01.MAY.2012-1

£Á£æ£ô£å£ò nearly 20 hours fright, transit and buss from Glasgow I finally got back to home just before
the noon. A few hours later I was already on my way to fish on the pond for bluegill. Yes, they were
very aggressive to chase any fly. I love them pretty much and really enjoyed it.

Data
A small pond
Weather: Fair
Temperature: 22.2 - 23.0 ¡î
Wind: E 2.0 - SE 4.5 mps
Fishing: 13:15 - 14:£³£°
Catch: Many
Fly: Foam Beetle fly, Brown, Green
Want to know more? Email to me

29.APR.2012

My last day in Scotland was Sunday, no salmon fishing on Sunday in Scotland. Not only salmon
fishing but also trout fishing in all rivers in Scotland is not allowed as people go to church, haha.
Anyway what only we can do is fish on the loch which means small pond or lake in Scotland.
Wondered where to go and decided to go to Loch Morlich as there's trout and pike, also I had to
back to Glasgow to take early fright next morning.



Less than 30 minutes drive from lodge we got to the loch in the National park. No engine boat was
available, only we could hire a row boat was 40 GBP a day as it's located in National park. Day fishing
ticket was only 4.5 GBP per rod, actually some loch in Scotland is free. We paid to a beautiful young
lady at water sports office, then set up and started rowing on the loch.



Beautiful place and wonderful view at this national park, the loch was surrounded green forest,
white mountains blue skies and cool fresh air. I set pike fly on my eight and trout wet files on my
four, while my friend set pike fly on his 15 footer salmon rod. Along the sallow water, we started
harling which is very effective in stillwater, as also we had to find where fish were. One hour, two,
three hours had passed but only we hooked rocks, twigs in the loch a couple of times, even we had
not seen any kind of fish at all.



Cast and strip in the shallow, rocky and bush area where it looked like good for trout and pike but
even insects started hatching we had not seen any fish rise. The loch became busier with canoes,
sail boats and hikers, as they were enjoying sunny Sunday afternoon however no angler. It seemed
like my choice was not right but it's too late to go other loch.

Data
Loch Morlich
Water Sports: http://www.lochmorlich.com/
Day ticket: 4.5 GBP
Weather: Fair/Passing cloud
Temperature: 0 - 12 - 9 ¡î
Fishing: 10:00 - 15:30
Catch: None
Fly: Various
Want to know more? Email to me.



Well, that's all about my trip.

28.APR.2012

I used to fish in Sweden on River Morrum, one of the most famous salmon and seatrout river in
north Europe, after and before my trip to Europe in spring, and also my Swedish friend offered me
to fish with him a few month ago, although I headed to Scotland as it's probably my chance to travel
to Europe and wanted to fish there someday. Another reason was my Japanese friend who was
going to fish on River Spey for a week and thanks for strong Japanese yen, as it cost nearly a half
compared to a few years ago.



Finally it's a sunny and bright day, clear and blue skies. River water got lower and must be great
chance. After the full Scottish breakfast and tea we headed to the river. As recommended at
Mortimer's fly shop I started from pool 15, called Poll a Crachan, at association water. All pools
are numbered and named in association water where all visitors can fish even one day. The day
ticket costs 50 GBP is very reasonable for salmon fishing in Europe, all tackles are available, but
it automatically means very difficult to catch if you are not in prime time. Of course, if you are
lucky or skilled angler you can land a beautiful silver springer.



Just after 9 am, I got to the parking on the river bank. A car was parked, spinning guy, but shortly
he drove away after my arrival. It's very strange for me, no one around on the river on a fine Saturday
morning. Anyway I set up my 15 footer with floating line, fast sinking poly leader, fluorocarbon
tippet and 1.5 inch brass tube fly as usual in Spring. Water was still high, probably 2-3 feet higher
but colour was ok. The river was, as if, reserved only for me, no one came for a while.



Around 10 am, people started to coming on the river, mostly spring and a bit bait guys. Even on the
world famous Spey river, I had not seen any other fly fisher. In Scotland spring is most popular at
any association water, as long as I know. Maybe exclusive fly fishers fish on the expensive private
beat.



After every cast and drift I stepped down a few steps, just like on salmon fishing text book. I felt a
couple of touch from rocks in the river but no real takes. When I got to near the new bridge and
fly was almost ending it's turn at a few meter from bank where most take came, I got a slight touch
and it's fish. I waited a second how fish was going to react, no big run came, because it's a small
and pretty brownie, hahaha.



I backed to hotel for lunch and had a bit break. In the afternoon when water got a bit lower the river
became busier with locals and I heard yesterday at cold and flooding condition someone landed 7-8
ponder on silver spoon.



As you know I live in Far East and not many chance to fish for Atlantic salmon only a few days a year,
my spey casting is still far from good, especially when windy.



Trout became very active and many rise near the river bank because insects started hatching, small
mayflies, caddis, stoneflies, various hatch. It's very attractive for me and I was seriously about to
back my car, set up my trout rod, but not to do so to concentrate for salmon fishing today. I fished
all the way down to old bridge from left bank the border where we can fish with day ticket. With day
ticket we can fish up until midnight, but it's enough for me.



It's the end of my day on the River Spey.



Data
River Spey association water on Grantown-on-Spey
Lodge: http://www.seafieldlodge.co.uk/
Shop: http://www.mortimersofspeyside.co.uk/
Association: http://www.speyfishing-grantown.co.uk/
Day ticket: 50 GBP
Weather: Fair
Temperature: 0 - 14 - 6 ¡î
Fishing: 09:00 - 18:00
Catch: None
Fly: Tube flies
Want to know more? Email to me.

27.APR.2012

It's just an hour and 20 mins fright from Amsterdam to Glasgow, Scotland, for me just like
travelling to fish in Hokkaido in Japan from my home. The fright and passport control were
unbelievably smooth, even arrived at Thursday evening in the busiest airport in Scotland,
yap, It's Scotland not England. I used to travelled to Scotland a few times a year nearly 20
years, sometimes stayed nearly a month, but strangely never visited to Glasgow.



M8 interchange near Airport way to Edinburgh was closed and it's extra work to find right way
to go. Where I was heading today was the holy river for salmon fly fishermen, I mean Atlantic
salmon, and speycasters in the world, the River Spey. Scotish people say "fishing" it automatically
means salmon fishing, dose not matter, fly, lure or bait. I have crossed over this river a couple
of times to fish on the tributaries of Loch Ness, as it's always in January or February while Spey
is always closed. It's about three hours drive to the Grantown-on-Spey along the other world
famous river Tay and through the Scottish highlands where's almost no trees, moss, grass and
livestock. I crossed the highland then was driving down along the river Spey, as load sigh said
weather was miserable, cold, rain and wind, even some part of the road was flooding. A bit more
drive I got to the lodge and went to bed worrying about water level and colour.



Next morning, while I was having breakfast in the lodge started snowing. The river was flooding,
coloured, no chance to fish and I simply gave up to fish on the river and went to small loch. It's
so difficult to find it even I have tomtom, as the Morttmars, the fly shop told me wrong direction.



Finally I found flooding loch to fish. It's so cold 0 degrees now, I put almost everything I have but
freezing cold. No idea where to start, walked along the loch and found a clam small bay and I
started to fish. My set-up was wet flies, it used to work very well in Shetland Island a long ago
and kind a my favourite.



Shortly I got a bite and it's a small loch brownie I love very much. Occasional fish rise around,
but none would touch or take my flies. Wind was blowing harder then fish gone away. Walked
and Tired around for a few hours but since then no luck, it's too cold to fish.



So I backed to the lodge and warmed up with hot shower.



My friend got to the lodge later, we sticked and chatted in the bar for a while. I had a fish and
chips, my favourite the beer buttered Atlantic haddock, then went to sleep dreaming to hook a
silver Springer on Spey.



Data
Small loch near Grantown-on-Spey
Lodge: http://www.seafieldlodge.co.uk/
Shop: http://www.mortimersofspeyside.co.uk/
Weather: Cloudy/Rain/Snow
Temperature: 0 - 2 ¡î
Wind: NNE 22 - NNE 13 km/h
Fishing: 10:30 - 14:00
Catch: One
Fly: Black hackle and Slver body, red tail #10
Want to know more? Email to me.

26.APR.2012

The last day and chance to fish in this blackish lake, I waked up early and hurried to the spot.
Same as yesterday, the wind blew from south-west and I started to fish from shore in the
darkness, as easy to cast and local guys were still in bed. Floating stickleback and mudder on,
it's a sudden attach on the fast drift. Straight to the backing line as usual, reel was screaming,
fish was running and would not stop in the dark, but a few minutes later it's gone, just hooked
off...



Windy and cold, I tried to fool but they were clever than I. It's time to go to the next destination.

Data
The Oostvoorne meer, near the Europort, the Netherlands
Weather: Partly sunny/Light rain
Temperature: 11 ¡î (Rotterdam)
Wind: S 32 - 26 km/h
Fishing: Morning
Catch: None
Fly: Floating Stickleback and muddler minnow
Want to know more? Email to me.

25.APR.2012

No chance to fish in this morning, as I got a thing to do. Very strong south wind was blowing
made lake very wavy. Many local guys waded in the lake where I wanted. So I walked on the
rocks and fished at same potion in last two days. As you can imagine it's not easy to cast with
heavy flies and long leader with #4 rod. Even I could make a nice cast, strong wind and wave
push my fly and line to rocks.

Strike, yes, strong pull, then suddenly I felt nothing. It bit mudder minnow and broken tippet...
No idea why, maybe hit rocks when I cast? I've been fly fishing over 30 yeas but still do the
same as bigners do. You know I am an armature fly fisher.



Nothing, got dark, time to go.

Data
The Oostvoorne meer, near the Europort, the Netherlands
Weather: Partly sunny/Light rain
Temperature: 11 ¡î (Rotterdam)
Wind: SSE 33 - 28 km/h
Fishing: Evening
Catch: None
Fly: Floating Stickleback and muddler minnow
Want to know more? Email to me.

24.APR.2012

Next morning, I was overslept and late a bit. But luckily I could land another beauty on the
third cast, same on floating stickleback minnow. probably I was right place at right time. No
more action, that's all in this morning.



At evening when I got to the spot my friend was already there. This evening wind direction was
upside down, blowing from shore to lake. So I decided to fish from shore side. That was just
incredible the first bite at first cast. playing with more than 50cm rainbow, steelhead like, with
#4 rod was great fan.



Fished around but nothing at all, since then. Then my friend hooked a real rainbow bullet, 65cm
or more? After the landing and taking photos, he immediately backed home. I tried a bit more
but nothing happened.



Data
The Oostvoorne meer, near the Europort, the Netherlands
Weather: Mostly cloudy/Light rain
Temperature: AM: 8 ¡î, PM: 9 - 8 ¡î (Rotterdam)
Wind: AM: SE 7 - N 7 km/h, PM: W 17 - 9 km/h
Fishing: Morning and evening
Catch: Two
Fly: Floating Stickleback and muddler minnow
Want to know more? Email to me.

23.APR.2012

As it's always from and to London Heathrow, my fright was delayed again. Now Olympic game
is just a few month to go and world visitors will come to London, but nothing is improved or
even getting worth. I wonder how do they manage, however it's none of my business. A bit
late but we were there at Oostvoorne meer in the Netherlands, one of the best and most
famous fly fishing lake for rainbow in the world. People call with respect it the rainbow bullet
as it runs nearly 100 meters when hooked, like jet run bonefish.



My friend took me to the spot, a bit walk from parking but is recently very productive. I set
floating muddler and stickleback minnow, awaiting for the action. A few rises in front of me
and it looked like bite my fly, but not even a slight touch. Then a sudden attach, it's a fantastic
moment, hearing a scream from my reel while fish was running and jumping around. Gotcha
the rainbow bullet.

It seemed like fish loved stickleback. I was very lucky today, as landed another one when it
got really dark.



Data
The Oostvoorne meer, near the Europort, the Netherlands
Weather: Mostly cloudy/Light rain
Temperature: 11 - 9 ¡î (Rotterdam)
Wind: SE 20 - 13 km/h
Fishing: Evening
Catch: Two
Fly: Floating Stickleback minnow
Want to know more? Email to me.

22.APR.2012

The predator hunting today at Chew Valley lake which is the most famous pike reservoir in
Bristol, England. Many avid predator hunters all over the Europe often fish in this reservoir
to break their own record using huge flies such as 15-20cm long or more. Over 35lbs pike
are not uncommon here in this reservoir. Not only big pike but also big rainbow and brownie
are landed every year and boat fishing is very popular as it's easy to access all over the reservoir.
Usually pike fishing in most European countries in April is closed until June for spawning but
this reservoir is open.



About 2 hours drive from London, we got to the Chew and had traditional beak fast and tea
at Woodford Lodge where we can buy a day ticket. A bit windy day, I was so exited to catch
my first pike on fly in England.



Got ready to fish, left the jetty and we headed to nature reserve area as my friend used to
fish here quite often and knew all over this beatifull reservoir.



As my friend recommendation we started near buoys where used to be very productive. At the
first drift, I got a first firm bite and was very lucky to be able to land a first fish. Not a big fish
but so happy, it really did not matter for me if it's big or not. It's got more windy, I set 9 class
type 2 shinking shooting head on 8 rod but not easy to cast against wind.



Shortly later I missed second bite. Boat moved so quick and we decided to use anchor to keep
our good position. This was very good idea, fish started chasing our fly but won't bite and moved
away when it came close to the boat. So I used same technique when I fish in sea for Mahi and
seabass, mostly fish eaters. twitch and turn the fly when it came very close to boat. Bingo, I
hooked three fish just a few meters from boat in this way, as sudden movement made them bite.



I set a popper, just to see if fish like. No, it did not work probably too wavy, cold or fish stayed
in deep ? As popper did not work, I set type ­·to sink much faster and try to lure pike from much
deeper area. Yes, that's right, beautiful fish bit my flies which also worked very well for rockfish
in Hokkaido last October.



For the last try, we moved to the lnlet, called Villice bay, was so good as I got a bite at the
first cast and another one later on. My friend landed a best fish of the day. It's getting more
and more windy and cold. Yes, it's time to go now.



Thanks a lot! Hopefully see soon guys! Anyway the end of my UK weekend and next destination
is the Netherlands.



http://youtu.be/KJYQbE8VcjU

Data
The Chew Reservoir in Bristol, UK
http://www.bristolwater.co.uk/leisure/chewIndex.asp
Weather: Partially sunny/Rain
Day ticket : 35 GBP (Including boat)
Fishing: 09:00 - 18:30
Catch: Eight
Fly: Saddle hackle pike fly 15-20cm
Want to know more? Email to me

21.APR.2012

I have got something to do in Europe, went to London to fish and meet to friends just for
weekends. The fright to London from Amsterdam was delayed over one hour because of
weather, moreover the passport control was horrible and unbelievably took over one hour
to clear which is worse than the famous Sheremetyevo airport in Moscow. My friend was
so kind came to pick me up at airport.



Next morning, we, four of us headed to the river Coln for brownies and grayling which is
a small but kind a typical chalk stream where I fished a couple of times in a few years. The
river water was clear but pretty low and cold, according to the weather forecast it would
be rain and in the afternoon.



Got a day ticket at Bull hotel right next to the river and friends offered me to fish down the
bridge where is one of the best spot in this river. Last year I enjoyed rise fishing of grayling
on dry fly at this spot however this morning was very slow, no rise, no bite. So I tied wet
flies then moved down the river. Soon I got a first bite was a small brownie and more. No
rise at all but fish was very active in the water. Wet flies deadly work here as usual. I moved
down and found nice pool and rise, getting busier to try to fool them. Luckily I could fool a
couple of fish spinner and cdc dun size 18-20 worked well.



Lunch break with cold beer and friends at river side hotel, the happiest time for me, as if it
was awaiting for our beer order, got dark, started raining and hailing. We were very lucky,
when we finished our beer and lunch, skies partially became blue and fishable.



Pool by pool, insects started hatching, mostly small beatis and fish became active, so I was
getting busy. Mostly small fish but I really enjoy rise fishing for a while.



Dear my friends, thank you so much it was a very nice day in English countryside.




Data
River Coln at The Bull hotel in UK
http://www.thebullhotelfairford.co.uk/fishing.php
Weather: Partially sunny/Rain/Hail
Day ticket : 35 GBP
Fishing: 09:00 - 18:30
Catch: Many
Fly: Various
Want to know more? Email to me

18.APR.2012

A short trip to Kobe gave me a chance to fish with my friend. We wondered what and where
to fish for a few days and decided to fish on small ponds for snakehead. Snakehead, the warm
water predator is considered a sort of summer fish with a lot of weeds and grasses in water,
consumes fish, flog, insect whatever lives in water and waterfront. It's a very popular game
fish and some very keen predator hunters chase this fish all over Japan.

Since we have never tried to fish for snakehead in May, were a bit worry about if we can find
any snakehead in ponds where we have fished. Normally, during the season, it's easy to find it
as we can hear their sucking sound and sometimes see the movement in the weeds, also this
fish has to rise up to the surface to breath.



Anyway, we got the first pond quite early in the morning, before sunrise as last year it's very
productive. Sun's up, no fish in the first pond was found so we moved to the second pond.
There's so many small ponds around this area for agricultural use but only a few of them contain
this predator. We were walking along the pond to see any fish or movement, then I found a fish
stayed in withered bush just 20-30cm from bank, in very difficult spot to deliver a fly. During the
high season, when you find a fish it's not so difficult to, fool if fish are active. It's breathtaking
moment and I was so exited. I tied a bead head marabou tail and hung it with only tippet length
from the rod tip to deliver it just in front of fish mouth. Slowly and quietly like hunter I inched
to the fish and delivered my fly then started to shaking it. Fish made a bit move and it looked
like fish bit it, as fly disappeared from my sight. Hookset, sharp and big sweep but I without any
feeling fly just flew over my head. Fish was till there and I tied again, then fish slowly moved
away as if it annoyed him. Found the other one later, it sticked it's head in bush and would not
move at all.



We moved back to the first pond again, shotrly my fried hooked a first snakehead of the season,
good job. Then more and more fish were our sight in shallow water, I never seen but none had
any interest in any fly at all, just like sleeping in sallow pond bed in sunny and warm spring day.
When fly came and annoyed him, simply they slowly move away. Some fish I tried to push it by
rod tip but still stayed in same postion, even if I tried to lift a bit. I even tried to fool small bass
or bluegill but,,, strange enough. Anyway it's a skunk day. Hopefully, it will be better in by June.

Data
River Fuefuki and tributaries, Yamanashi
Weather: Fair
Day ticket : Free
Temperature: 6.7 - 17.7 ¡î
Wind: NNE 1.2 - N 1.3 mps
Fishing: 05:00 - 11:15
Catch: None
Fly: Various
Want to know more? Email to me

15.APR.2012

It's always very exciting for me to fish on the different river, especially if it's first time of
the season. I've a couple of favourite rivers within 2-3 hours drive from my home, Yokohama
which is maximum distance for a day trip for me. Every year I fish each of them a few times,
during the season. With my English friend, we headed to river Fuefuki in Yamanashi for Amago,
my favourite and the most beautiful fish in Japanese river on Sunday morning.

Way up t o Katsunuma in Yamanashi, that is so called the fruits town surrounded by mountains
which means many tributaries around, was good. Katsunuma is also very famous as wine town,
as grapes are the most important harvest, has many small to big wineries. All over The Kofu
Basin in late March to early May, you can see beautiful cherry and peach blossoms, no doubt
it's worth to visit.



We stopped at continence store for fishing ticket which is only 800JPY a day and checked
a couple of spots. Some of them were already occupied, probably bait anglers as they usually
start fishing quite early. No car at one of my favourite spot, we rigged up and walked down a bit.
A fine Sunday morning on the river side, birds sing, water run and fresh air, it's a wonderful
world.



No fish, no bite, it's strange. I fished for a while but nothing. Then we understand why there's
bait anglers up on the river. But why? We did not see any car around. Anyway we moved a bit up
and started again. Yes, shortly later, the first bite, I missed it. Even though I missed a few more
bites, but luckily I could land a few Amago, as usual size 16 Adams and brown parachute worked
very well.



The we moved to many river and had lunch where is beautiful cherry blossoms and unknown
small flower on the river bank. The water was a bit coloured, small and large pools looked
very nice and productive. We fished there for about one hour however no luck.



About half past two, we started checking around and found it's very busy today, as yesterday
was miserable weather and they might stay home for today. I again missed first bite, broken
tippet, as there's wind knots and I wondered if I should change it... Beatis, Caddis and Mayfly
were here and there, no fish rise but fish was very active.



In the evening, we expected evening hatch and rise in big pools but it's very quite, only a bite
under a big rock, off course it was a Iwana: Japanese common char.



Luckily at the very end of the day, I could land this silver beauty.



Way home was horrible, more than I imagined. Radio said 30km traffic jams, 2 hours to clear
meat 3.5 hours or more to home...

Data
River Fuefuki and tributaries, Yamanashi
Weather: Fair
Day ticket : 800JPY
Temperature: 10.3 - 18.4 - 13.3 ¡î
Wind: WSW 1.3 - SE 5.9 mps - SW 5.0
Fishing: 09:00 - 18:00
Catch: Six Amago and Three Iwana
Fly: Adams parachute #16, Brown parachute #16, Peacock body parachute imager #14
Want to know more? Email to me

14.APR.2012

Well, luckily I got some free time in miserable Saturday morning, rain and cold. Temperature
dramatically dropped and it seemed like back to mid February. Two bites, no catch, that's all.
Because of temperature??? rain???

Data
River Tamagawa
Weather: Rain
Temperature: 9.2 - 9.6 ¡î
Wind: NNW 3.5 - 3.3 mps
Fishing: 07:00 - 07:45
Catch: None
Fly: Scud fly #10, etc
Want to know more? Email to me

10.APR.2012

On the way back home, I was thinking about where to fish tonight as according to the latest
weather forecast, from tomorrow it would be heavy seas in this week. Emailed to my friend
who fish more often, to hear the latest news, then checked sea and wind conditions again
when I got back to home. South wind and strangely it blew harder in Yokohama area than in
south. Soon the tide would be highest so I could be there when ebb tide started. Rockfish
tonight, as I have not fished for it over a month.

Rigged up with floating line and fluorocarbon leader at home not snagging too much because
sea grass grow up to sea surface now, then I headed to the sea. I checked email message,
When I got to the sea, found he was after me. After a couple of cast I got first bite. Fish
stayed¡¡in very close to structure and sea grass as they were waiting and hiding to hunt.



I got bites only when fly was close enough to structure and sea grass. Sometime, fish immediately
run into deep in sea grass, caused hook off. Fish were short biting, it seemed like they were not
aggressive. Then it got better when fish came close to shore and I really enjoyed it, but it was
only about 30 minutes.



Data
Maori Kalian, Kanagawa
The 3rd day of Half tide
Moon age: 18.5
high tide: 20:05 157cm, Low tide: 01:27, 80cm
Sunrise: 05:16, Sunset: 18:10
Moonrise: 22:20, Moonset: 07:32
Weather: Passing cloud
Wind: S 2.8 - SSE 1.8 mps
Temperature: 14.7 - 14.1 ¡î
Fishing: 20:30 - 23:00
Catch: Many
Fly: Unique hair candy (2-3cm)
Want to know more? Email to me.

09.APR.2012

I only fish here on weekdays after my day's work. As long as Moon phase and tide are good,
weather and my wife allow me to fish I fish along the canal during the seaworm season. Just
like last Friday, when I got to my usual spot, fish were active and liked to attack seaworm fly.
Missed a couple of bite, hooked none. Then they started ignoring seaworm fly, only biting live
bait which was baby mullet. It had to be a small fly to match the bait. After a so many bite,
finally I could land this baby, hahaha.


Data
Tokyo bay canals
The 2nd day of Half tide
Moon age: 17.5
high tide: 19:24 186cm, Low tide: 00:55, 66cm
Sunrise: 05:16, Sunset: 18:10
Moonrise: 21:14, Moonset: 06:38
Weather: Passing cloud
Wind: NNW 4.8 - 2.8 mps
Temperature: 21.2 - 18.8 ¡î
Fishing: 18:30 - 20:30
Catch: One baby
Fly: White zonker (3cm)
Want to know more? Email to me.