Misty Mountain Lake of Trouts – Part 2: Skagit & Drake Jack Pot

2017/06/302020/11/25brown trout,cherry salmon,fly fishing in japan,lake,nikko,OPST,R.L. Winston,Rainbow trout,single hand skagit

What I didn't tell you in the part 1 was that I was slumping from the consecutive 21 times hook-off that renewed my previous records at 18 times in California in 2015. Mostly because I'm really bad with sinking line hook set having "trout set" problem, but also due to my right shoulder having medical problem. I stopped missing hook set immediately after I switched to floating Scandi-head with non-sinking fly pattern. But then soon I was having difficulties fighting fish holding heavy two-handed rod on my problem arm and I missed few fish in the fight.

1. Solution1: Single-hand Skagit on 3wt

You can read the full-detail in this article. Long story short, I had to re-engineer my new lake fishing tackle using my old Winston 3wt rod. 3wt using shooting head is the heaviest single-hand outfit my arm can handle and since I suck hooking fish in sinking depth, I'd rather use floating line with dry fly or sub-surface patterns and take my chances finding the right fish. Single-hand skagit can be used as minimal dry fly tackle or skagit cast tackle when there is no back space or need to dry your fly. It's my new katana.

2. Solution2: Neversink Drake 2017 Edition

Separately, I have developed a killer dry fly while doing rehab at Fish Up Lake Akikawa. I need to make every cast and presentation count, so I needed a pattern that stays afloat for extended time, realistically stand out in big water, and last for few fishes.  I tested this pattern over 100+ stocked rainbow trouts about the size, choice of hook, and balance of the material. I never worked on a single fly pattern this seriously, but this is it. My new ninja star. See tying instruction here.

3. Back to Lake Chuzenji in June

I came back to Lake Chuzenji for timely drake hatch season. Godly spirit of Lake Chuzenji was telling me, "study to be quiet, then you shall have your fish".

So very true. This new skagit outfit x new dry fly let me fish slowly and quietly while making very effective presentation nailing this brown trout hiding under the boat dock as a starter.

 

 

Then some rainbow trout cruising no further than 10 yards from the bank.

As the fog shroud the whole lake, I can sense something was coming closer. Not the same sensation I had when I encountered that monster lake trout, but something else.

It turned out to be this good size cherry salmon cruising by to munch on hatching drake that was perfect match with my fly pattern.

Hit went on.

And on.

Then I grown tired of this single-hand game.

Back to two-hand.

This season wasn't too bad after all having this right shoulder problem!
I may not be able to do much of streamer fishing, but this is perfect opportunity to go back to basics.

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