RAINBOW TROUTING!

We continue on our Japanese Alps journey with the targeting of a different species of Trout - the introduced Rainbow. This is undoubtedly the most known an targeted species of Trout. They have been introduced since centuries past and are constantly still being released into wild waterways for fishermen to enjoy...

Of course when Trouting the scenery is bliss...

Like when going for the Yamame in the vicinity, we were armed to the teeth with FCL Labos latest and greatest mini minnows for Trout...

The Rainbows in this tight stream weren't big but were much fun none the less...

They were feisty little fighters which went after the lures hard...

The FCL minnows proved to be really stable in the tight a fast flowing streams. They were made for these exact conditions so we wouldn't expect anything less...

The trick was to get past the smaller ones and hope to fool the better specimens like this one before they get spooked...

We did manage a few decent fish, which were a handful in the tight confines...

And the FCL Labo samples kept them busy...

The small ones proved a lot of fun as well...

But bigger is almost always better...

Deep runners were able to get down in the darker pools where the fish were hanging under ledges...

They were all beautifully marked. And an awesome wonder of nature...

As a beautiful surprise this next capture turned out to be a big Iwana or Japanese Char. Displaying awesome colour and markings, and that characteristic hooked jaw of a mature fish, this was a big fish but it soon jumped out of the deep net before we could get any better pictures taken. Waste...

We then settled back into the steady stream of Rainbows which came from the likely ambush points along the stream as we trekked up...

They were well-fed healthy specimens as illustrated...

And they sure liked the FCL Labo lures we were casting...

We caught plenty on this day, but traversing the terrain and negotiating the stream made the game most interesting...

We found that with the right lures they weren't hard to fool...

So long as the pools they inhabit were not spooked...



In all we spent half a day and came away totally satisfied and energised...

Later in the day at a rest stop we found Yamame or Cherry Salmon fresh from the streams, sold as a delicacy. We couldn't pass on the chance to get a taste...

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ONE SPECIAL FISH!

The humble Namasu, or Japanese Common Catfish, has been a species we have wanted to encounter for a long time. This trip to Japan provided a small window of opportunity to fulfil this wish and we jumped at the chance. This Catfish lives in urban waterways and are known to be more active during the nocturnal hours. Whilst hunting other species like the Snakehead and Bass, we were hopeful of catching one by chance but that didn't happen so we had to stalk this critter after dark.

We were brought to a spot which our guides knew they hung out. It was completely dark by the time we arrived but we put our casts in none the less...

This is the result, a beautiful specimen of this Catfish we hear and see so much about. It was the one fish which fell for the slowly worked popper which mimicked a struggling prey on the surface and subsequently shut the whole spot down...

One of the best lures we know for this type of work is the FEED Lures BULB8, a hand crafted timber popper which walks as well as it pops. It is perfect for these slow applications where action is key to mimic a struggling subject for these hunters to home in on...

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WORKING THE SALT IN THE DARK!

Working the coastline under the cover of darkness can be exhilarating. With our trusty DUO lures tied on, we comb the scene for unsuspecting predators that use their heightened senses to hunt in the darkness...

Going deep with the crank bait turns up this nice Estuary Cod. Heavy gear like the Evergreen Kaleido baitcast rod is an absolute must to stop these guys from burying you in structure...

Lure in question is the DUO Realis G87 Crank in striking white...

In the dark some predators hunt near the surface as well, scoffing down unsuspecting Mullet. This Barramundi is one prime example. Casting long and combing a large area with the long Major Craft Sky Road Seabass rod finds this fish...

Keeping with the full white theme, we deploy the ever-successful DUO Realis Pencil 110 for the win!

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JAPANESE TROUTING WITH FCL LABO!

Had the rare and fortunate opportunity to be guided to fish for Japanese native Trout species in the mountainous region of Kyushu by FCL Labo creator and founder Tsurusaki-san. It was a quick trip up to the cold mountains with one species in mind. We were greeted by really wet conditions but made he best of it to hook what we came for. We had a handful of FCL Labo lures made just for these areas so the confidence level was high...

Rainfall had made the usually clear waters a little murky so our fingers were crossed...

We learnt to find ambush points to cast to. And after a little Trout which fell off the hook, this little guy ended up in the landing net...

Turned out it was an Ugui or Japanese Dace. It went hard for its size and fell for the minute FCL Labo diver...

Alas a tiny bite transforms into solid hook up. This is the fish we came all the way for - the humble Yamame or Cherry Salmon. It is a native salmonoid species and a favourite for many anglers...

They don't grow large and inhibit really tight waters...

One thing's for sure, they fell for the slinky natural swimming action of the handmade FCL Labo minnows...

The Yamame are beautifully marked and are said to be tasty. But of course we set every one free...

Most fish were about this size. Small but a challenge to fool in the fast flowing stream...

On our hunt we traversed some awesomely beautiful scenery...

We caught a few for the day but when the rod loaded up on a good fish and this one came to the net we were ecstatic...

It was by no means a large fish but according to our guide and trout master Mr. Tsurusaki a Yamame of this size is a trophy fish. It displayed the slight hooked jaw of a mature breeding fish and had beautiful markings. Many thanks to an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide for this awesome experience in the highlands... 

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DEEP DROP PITCHING!

Tackle Source heads way offshore to pitch some jigs to some deepwater ooglies, looking to hook up some potentially new species with our slow pitch jigs...

At sunrise the boat is launched and the long haul offshore begins...

On board we have the full range of Major Craft Slow Draw and Evergreen Poseidon rods at our disposal...

Looks to be a beautiful day on the water...

Not a deep water species, but a welcomed catch none the less. First stop at a shallower spot and this Mackeral takes a falling jig...

Its the Xesta Slippy jig with the first kill...

Then we headed out for the drop off and found some Ruby Snapper immediately...

This one fell for the Kanji Free Flip slow jig...

Rubies hang out in schools but unfortunately this Xesta Slippy jig victim was a smaller specimen...

One of the more ferocious looking predators of the deep is the Barracouta. They account for lost jigs and cut lines but sure look impressive with their nasty fangs...

The Xesta Slippy does the job on this fish...

First oogly from the deep is a Gurnard-like species with brilliant yellow eyes on the Xesta Slippy jig...

High pitching with the Evergreen Poseidon High Pitch Jerker rod in over 200m of water and we get a solid hook-up...

Turns out to be a nice double digit Amberjack of the High Fin variety...

It falls victim to the successful Sea Floor Control Cranky jig...

Another new species hits the deck. It is later identified as the Black Gnomefish or what the Japanese refer to as Kuromutsu. This one fell for an SFC Cranky...

Working the FEED Lures FALL jig deep with the Major Craft Slow Draw rod results in a beautiful little Flametail Snapper...

Seems like we found a school as another one hits the deck courtesy of the Major Craft Slow Draw and SFC Cranky jig...

Flametails are amazing table fish and a welcome catch. This third one falls for the Jackall Anchovy Metal jig...

Next drift the FEED FALL jig turns out an unidentified little predator with an amazing sheen...

Then its back to the Flametail Snapper. Another Jackall Anchovy Metal victim is held up for the camera...

With the weather turning around and deep drops becoming harder to achieve, a switch to the SFC Arc jig helps and the result is a Black Gnomefish...

Next drop with another SFC Arc jig and it turns up another unidentified little critter. This one definitely belongs to the same family as the toothy Barracouta...

The Black Gnomefish turns out to be available in numbers as this SFC Abyss finds another...

The beauty of these deep drops is the sheer number of species it can turn up. Here's a Banded Grouper on the SFC Cranky jig...

Then its back to the Kuromutsu on the SFC Arc jig. The deep water work is helped by ultra-sensitive rods like the Major Craft Slow Draw which ensures ultimate feel even in 300m drops...

More Black Gnomefish, but they turn out to be super delectable. The SFC Rector jig works on them too...

The weather makes a quick turn for the worse, so its one last Kuromutsu on the SFC Abyss jig before we make a quick run for shore...

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