandwich and a cup
of coffee. It seemed like our guests were happy on a small creek in the forest. After lunch
we walked down the creek to find a spot to fish, sadly most of deep pools which were very
productive had been covered by sand because of last year's typhoon and town development.
A few good spots were already occupied so we walked up again. Evening was a bit slow, but it's
a nice sunny day fishing.



The traffic way back to Yokohama was hell, because of Golden week holiday,
we only got to home before midnight.

Ladies, wanna be my guest again? Email to me! hahaha.

Data
Oshino Fishery, Yamanashi
Day ticket: JPY 800
Weather: Sunny
Temperature: 10.7 - 15.1 - 10.7 ℃
Wind: NW 0.6 - SE 3.7 - 1.7 mps
Fishing: 09:00 - 18:30
Catch: Rainbow, Yamame, Iwana, rainbow
Fly: Hairs Ear nymph #14, Midge pupa #22, #24

03.MAY.2013

The second half of Golden Week holiday I backed to Yokohama. Emailed to friends and as
we planned we fished on river Kanogawa tributaries in Shizuoka. This trip was already my
sixth fishing trip to river Kanogawa. I should buy a year fishing permit, even I have moved
to Kansai, because it's 6,000 yen and a day permit is 1,100 yen. Anyway, it's too late now.

In early May, there's not much hatch on the main river and middle stretch of tributaries where
we usually fish early season, March and April. So we fished up a bit to mountain side where
hungry fish were awaiting. When we got to the first spot, unfortunately or as it should be because
of Golden week holiday we found two anglers cars at the parking. Fishing after someone on
these kind of small creeks doesn't make any sense, all we have and can to do is move and
find somewhere no one is fishing. After a bit discussion we decided to fish on lower stretch of
same creek hopefully no one fished this morning. Fishing on these small creeks in May, I love
it pretty much is so beautiful, fresh air, fresh green leaves, gin clear water and wild flowers.
I missed a few bites, could not land any in this creek.



Moved to another creek which was much open and we had a great day before. Mountain wind
from upstream annoyed me, I could not place dry fly where I wanted, moreover the strong wind
blew up line, leader and fly. Only once fish was up and bit my Adams parachute, again I missed
it. Probably too much fishing pressure, fish would not come out from their nest.

After lunch, we tried a dark and deep mountain creek, the first fish of the day was a small and
pretty baby bravely and hungrily bit size 16 Adams. Then I landed a bit bigger fish which was
still winter dark colour on. This made us quite happy because no farmed had been released in
this creek and they could survive from anglers who took every fish back home even if is' a tiny
fish.



The last creek was where we usually fished at evening, I set up wet fly and walked down till
where I like, soon I found a fish rise and it's on exactly where I saw the rise. A silver beauty
leaped at the end of line, I carefully tightened lines but a few seconds all of sudden later it's
off. More fish were rising, a lot of mayfly and stonefly were hatching and flying over the creek.
It seemed like fish became excited, more rise. I tied a extend body mayfly pattern, missed a
few bits. Something was wrong. Again I tied wet fly, got two more bites. I thought both were
firmly hooked however became loose before landing.



Data
The tributaries of River Kano, Shizuoka
Weather: Sunny
Day ticket ￥1100
Temperature: 16.1 - 20.3 - 18.3 ℃
Wind: ESE 2.2 - W 4.0 mps - SW 3.3 (Mishima)
Fishing: 09:00 - 18:30
Catch: Three baby Amago
Fly: Adams parashute #16

01.MAY.2013

Saltwater fly fishing near my house has not been good at all since I have moved. Have been
trying to catch rockfish and seabass more than ten days up to near Akashi, over 30km away
which is the limit on a small scooter after day's work, produced only a tiny rockfish. Tonight
I tried seabass again at Uozaki, the closest spot from my house as I heard my friend landed
a couple of small seabass yesterday. When I got to the spot a lure guy was just landing a baby
seabass and said no seaworm but fish were in the canal. My friend was already there, just
started to fish, said the same and yesterday was much better. Saw a few seaworm and fish
rise, nothing, no bite, no contact. We gave up there, moved to the bridge where usually fish
were biting tiny white fish under the light. As he said it's pretty difficult, I saw some good fish
in water. Some of them showed their interest on fly and followed it, but immediately lost their
interest and swam down. Tried whatever I have tonight, finally I found a small fluorescent yellow
zonker worked well. Only small fish I could land but was pretty happy.



Data
Uozaki, Kobe, Hyogo
The 2nd day of Neap tide
Moon age: 20.7
high tide: 02:09 126 cm, Low tide: 17:13 25 cm
Sunrise: 05:09, Sunset: 18:44
Moonrise: ****, Moonset: 10:06
Weather: Cloudy
Wind: NNE 2.4 - N 4.1 mps
Temperature: 10.5 - 10.1 ℃
Fishing: 20:15 - 22:30
Catch: Two
Fly: Fluorescent Yellow zonker 2cm

29.APR.2013

While I was away, my friend and his friends had a great time. Each three of them landed a couple
of fish. He said it's a best day ever and it made me very envious. Weather was ok and when I got
to the pond I heard a typical biting sound of snakehead. It's a positive sign, I found some fish were
swimming around and calmly staying in bushy water. It looked much better than last week, as fish
showed interest in popper and followed it a bit. However they never bit it as probably guys teased
them too much a few days ago. Tried to find aggressive fish, unfortunately there's no aggressive
fish at all. It's very slow day.

Moved to the other pond near by. A biting sound in bush, yes, fish came out from bush and start
chasing my popper. The breathtaking moment, I murmured, bite it, bite it. Bang! Finally fish bit it.
After taking photos, I found more fish, but it's enough for today.



Data
Small ponds, Miki, Hyogo
Weather: Fair
Wind: NNE 0.9 - S 3.7 mps
Temperature: 13.2 - 19.3 ℃
Fishing: 08:00 - 10:30
Catch: One
Fly: Zonker tail Popper

28.APR.2013

A fright from Baku to Istanbul was terrible, I was on the middle of three seats and surrounded
big Turkish guys even I requested aisles seat when I checked in, however it's a very comfortable
fright back home from Istanbul, even in economy class as four seats were available. It's a super
economy.

My new friend kindly came to pick me up and we headed again to river Sendaigawa in Tottori.
End of April and beginning of May is holiday season in Japan, we call it golden week. Earlier
than last weekend, he said four-thirty. I though it's because of traffic, but the way to the river
was very smooth. Met up familiar faces from Osaka at convenience store, chatted for a while
where to fish today. At first, we tried new spot, no fish rise and I set wet flies as usual. Even no
hatch and early morning, farmed small Yamame and Amago were aggressively biting and I landed
a couple of them.



Moved to the spot in front of park where we fished last week. When we got to the spot, a bait
guy was landing a good fish and a guy we did not know at the parking came to us then said you
were late. There's always these kind of people at famous fishing spot, big mouth, superior attitude,
etc, I really hate. I usually ignore these people which is the best way I believe. Walked down to
the river, various insects were hatching, fish probably up soon.



As I expected, soon I found three rising fish in a pool. The first target was the one rising at
pool end. Tied CDC caddis #16, yes, it's up and bit it at the first drift a typical farmed Amago,
as you could see it on its tail. Called my buddy and he soon landed a fish rising at very difficult
slack water across the rapid water. I tried the last one but missed its bite and its never up again.



Moved up and down by car, then found a beautiful pool and luckily a couple of fish were rising.
Very flat water, water runs out right and left because of weir and rocks. Missed a few nice
fish and its bites, the last one was on, a nice framed Yamame.



Tried a small tributaries which used to very productive. It's a very rocky creek covered
by trees above a dam, a lot of weir which looked mean less and waste of tax. At the beginning,
it's very slow, but above a couple of weirs Iwana started biting.



In the evening, we backed again to the park only a fly guy was at lower pool. I walked down
to the pool where I landed a good Yamame in the afternoon. Bingo, a lot of insects and actions
in water. Sneaked to the pool not to scare any fish, cast carefully and drift fly on its feeding
lane. As if I was watching a fishing video, a triangle shaped nose was up and fly was slowly
disappeared in water.



Stopped over at my favorite noodle shop and filled up our hungry stomach with very oily and
fatty noodle, steamed rice and Gyoza.



Data
Tributaries of River Sendaigawa, Tottori
Sendaigawa fishery office: http://www.hal.ne.jp/sendai-n/
Day ticket: JPY3000, Year ticket: JPY5000
Weather: Fair
Temperature: 7.4 - 19.1 - 16.6 ℃
Wind: N 0.8 - WNW 4.0 - 3.1 mps
Fishing: 08:30-18:30
Catch: Amago (2) and Yamame (5), Iwana (2)
Fly: Wet fly #10, CDC dun #14, CDC floating nymph #14, Adams Parachute #16

26.APR.2013

After dinner with local guys, backed to hotel and checked internet if there was any pond in Baku.
Found two ponds which were approximately one hour walk, checked on Google satellite and chose
a pond called Qanli gol as it looked very bush which would be good for perch and much better than
the other pond. It's just about one hour walk but not easy to find way down to the pond because
its west side was surrounded thumb and cliff. Saw two angler, there must be some fish Walked
for a while, finally found a way down to the water edge through houses. It's a very bushy pond and
water was skinny.



Clear, fine morning, set a small olive woolly bugger which used to be very effective for small perch
when I fished small ponds in Moscow. Saw a few small fish looked like scud, but no bite. Checked
and tried around for a while, no luck. That's all for my first trip to Baku, Azerbaijan, I need more
info until next visit to hook up a first fish.



Data
Qanli gol, Baku, Azerbaijan
Weather: Fair
Temperature: 20 - 22 ℃
Fishing: 07:30-83:00
Catch: None
Fly: Various

25.APR.2013

The long over night thirteen hours fright to Istanbul, Turkey, three hours waiting for next
fright to the final destination Baku, Azerbaijan, the far west end of the Asia. This is my first
ever visit to former Soviet union, oil rich CIS country. As usual, whenever and wherever I
go I have checked internet if I can fish around and found my hotel is near the Caspian sea.
According to fish fact, the commercial fishing in the Caspian sea used to very important for
countries around, however over fishing and pollution, especially oil industry and economic
development have caused big decline of fish populations. Black Caviar from Beluga is the
most important for fish industry in Azerbaijan. As for fly fisher, I have interested in Perch,
Pike, Zander and endangered Caspian salmon and packed my six weight Orvis frequent flyer
rod in my luggage if I could fish early morning and hook up a baby perch.



The first day and next morning were stormy weather, lighting and thunder storm, no chance
to even see the sea. In the afternoon, when the weather improved, luckily I could have a bit
time to walk and see the sea. Just about fifteen minutes walk to the Caspian sea from the
hotel and found a bunch of small mullet in oily water along the shore park in Baku. As I did
not see any angler so I asked local co-workers if I can fish there, they did not have right info
but said better not in the park because of police, a big disappointment.

However, I thought very early in the morning there should be no police and I could sneak up
the park to fish a bit so I waked up at six and walked to the park while it's dark. When I got
to the park, surprisingly there were so many local people walking and jogging along the well
maintenance shore walkway.



The big disappointment, the Caspian sea looked dead, because of oil, probably wind direction.
I saw oil yesterday but the water was fully covered by oil and mullets which I saw had gone
away. Walked along the shore for a whole then I backed to the hotel even did not wet fly.



Anyway, I have to be here again and again, so have to find a place to fish.

Data
The Caspian Sea, Baku, Azerbaijan

20.APR.2013

As it should be it's always very exciting to fish in a new river, especially with a new friend.
Before and after I have moved to Kansai, we have been chatting with him over emails. Since
then three weeks had passed and finally today we got a chance to fish together. He kindly
came and picked me up at my house early Saturday morning, then we headed to river Sendai
-gawa in Tottori prefecture. After two hours drive, when we crossed a mountain pass, the
road sign said zero degree centigrade which was pretty cold but a bit warmer than last weekend
in Yoshino, Nara.



The first spot we chose was a upper stretch of a small dam, so we up again along a tributary.
Surprise, a lot of snow still left in late April and blocked us to go further up the mountain road.
My friend said usually more snow and impossible to fish in April, he only come from mid May,
but since warm winter and less snow he thought it's probably good to try even in late April.



The river was so beautiful, gin clear crystal water, pools, rocks, trees and looked very productive,
if fish were not taken away. Water temperature was six, probably too cold to fish on dry fly.
Tiny fish were up two times but would not bite. Up and up, nothing, only a tiny Amago was landed.
water was four now, so we decided to fish lower stretch as it must be a bit warmer and fish must
be more active.



Yes, in the lower stretch fish were more active because small mayfly started hutching, however
fish were too small and quick to hook up. Missed a better one and I landed only another tiny
Amago. Started raining, a lot of bait anglers up and down the river, so we decided move a bit
to other tributary where my friend heard from local that fish used to rise.

The river was much bigger, so I set up wet flies and down the river. There's two big pools looked
very productive, yes, found a fish rise and I wondered if I should change to dry fly. Since raining,
I cast wet. After missing a few bite, finally a farm raised Yamame was on and a few more.



I found a fly guy at the lower pool who was trying to fool rising fish. At this pool a couple of fish
were rising, probably this was the pool which my friend heard. Later the guy in rising pool backed
to parking as it became so cold and raining harder. When I got to the pool only two fish were
rising but not frequently as it was before. Fish were much clever than me, too smart to fool. A
few times fish up and looked like bite my fly however they probably found something wrong and
stopped to bite right before the bite. Cold and wet, no more rising fish, yes, it's time to go home.



Data
Tributaries of River Sendaigawa, Tottori
Sendaigawa fishery office: http://www.hal.ne.jp/sendai-n/
Day ticket: JPY3000, Year ticket: JPY5000
Weather: Cloudy / Rain
Temperature: 5.7 - 10.0 - 5.3 ℃
Wind: NNE 0.8 - NNW 3.2 - WNW 1.6 mps
Fishing: 09:30-18:00
Catch: Amago (2) and Yamame (5)
Fly: Adams Parachute #16, Wet fly #10