Herabuna Fishing
In Herabuna fishing, you can find the roots of angling in Japan. The fish, rod, rigs, and baits all are reflecting the typical Japanese style of angling. Currently Herabuna fishing (or Hera fishing) is enjoyed by many enthusiasts. There are artificial ponds dedicated to this fish. Many natural lakes, ponds and rivers have Herabuna, also. Let […]
Fishing for Ayu; “The Queen of the River”
Ayu (Ayu sweetfish, Plecoglossus altivelis) is a special species of fish in Japan. People call it “the queen of the river” in Japan. There are several reasons for it. Firstly, it tastes very well. Secondly, the life cycle of Ayu impresses Japanese people. And most importantly for us, there is a special method to catch […]
One Perspective on Tenkara and Fly Fishing in Japan, part 1
(This is the translation of the preface in 「読んではいけない毛バリ釣りの真実」(Trapping Truth about Fishing with Fly), Hisao Ishigaki, 2000, Ningensya Publishing.) Tenkara and fly fishing are like half-brothers, because both use the hook with feathers, though they are born in different lands, Japan and Europe. This is my opinion, but some fly fishermen say that fly fishing […]
Can fish see various colors differently?
Introduction Some commercial anglers in Japan say that the fish can identify colors. They seem to have reached this conclusion from their experiences. But what does science tell us about it? Research Some researches concluded that fish can recognize colors. Many of these researches are using the method to measure the elecctric stimulus of fish […]
Black bass fishing in Japan
Introduction Black bass fishing is one of the most popular fishing art in Japan. Here I would like to describe how and why it is so. And some of the typical techniques for bass fishing will be introduced. History of Black bass in Japan Black bass (large mouth bass, Micropterus psalmodies) is not the native […]
Can Fish See Fishing Line?
Introduction When you try to catch fish, you use some kind of rig and line always. And you hope that the rigs are invisible for fish and your bait moves as naturally as possible. Then it is a very important question to ask if the fish can see your rigs. Expeiment Kawamura (2011) is concluding […]
Defining Fishing Line Unit
Introduction Fishing line is very important. It is the only thing that connects you and your fish. When you think about the tackles, you cannot forget about it. The thickness and strength matter. In the store shelf, you will see a lot of different kinds of lines. When you select one, you will see thickness […]
Trout Fishing in Japan
Trout fishing is one of the popular kind of fishing in Japan, traditionally. Still this traditional way of catching trout is active in Japan, while new ways (lures and flies) are enjoyed by a lot of people. Local fish species The popular native species of trout related fish are Yamame or Amago (Oncorhynchus masou), and […]
One Perspective on Tenkara and Fly Fishing in Japan, part 2
(This is the translation of the preface in 「読んではいけない毛バリ釣りの真実」(Trapping Truth about Fishing with Fly), Hisao Ishigaki, 2000, Ningensya Publishing.) Tackles for tenkara and fly fishing are completely different. Were they different from their origins? Fly fishing uses the reel, in the present form, but the fishing reel was invented in the 19th century. Before then, […]
Categorization of places for fishing in Japan (Salt water)
Categorization of places for fishing in Japan (SW) Japan is surrounded by the sea. And naturally, many aspects of Japanese culture are connected to sea life. Geography Japan has a very long coastline of 29,751km, and it has nearly 7,000 islands. On its east side, there is the Pacific Ocean, and the Japan Sea on […]