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In the River TAKAHARA  --Vol.69--

Super Drift

More often I used wet flies in the steep-sloped ordinary mountain streams, more strongly I wanted a new rod because I had to cast the fly to the near point. I needed a different type of rods from those for Japanese chalk stream such as Oshino or the River Yukawa. In addition, wet fly is usually larger than dry fly. Especially in the River Takahara, full of sedges, anglers like to use large wet flies.
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The most enjoyable time of dry fly fishing came in the daytime in the beginning of the season.

My ideal rod was a long, light and flexible one as well as suitable for easy casting of large flies. Bamboo rod was flexible enough but a long one was too heavy. Carbon rod was perfectly light and powerful but not so flexible in those days. Its durable and flexible long rod was unsuitable for short-distance casting because the rod bent too springy. Even if that rod was improved by making only its top part flexible, it would be only suitable for short-distance casting and cause more troubles.

Although I wished to make the ideal rod immediately, I had to concentrate for those several years on designing casting-competition rods and their revised models for fishing. In other words, I concentrated on making the rod with ultimate casting performance because I was going to enter for the world championship in 1984. Then I came back to fishing in the river and started producing new rods for wet fly in 1985.
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The shallow current spread so long at the upper reaches of Kuzuyama of the River Takahara.

In those days there were not so many kinds of carbon fibres and difference of qualities allowed me only narrow choice. Therefore, I had to solve various problems by devising rod design. I tried 3-piece rod although all of single-handed carbon rods were 2 pieces in those days. I thought that 3-piece rod made two thirds of the rod flexible without difficulty. That might ‘soften’ the hard carbon, keeping the great casting performance.

That idea proved to be very successful. A series of rods called Super Drift completed in early summer of 1985 were longer and more flexible rods than standard models in those days as well as light and easily handled. Now, 18 years later, 4 types of SD series are still produced and I am happy to say that they perform very well in various districts.

In the end of 1980’s, several years after SD series’ production, I got a new type of carbon materials which could guide me to ideal action of wet fly. The material was very flexible. Developing the idea of 3-piece rod, I completed a new rod for perfect action in 1991. It is called SF series now. SF series, longer and more flexible than SD series, not only greatly improved hooking performance but also enabled anglers to handle wet fly as freely as they wanted.
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In the beginning of the season there were lots of rises in the pool down Imami.

The Rod Fit for Both Wet and Dry Flies

However, SF series never drove SD series away. No angler denied that SF series was superior to SD series in handling wet fly. But SF series was exclusively fit for wet fly fishing and not so for dry fly fishing. Most anglers gave up SF series rod when they changed wet fly into dry fly although it was possible to use SF series for dry fly.

As for SD series, on the other hand, the design was made for wet fly fishing but the material was usual carbon fibre, which made this series fit for dry fly fishing, too. That is why SD series has still been produced today.

When I change dry fly into wet fly I can still use SD series. That was a great advantage when I fished upstream with dry fly and quickly returned to fish downstream with wet fly. Therefore, I never put SD series away after SF series was completed in 1991.
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In April there were more and more silver fish.

A Trophy Size Yamame Trout in the Narrow Current

It happened just after SD series was completed. I walked down to the bank in the evening with Power Spey, a rod of 8ft 6 inches, one of SD series. The place was Kuzuyama area at the rather lower reaches of the River Takahara, 8km down Tochio. I often fished there when too many anglers gathered at the upper reaches.

It was earlier than evening rise. But the bank was already surrounded by evening air. I fished upstream with Size 12 Wild Canary put to the leader tip. The river turned into a shallow current in the wide riverbed because fine weather lasted for several days. The river flowed more gently than Tochio or Kansaka, which usually implied no hope of big fish. But I had caught nice-sized fish after rainy season probably because a small number of fish were given an advantage of quick growth.
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Just before the snow melting season in April in the River Gamata.

Soon Wild Canary was bit by a beautiful yamame trout of 25 cm. A similar point spread just upstream. I expected another yamame trout there and cast the fly several times in vain. A narrow current which was divided from the current a little upstream flowed into that point. It was narrow enough to jump over. Probably no fish. But just to satisfy myself I cast the fly to that shallow current. Then something came downstream below the fly. What? I saw a big tail fin going back upstream. I cast the fly again. But nothing happened. I never cast any more.
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In midsummer yamame trout became a little bit thin as the water decreased.

A long current spread in front of me. There was the biggest pool upstream around there. Surely several yamame trout appear today! I fished upstream, full of hope.

For some reason, however, no fish appeared. Although each point looked much better than the one where I had caught the yamame trout, I got no response from the long current. Why? Is it because fish are staying not in the current but the deep pool? The pool that spread very attractively in front of me gave me such a rough guess.

In front of the large pool I took off the leader, opened the cast wallet and picked up a leader with wet fly. The leader was 2X of 7ft. 6 inches. Dropper was size 6 Peacock Queen and lead fly was size 10 Blue Professor.

Small Rises

I could clearly see the stream in front, while the mountain at the opposite bank side was in dark. If there were rises I would see them on the surface like white flowers. But somehow it was very quiet. I usually started casting the fly even if there is no rise after ordinary rise time. If I cast the fly at the right time, it is not uncommon to catch fish without rise. On the other hand, if I do not cast the fly, just waiting for rises, the best time will be over and I will cry over spilt milk.

I stood at the head of the pool and cast the fly to make it drift quietly from the front. I moved 1m downstream at every casting. No response. I could not believe that such a nice-looking pool had no fish. I stood the head of the pool again and restarted casting the fly.
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Kuzuyama area in late spring. Low water lasted at the lower reaches until snow melting water flowed.

After several casting I found a little rise near the opposite bank. Looking closely, I found a similar rise a little away. Is there a char? I drew out another 10m of line from the reel and cast the fly to the first rise spot. The line ran smoothly on the grey surface 20m away. I had a strong feeling that I was going to catch a fish. At the next moment I felt a bite like thump.
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Yamame trout were staying in those tetrapods at the upper reaches of Kuzuyama.

In spite of strong response from the fish, it came to my feet without fighting. I felt something unusual and found it was a Japanese dace of over 30cm that swallowed the dropper. But I had no time for disappointment. It was the best fishing time. Immediately I cast the fly again. I got another bite quite soon.

Then at every casting I got the similar bite and every fish came to my feet. All were Japanese dace. I caught 5 of them when I regretted that I had chosen the wrong place. Looking up at the sky I reeled in the line. It was dark on the bank. I had to call it a day.

It was very near to the road from the pool. Anglers left many footprints on the bank and the grass. I had no worry to lose the way in dark. Walking on the bank, I remembered the tail fin I had seen before. I stopped. Can I fish from now? The white crash barrier on the road appeared in front of me. Am I walking up on the road to my car or walking on the bank? If I walk on the bank I will pass that narrow current. The fly was still put to the leader. I will lose nothing even if I get nothing. Making up my mind, I hurried to walk down the dry white pebbles.

It took me only 5 minutes to return to the first fishing point although I spent nearly an hour fishing upstream. It had looked a nice current before but now in dark it looked an ordinary dull current. I stood in front of the narrow current, where the yamame trout turned its tail fin and disappeared an hour before. Now it looked a very tiny current. I doubted if the yamame trout had really stayed there. I looked around to make sure if I was not wrong. Yes, it was the right place.
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The yamame trout still kept slight winter colour in April.

I stood at the upper reaches of the narrow current and cast the fly very carefully. The river width was only 2m. I just dropped the fly quietly. Only a few seconds later, the fly was snatched suddenly. As soon as I raised the rod the fish ran powerfully from the narrow current to the main stream. It stopped after drawing out several metres of the line. Then it ran among the large stones.

Finally it came to my feet and I could land it into the net. In the dim light of evening it looked very beautiful with Peacock Queen in its mouth. Why was that trophy size yamame trout staying in such a narrow current? Did it intend to swim down to the main stream after dark? Various questions occurred to me. Anyway I learned one thing. Even if I fail to catch a fish in the daytime, don’t chase it too much because I will have another chance later.

-- To be continued --
2003/11/02  KEN SAWADA
Tranlated into English by Miyoko Ohtake