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Mountain Streams  --Vol.12--

A Big Yamame Trout of the Mariko Creek

In the Tama River in the suburbs of Tokyo, valleys become deep where the river name is changed into the Taba River, and its tributaries contain many deeper valleys. In 1970's I walked around various tributaries there, beginning with the Mariko Creek. I seldom met an angler much less a fly fisherman that was not common in Japan at that time. Although almost all creeks had fish, I went to the Mariko Creek most frequently because it had lots of beautiful fish. But a local resident told me that three fishermen had slipped off to death in those two or tree years, which was linked to recent decrease of fishermen. Then my fishing circle made word-play for our warning by using substitute kanji, "Evil Raccoon Dog and Fox Creek" for the Mariko Creek.
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Yamame trout settled in this creek in the ancient times. As they grow up, they have got a unique proportioned body.

For the first several years I made it my rule to go fishing in the Mariko Creek from the middle of April. But after I got Spent Badger, I visited there earlier year by year. Then it happened in the middle of March. It was my first trial of fishing in such early season. Unlike the flat country, Okutama area in March still takes on a winter look. About ten o'clock in the morning I headed for the creek, outfitting myself.

Fortunately, the blue sky could be seen beyond the tree. After I walked a little on the valley bed covered with frost and thin ice, I stopped suddenly. Both banks became narrow and the sky over my head was seen narrow and winding like a river. On that day the dark face of the rock was completely covered with ice and I felt as if I were walking down into a silvery basin of the waterfall. I admired the beautiful scenery but soon wondered if I would be able to fish in such an icy creek. After passing the narrow valley bed, the river flowed among the copse. There was no leaf bud yet in March and I could see the whole sky.

As I walked up the river a little, bright scenery spread out. It was brighter than in May and also warm in the sunny place although the north wind was blowing on the mountain. Then a fishing pool could be seen in front of me. That was the pool where I always started my fishing. What is fishing condition this year? How many fish are there? Can I fish in such early season? Feeling uneasy about this and that, I put the line to the rod when I saw a ripple on the centre of the pool. Is it my illusion? I laid aside my line and stared at the water surface carefully. Soon I knew that was not my illusion. A reflection appeared at the almost same spot quietly and a ripple spread across the pool slowly. My slight excitement in the beginning of the season was suddenly elevated to high tension I had nearly forgotten. With my heart ridiculously pounding, I put size 16 Spent Badger to the tip of 6ft leader.
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In March the area is often in such snow-remaining condition even after opening day.

It would be better to go nearer to the pool. I walked on fallen leaves very carefully so that I did not step on withered branches. Kneeling on one knee, I extended the line carefully. The distance to the pool was at most 5m but there were lots of branches around there. Minimizing false casts, I cast my fly at the upper reaches of the ripple. Spent Badger, floating on the pool in low water, was drifting so slowly as if teasing me. At the same slow speed a dark reflection began to come up towards the fly and swallowed it together with its ripple. As I lifted the rod calmly, I felt a comfortable pull. It was a beautiful yamame trout that had dark colour but no more winter colour. At the first glance I found it more than 20cm long. Since I had caught only small fish around there, it could be said nice-sized. Fortunately, I am not wrong to come here in such early season!
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Although the mountain is still covered with fallen leaves, there is a sign of spring in the water.

Restraining my expectation, I headed further upstream. After passing a large rocky stretch with ups and downs, I saw fish jumping at every sunny pool. Then I reached the biggest pool in the middle reaches of the creek. Something happened whenever I came here. It was my favourite pool.

At the head of the pool big rocks lay one upon another and water flowed down from the thin space like a small waterfall. In spite of such condition of the head of the pool, its large and shallow tail usually spreads out in much larger space than could be imagined from the size of the valley. But now it was March, the time of low water. The pool had only a shallow tail like a puddle. I stared at the tail of the pool carefully, where fish were supposed to be swimming in medium water. Alas, I could see nothing in the puddle less than 20cm deep. But the moment I looked below the rock in the head of the pool my eyes were riveted there. A yamame trout is swimming! It's big. How many centimetres? I can clearly see its parr mark and turned-up chin. It cannot be true. Why does such a big yamame trout stay here?

The yamame trout was swimming quite calmly with its back towards me. Since it sometimes wiggled to turn itself sideways or came up to the water surface, probably it ate something drifting to it. It was a marvelous opportunity that I could have only in the dream. It's just like picking up a char from the ground, isn't it? It was my real feeling, indeed. In spite of my happiness, I suddenly felt that expectation was choking me.
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A pool about 5m in diameter. This is one of the biggest pools in this creek.

I said to myself, pulling myself together. Don't panic! First of all, it is important not to move. Freeze! No leaving a trace of you! You're the only man here. No one interrupts you and you've got a lot of time.

Before long I looked calmly at the fish, as if I were watching a movie. Judging from its move, the fish did not notice my presence or coming danger. I extended the line slowly to fall it at my feet. The distance to the fish was just over 5m.To cast the fly in front of the fish at the first casting, never at the second one---that was all I was thinking of.

Just above the head of the pool big rocks lay one upon another, overhanging from right and left. In order to float my fly ahead of fish, I wanted to cast the fly below those rocks. Otherwise, my fly would fall right down on fish. If scarce back space was considered, it would be safe to cast the fly directly from downstream. But the rock overhanging from left side would definitely hinder my casting. Therefore, it would be better to extend the line from right side although I have to cast very carefully, avoiding hitting branches behind me. Then that would stop my line from falling down on the fish.
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When Japanese knotweeds grow thickly, the creek is in its best season.

Looking around, I took several steps to right and extended the line carefully. In my sight the yamame trout swimming calmly overlapped with my line extending towards it. I've got it! My line extended far, scraping the right face of the rock. A small silhouette of Spent Badger appeared at the break of bubbles in the head of the pool. My yamame trout responded quickly. It came directly near to the white lump floating on the water. Next moment I had feeling that I really saw the fish open its large mouth and swallow my fly. Surely it opened its large mouth. But it suddenly turned downwards and then to right and left nervously. Then it disappeared behind the rock at once. What happened on the earth? I felt for a moment as if I were put under a spell by a fox. But I knew everything when I saw a small dark reflection as well as my big yamame trout running away behind the rock.

I cast the line along the right bank. Surely there was a small yamame trout at that shallow bank. The small fish was surprised at the line that fell down on its head and ran away at full speed into the head of the pool. That warned my big yamame trout of imminent danger. How unlucky it is to allow such a tiny fish to interrupt my fishing! Next time I will have to look around more carefully before casting. That was all I could think at that time.
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In a small creek most of large fish are caught in early spring.

A long week passed. I felt as if a month had passed. I headed up the valleys of the Mariko creek again. I will fish this time for sure! So had I said to myself again and again for a week. Even while I was fishing some points downstream, I always thought of my old yamame trout. I wanted to dash to that pool but fished up points on the way one after another intentionally slowly in order to calm myself. Then I got to the place where I could look up at that pool. This time it is possible a small yamame trout might stay at the end of the pool. Not so as to make the same mistake I checked my fly and leader at the place where I could not see the pool. Then I calmly went up the rock.

When I stood on the rock overlooking the pool, somehow I felt strange. The scenery was different. I could not believe my eyes. The head of the pool disappeared, which was supposed to be in front of me. Instead, there was a pile of large stones and gravel. Below that I could faintly peep into the familiar face of the rock whose colour I remembered. I looked up at stones slowly to find the red face of the rock that had been deeply bored. I see. The mountain had collapsed. I fished up here, believing a miracle of seeing my old yamame trout but in vain. The biggest point in the Mariko Creek disappeared with my big yamame trout! Writing this essay still brought back clear memories of that big yamame trout swaying.

Don't think you can catch next time. Next time never comes forever! You have to fish as if it were 'A-once-in-a-lifetime chance'. That is what I realized from my bitter lesson.

-- To be continued --
2001/06/24  KEN SAWADA
Tranlated into English by Miyoko Ohtake