Touring in Izu – Day 2: Lake Ippekiko – Matsukawa River
Noise made by fisherman and tourists off parking woke me early in the morning. This camping site is little too closed to the pathway, but it served as natural alarm clock or I wouldn’t be able to wake up from being tired of yesterday’s long driving.
I had rice left from last night, so I warmed instant curry and had it for breakfast. While I was having my meal, I checked map and decided to fish on freshwater in land, so that I could avoid heavy traffic and massive population of tourists and fishermen.
Lake Ippekiko: Clear Water Lake for Bass and Pan Fish
I always wanted to recreate my fun experience catching sunfish on fly like I used to do back in New York, and Lake Ippekiko reminded me of near New York lakes. Lake surrounded by vegitation and hold clear water in which you can site fish. As a matter of fact, this is the very lake Emperor stocked blue gills imported from North America for scientific research in 1966. Largemouth bass of Northern origin were also imported and stocked in this lake.
Retrieving Game
I brought 9wt with intermediate for streamer and 8wt with floating (left them as the same setting as last time I was on boat…) for dry or attractor nymph. I started with sinking tackle and presented Wooly Bugger in the shallow into the deep where I noticed small boil.
I got a strike which didn’t hook up. I saw small bass chasing after I changed fly to Montana Nymph, but it didn’t take the fly. It was pretty much the season before spawning, so they maybe not actively chasing small flies. I spent all morning on this game, then gave up and moved on for lunch break.
Game in Over Hang
Sun rose high and over hang made huge shades surrounding the lake. Lure fishers on the boat were moving into position near the overhang, so I hurried too to settle my position. I now changed the tackle to floating and began try out under the overhang.
It took me several times to get used to side cast into the narrow opening, not to mention loosing half dozen flies stack in the bush. Once I managed to deliver my fly in the back, water boiled and small bass took size #8 popper. It didn’t hook up, and several other bass didn’t hook up either. They must be quite small in size, but I didn’t bring any micro poppers, so I tied #12 stimulator instead. After deliering the fly all the way in the back, I slowly retrieved it to make tiny wave out into the brightness, then POP! Something took the fly which turned out to be….
Blue gill or panfish. Long time no see. I used to catch them a lot back in New York waters. After this fish, everytime I casted #12 stimulator = panfish, switched back to #8 poppoer = small bass never get hooked. I played with countless of them and vaguley remember that the largest panfish was about 21cm.
Sleeping Ground: Matsukawa River
I went back and fourth on this for the whole afternoon then realized that I needed to move on for tomorrow’s destination. I scanned through map and thought of routing to Kano River, but I didn’t miss out Lake Matsukawa and Matsukawa River, so I decided to stayed there for the night. Lake Matsukawa is a reservoir to Ito and Matsukawa River is the source of water. Enough back water, I should expect some large fish, if I were lucky.
Evening Showtime
I have already purchaed fishing permit, so I hurried to the nearby stream with 3wt tackle after setting up dinner table. When I reached the water, I found very tiny fish speeding left and right for positioning to feed, and I found some large fish afloat in the current. Insects were everywhere which proved this is very rich water, and I found small mayflies, mid size stoneflies, and even small caddis flies. I tied #14 white parachute dun and prepared for the hatch.
Hatch didin’t come in where I stood as expected, so I mimicked it by tapping water with fly several times and start to see fish rising. After the fast effective cast, small char took my fly which became my first fish of the stream.
After catching 3 chars, it became totally dark around, so I moved back to the parking, finished my dinner, and hit the cot for good night sleep. Lazy, but I was sooo tired.
If you’d like to know more, please click the banner below.
Noise made by fisherman and tourists off parking woke me early in the morning. This camping site is little too closed to the pathway, but it served as natural alarm clock or I wouldn’t be able to wake up from being tired of yesterday’s long driving.
I had rice left from last night, so I warmed instant curry and had it for breakfast. While I was having my meal, I checked map and decided to fish on freshwater in land, so that I could avoid heavy traffic and massive population of tourists and fishermen.
I always wanted to recreate my fun experience catching sunfish on fly like I used to do back in New York, and Lake Ippekiko reminded me of near New York lakes. Lake surrounded by vegitation and hold clear water in which you can site fish. As a matter of fact, this is the very lake Emperor stocked blue gills imported from North America for scientific research in 1966. Largemouth bass of Northern origin were also imported and stocked in this lake.
Retrieving Game
I brought 9wt with intermediate for streamer and 8wt with floating (left them as the same setting as last time I was on boat…) for dry or attractor nymph. I started with sinking tackle and presented Wooly Bugger in the shallow into the deep where I noticed small boil.
I got a strike which didn’t hook up. I saw small bass chasing after I changed fly to Montana Nymph, but it didn’t take the fly. It was pretty much the season before spawning, so they maybe not actively chasing small flies. I spent all morning on this game, then gave up and moved on for lunch break.
Sun rose high and over hang made huge shades surrounding the lake. Lure fishers on the boat were moving into position near the overhang, so I hurried too to settle my position. I now changed the tackle to floating and began try out under the overhang.
It took me several times to get used to side cast into the narrow opening, not to mention loosing half dozen flies stack in the bush. Once I managed to deliver my fly in the back, water boiled and small bass took size #8 popper. It didn’t hook up, and several other bass didn’t hook up either. They must be quite small in size, but I didn’t bring any micro poppers, so I tied #12 stimulator instead. After deliering the fly all the way in the back, I slowly retrieved it to make tiny wave out into the brightness, then POP! Something took the fly which turned out to be….
Blue gill or panfish. Long time no see. I used to catch them a lot back in New York waters. After this fish, everytime I casted #12 stimulator = panfish, switched back to #8 poppoer = small bass never get hooked. I played with countless of them and vaguley remember that the largest panfish was about 21cm.
I went back and fourth on this for the whole afternoon then realized that I needed to move on for tomorrow’s destination. I scanned through map and thought of routing to Kano River, but I didn’t miss out Lake Matsukawa and Matsukawa River, so I decided to stayed there for the night. Lake Matsukawa is a reservoir to Ito and Matsukawa River is the source of water. Enough back water, I should expect some large fish, if I were lucky.
Evening Showtime
I have already purchaed fishing permit, so I hurried to the nearby stream with 3wt tackle after setting up dinner table. When I reached the water, I found very tiny fish speeding left and right for positioning to feed, and I found some large fish afloat in the current. Insects were everywhere which proved this is very rich water, and I found small mayflies, mid size stoneflies, and even small caddis flies. I tied #14 white parachute dun and prepared for the hatch.
Hatch didin’t come in where I stood as expected, so I mimicked it by tapping water with fly several times and start to see fish rising. After the fast effective cast, small char took my fly which became my first fish of the stream.
After catching 3 chars, it became totally dark around, so I moved back to the parking, finished my dinner, and hit the cot for good night sleep. Lazy, but I was sooo tired.
If you’d like to know more, please click the banner below.