Land of the Rising Sun (and Fish) Part One: Yokohama Bay

Catching some of Japan's most popular gamefish have been on my mind for ages now.  Long before the internet I have been "reading" (or more like admiring the photos within) Japanese fly fishing magazines dreaming someday of catching some of these fish.  When the opportunity arose to make an emergency visit to Asia I tried to make plans to make a stop in Japan.  I emailed my buddy Koji I had a slim chance of making it to Tokyo and if he was available to take me fishing.  He no longer lives in Yokohama but does visit twice a month for business.  So he let me know to give him ample warning before I came so he could arrange his work schedule to correspond with me being in Japan.  Of course my trip was more of an emergency trip so I gave him little time.  Fortunately he was able to make it happen and fit his business schedule with my trip.  Of course it was during the worst possible time to fish in Japan, a holiday week.  More on that in part two.

Yokohama Bay.  April 28. Night fishing for Suzuki.

There were a few goals I wanted to accomplish this trip: catch a suzuki (Japanese seabass) and as many species of Japanese trout as possible.  The first night we would try for the seabass at Yokohama Bay.  Initially I wanted to hire a boat but Koji said it wouldn't be necessary as the moon phase and tide charts were in our favor so the canals would be loaded with seaworms, the favored diet of these fish.  After a little mix up on which station to meet we left for our proper destination.  When we arrived at the water, only a few steps from the station, there was a gear fishermen already on fish.  We could see suzuki feeding rising on seaworms while we rigged our fly rods.  Koji gave me a few flies and we tried to get me my first fish from Japan but it was not in the cards this night.  After a few hours Koji was able to catch a micro  horse mackerel.  Yokohama bay is quite beautiful at night and with a jazz musician playing his sax on the sidewalks it made for a relaxing atmosphere despite having to watch out for the pedestrian traffic.  This night though was a bust for me so we said our goodbyes to meet up early at my family's residence the next morning.

The night before, the day I arrived I spent the evening in Yokohama at my mandatory stop at one of Japan's premier fly/tackle shop, Sansui.  It took me a while to find it again as the underground has been remodel since the last time I came about 8 years ago.  Just head to the Joinus shopping area and exit North 8.  

Dinner at one of many restaurants at Nodaiwa Yokohama's Takashimaya for unagi.  We ordered the set menu with eels prepared only grilled with salt and topped with wasabi and the traditional sauced version.

New Additions- Danielsson LW 2Five, Wellstone Reels, And C&F Stuff

I picked up the folks from the airport yesterday and they had a nice care package for me in their luggage, a few reels they managed on discount and other nicknacks.  These three fine reels are a Danielsson LW 2Five, and two saltwater Wellstone reels a 7/8, and a 11/12.

Danielssons are the OEM for Loop reels.  While both names are relatively unknown here in the states, Loops are becoming more and more popular as I'm seeing a lot more people (at least on the internet) using them.  Danielssons are made in Sweden and like what seems like all things Scandinavian they have a modern look and feel.  But unlike IKEA I didn't need to assemble this one.  This LW 2Five are now discontinued as it has been replaced with a newer model. 

The drag is completely sealed and waterproof.  Playing around with it the drag seems strong and smooth.  This reel is rated for two to five weights.  Its lightweight and I plan on using it for my three weight.  I have a Teeny mini sink tip I want to use for bluegills that is perfect for our local lakes this summer.  One minor issue was switching from right hand to left hand retrieve is somewhat a pain, it requires you to dismantle the drag system with all its parts and flip the clutch over.

I have read about Wellstones Reels for a long time now, I first came across them 5 or 6 years ago in a Japanese Fly Fishing magazine I bought while there.  When I came home and researched them on the web I became more and more interested in them.  A few years ago Just Reels began selling them here in the States and I came very close to buying one but held off.  I learned recently they decided to stop importing them and sold their remaining inventory at a deep discount.  I was too late to snatch up the model I wanted.  So when my father called me from Japan and asked me if these Wellstones were any good I told him they are great.  Sansui in Yokohama had a few on sale and he went the following day to snatch a couple up.

These reels are nice.  They are lightweight and smooth.  The drag is strong and appears to be consistent, Of course I wouldn't really know until I get a fish on it.  Opening the reel requires a key to remove the drag knob and helps prevent accidental knob removal when adjusting drag while playing a fish.

The rim is exposed to allow palming .  I'm not sure why these Wellstones were on sale but I'd guess it's because they are full arbor models.  The trend lately has been toward mid or large arbors so I'm guessing these did not sell too well this the sale.  I'm not sure there are too many manufacturers that actually sell full arbor reels any more.

The nicknacks.  These were just some of the items I told my folks to pick up for me while in Japan.  These are C&F Design items that don't get imported here. 

The Dropper wallet allows you to prerig some droppers.  I hate tying droppers in the field particularly on light line.  I have bad eyes and figure dexterity is compromised in cold weather.  Not a good combo.

I have a few C&F fly boxes that have a dropper system like this encased in the fly box.  I wanted this wallet so I could switch out the wheel for different waters.  I can have one for small midges for the Lower Owens, medium ones for larger waters and ones for stoneflies for the bigger freestones.

 I got some C&F zingers.  I bought one the last time I was in Japan and liked them so much I wanted to get some more.  Unfortunately these don't come stateside.  Most if not all the zingers we can get are Chinese made junk.  They fall apart within seasons.

In fact that is the same reason I wanted these.  My zingers have all fallen apart.  The cord on these zingers are not made of metal wire.  All those I have that had metal wires rusted.  These have some sort of nylon cord.  Its almost like braided line.

The zinger is not attached by a pin instead it uses a locking clip.  The zinger reel actually rotates 360 degrees so when you pull the line out oat awkward angles the clip or pin doesn't torque and bind or break off.  One nice feature is the front has a fly magnet that allow you to place a fly when changing them.

My spare time lately has been spent shooting action pistol but now it's time to go fish, its been too long.

C&F Design XXL SW Fly Case

Last summer, prior to with my parents' planned trip to Japan, I asked them if they could pick me up the C&F Design XX-Large SW Fly case.  Unfortunately that trip was cancelled due to the devastating tsunami that crippled the nation.  After a year or so, I had long since forgotten about that request I made to my folks and had purchased the Cliff's Bugger Beast as an alternative.  Yesterday after picking up my folks from the airport they had a little surprise for me.  While I had forgotten about the request, apparently my parents did not and had my new C&F box waiting for me.  It must have been my reward for having to put up and navigating through the incredibly poorly designed layout of LAX.  I hate driving into that shithole.

The C&F Design XXL SW Fly box, like many other of their products, is not imported stateside (at least not as of this post).  So I was excited to see it when they pulled it out of their luggage.  It is similar in size to the Cliff's, but slightly taller in height (but does not translate to more interior real estate) and shorter in length and thinner in profile.  The locking system is done via tabs while the bugger beast uses a sliding closures.  I prefer the cliff's in that regard.  While the paperwork says made in Japan, the plastic case is actually made in Canada.  Lips on the C&F close much flusher than the Cliff's.  Another one of most noticeable difference between the two is the foam.  C&F is much better, slots are cut cleanly whereas the Beast need to be re-cut at places.  Also the row of slots are clearly identified by the four strategically placed holes marking each row.  Whereas, when new, the slots are hard to distinguish on the Beast and as already mentioned, are not always cut deep enough to slide a hook in easily without having to re-cut it.

With the conversion rate favoring the yen, at ¥5775 (roughly $73US), it is no wonder this product does not get imported here.  It clearly is no bargain.  Nevertheless I'm glad it is now in my arsenal, you can never have enough fly fishing Tupperware.  My intention now is to use the Beast for my big bass flies (after all I drew a damn largemouth on it) and the C&F for bluewater flies for Calicos, tuna and such.

Fly Shops in Tokyo

I visit Japan every few years including this year. This trip was to see the blooming sakuras. Every time ever since I found them I make it a point to visit a fly shop or two. I always like to see what products the Japanese have that don't make it here in the states particularly items from C&F Designs.

One store Sansui, a chain located throughout the Tokyo area, is an excellent one. It is split half fly half conventional. There are stores in Yokohama, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukoro, Ueno, Kawasaki among others. I have only been to the Yokohama, Shibuya, and Ikebukuro stores. Yokohama is the largest of the three I've been to, I believe the largest is the Shinjuku store which is the flagship. At least that is what I've read. Shibuya is two storefronts- one conventional and other fly. This store is small and cramped although the selection is still pretty good. Ikebukuro is small as well but is one combined store.

To get to it get off the Yokohama JR station and walk the direction away from Sogo (its a chain department store). While walking you will go up a flight of stairs and back down, continue walking, the underground station will split into four walking lanes, each lane is lined with stores. Pick the 3rd lane from the left. Continue walking until you reach Diamond exit 北 8 or 9 (either one). Go up the stairs on the the left to the outside. Continue walking after only a few yards you will reach a river, if you don't you went the wrong way and turnaround. Continue past the river and you will meet an intersection that can be crossed by overhead pedestrian bridges. Look to your right and Sansui will be there.

Getting to the Shibuya store, get off Shibuya station (there are two stations so it can be confusing, get off the one with the famous dog statue). I'm not sure which exit it is but if you get out and enter the square with the famous dog statue you're at the wrong spot. Go back through the station to the opposite side. Outside there will be a bus stop area, go right and you will reach a pedestrian bridge walk up and then down (still going right). One you walk down the bridge, Sansui is not far from there to your right. I believe the street is Meiji Dori.

If you in the Square with this dog statue, head back through the station to the other side.

Ikebukuro store took me forever to find but I finally found it just when I was about to give up on it. Get off the Ikebukuro station take the east exit. Once outside turn left, you'll past a Parco Department Store (at least you did in 2010). You'll hit a stoplight. Turn left and follow the street, it will diagonal abit. Follow it to the wall the blocks you from the railroad. Turn up and start walking. To your left will be a small park and Sansui will be on the right.

If you you see this you're heading the right direction.

Sansui Ikebukro store.

I forgot to take pictures of the other two.

Another store that I did not make it to on this trip is the A&F Country store in Ginza . This store is located (at least it was back in 2004) in the Matsuzakaya Department store in Ginza. It is located on B2 level. I found this store by accident in 2000, I was heading to the tax refund area and ran into this shop. A&F is similar to what REI is here, outdoor gear but this store had a fly fishing section. It was at least back in 2004 pretty well stocked. Unlike the Sansui stores this store (I believe) allows you to get tax refund for foreigners because it is in a department store if you spend over ¥10,000 (or something like that amount) which is roughly $100US.  UPDATE 6.19.12 My Japanese friend Koji has let me know that A&F is no longer so don't waste your time going to find it.  What a shame.

If your are fortunate to read Japanese, here are the two stores websites.
http://fishingtackle-sansui.com/
http://www.aandf.co.jp/shopinfo/shop/ginza/index.html