Shumi Hanto

Summer Excursions and What Nots

2011-09-12T15:45:00.000+09:00

I got a chance to complete something I've wanted to do for a long time now; reach the summit of Mt. Odake in the Hakkoda Mountain Range (aka The Aomori Alps). The walk started and ended at the famous Sukayu Onsen and took about 5 hours to complete. It was an awesome day and the scenery was no less than spectacular.

The range consists of several peeks, Odake being the highest at 15,846 meters. Shown above are some of the lower peeks on the northern end of the Hakkoda Range.

Of course this is a volcanic area with a lot of sulfur springs. Shown above is evidence of the volatile sulfur activity that still exists. Venturing off the trail has proven fatal on several instances by folks who have succumbed to the poison gas in the area.

My guide for the day was our family friend Yoshiko-san. She hikes the summit several times a year and I was very excited and grateful that she allowed me to tag along on this excursion.

Another one of the awesome views from the trail above. This hike can also be attempted in the winter with proper gear, i.e. snow shoes and the like. There is also a cabin about 3/4 of the way up that anyone can stay in for the night for free.

Kazumi ordered up an insane amount of rakyou this year to be processed, cleaned and pickled. It took a combined effort of about ten hours to clean and prepare the rakyou. This is a serious delicacy that we will have as a side dish for the rest of the year.

Shown above is what the rakyou look like before and after cleaning. This was the hardest work I've accomplished in a long, long time.

Once cleaned they are set in a salt water mix for a few days then after draining, a special mix of soy sauce, sake, etc. is added to allow the pickling process to commence. After a couple of weeks, these are ready to enjoy.

I took the boat out to Mutsu's Natsudomari Pennensula to try for some Flounder and Sea Bream. When I arrived at the Sunrise Bait and Tackle, the owner unfortunately only had two small containers of dead worms left for bait. Theses were in such bad shape that he didn't charge me. I wasn't able to come up with my target, but I did land a few Mackerel and the Ray shown above.

The Cicada were out this year. This one hung out around the house for a few days before completing it's cycle.

We were able to attend the Misawa Costume Parade this year which was interesting as always.

Several monkeys out and about on the Tsugaru Pennensula this year. I saw these guys hanging out in the Mountains on my way to Minmaya to try for some trout.

I saw 30~50 monkeys on this trip. They seem to be enjoying some type of grain along the roads.

The gorge at Minmaya is beautiful and full of trout

I was able to dangle a worm from the top of this waterfall and land several trout. Is it worth risking life and limb on the minor chance of landing a presumably small releasable trout? - Yes

I was able to land a few keepers and had a great time. Had a good mix on this day of Iwana and Yamame. I released 3~4 times more than I kept and was using barbless hooks, so everything was released lively and ready to grow. Although we've been experiencing a lot of rain lately, the warm weather continues. I hope to get back out for some more trout soon, or maybe get the boat back on the water, this time with some fresh bait. - Hanto

Hoya Fest 2011

2011-06-09T17:28:00.005+09:00

Received a styro-bushel of Hoya (Sea Pineapple) this week through a friend from an acquaintance who lives on the bay. These are apparently too large and expensive for the average consumer and are usually sold to high scale Tokyo restaurants. To keep the prices where the should remain, a few are held over and given away. This is one of my favorite foods. These are fresh off the boat and ready to eat.

The Hoya have a plus and minus nub. The minus nub is cut to drain the juice. After obtaining the juice, cut open, scrape and clean the "meat" from the outer skin.

Chunk the meat, let it soak in the juice for a while and eat. Although Hoya tastes best straight from the varmint, it can also be grilled or breaded and fried with tempura breading. Be sure to counteract the extreme health benefits of the Hoya by eating with a cold beer or nice imo shochu. - Hanto

Kanita Round 2

2011-05-29T16:51:00.002+09:00

Back to Kanita today to try out a different branch. I ended up landing 11 fish again, this time even smaller. I decided to use a barbless hook anytime I fish this area due to the small sizes. This resulted in the loss of about 10 fish as well. Landed all three target species today including Iwana (shown above) Yamame, and Ugui. All fish were released unharmed. I may try out the south end branches off the main river the next time I go out, or even fish one of the main streams. I need to get some fish in the keeper, as I'm hungry for a nice mess of trout.

I stopped off at a Small restaurant just west of the mountain tunnel on my way back and enjoyed a great bowl of Shoyu Ramen and Gyoza. Hit the Onsen after lunch to round off a perfect Tsugaru day.

Ugui (Big-Scaled Redfin) on the Oirase River

2011-05-28T04:49:00.003+09:00

Did some research on the Oirase looking for a large water trout bite. I didn't manage to come up with a trout, but did hook this nice Ugui. After fishing the main river for the first time, I think learning how to fly fish will be my next move. I'll try to make it back to Kanita this week with some Budo Mushi for some trout, hopefully keepers this time.

2011 Trout Debut - Kanita

2011-05-24T12:40:00.003+09:00

Got off to a decent start today for this year's trout season. Caught 11 in all including two Ugui. All fish were fairly small and released. I was able to get in some good Kanita area research and will go a bit more remote on my next excursion.

Off-Site Mahi Mahi

2011-05-03T19:48:00.010+09:00

As I had already purchased my spring trip tickets prior to the massive catastrophes, I decided to proceed to Hawaii. It was an eventful and highly enjoyable trip. I witnessed the above scene trolling out at sunrise aboard the "Wild Bunch" big game rig out of Waikiki. The skipper and deck hand were helpful, friendly, and worked hard trying to pin down some fish.

Above is one of the two Mahi Mahi that I managed to reel up to the boat during the trip. The other fish was beaten off the hook by the deck hand's gaff by accident. Under other circumstances I may have been irritated by the loss of such a nice fish but after hearing his comment "That was bad" I couldn't help but laugh.

Another highlight of the trip was our snorkeling adventure to Hanauma Bay. It was a fine day and we were able to see many species of fish including my favorite the "Humuhumunukunukuapua'a". Above Kazumi models her snorkeling gear. While snorkeling I ensured that she kept her fins tightly secured as I was afraid her oddly shaped toes may be mistaken for tube worm nubs and be eaten off by a hungry sea turtle.

We stayed on Waikiki at the Hale Koa Hotel which was well equipped and close to the beach. Above Kazumi and Moe-chan relax in the shadow of Diamond Head.

The folks at a Honolulu Airport cab stand have taken to collecting zipper tags that have broken away from luggage. I can only think that one of these may have belonged to the great Don Ho himself.

Spotted this Kamo Shika (Japanese Serrow) on my commute to work in Mid April. I have seen several of these critters while out trout fishing and beach combing, but this is the first one that would stand still long enough for a picture.

When I came to Japan over 20 years ago, The only place that I could afford to fish was at the local port in Misawa. I spent more days and nights than I can remember reeling in flounder and greenling from this port. I have spent some of the truly happy times of my life here. Above is a portion of what it looks like now. It is heart breaking, but the folks around here are tough and resilient and will pull through.

It's important to remember that Japan is still in deep pain over this massive chain of events and still needs help in her recovery. As new news hits the tube, it's easy to be distracted, disassociated, and forget (and understandably so in some cases). Please continue to help when and if possible. While I was galavanting in Hawaii, my good friend Yoshikazu-san and his associates continue to spend their own time and money to transport supplies to the effected areas. I thank them for their continued efforts.

USAID

2011-03-17T13:30:00.003+09:00

Above - USAID search and rescue teams deploy from Misawa AB to affected areas. If you are in Japan, please inquire as to where you can donate clothing, blankets, and supplies for the shelters. If you are able to make a monetary donation, see top right link.

Duck, Gundam, Tired Feet

2010-11-29T16:55:00.012+09:00

Made it out another Friday for some duck. I still don't have the means to get my boat to the lake, and the white caps are keeping me off my favorite hunting spot which is a small island. I have taken to wading around the marsh and sneaking up on unsuspecting Blue Bill . . . and then of course killing them. Shown left are the two hens I managed to harvest on my last outing. I also picked up two the Friday before, but was too lazy to create a blog post.

There are now hoards of migrating Swan around. Shown above were about a hundred or so in a flooded rice field next to the lake. We have started receiving some minor snowfall this week and I'm hoping that the Mallard will be arriving soon.
On our way to Hachinohe, Kazumi and I happened upon these large statutes of the Gundam character series. It appears that it's the local barber's hobby to erect these impressive concrete/steel works of art in his spare time. If you look closely to the aft right, you can see one in the making.
As the local onsen closes its sauna and cold water bath on Mondays, I decided to drive the 40 minutes or so to Ajigasawa for a soak in Ajigasawa Onsen and to grab a bowl of ramen for lunch. This was my first time at this onsen and it was well worth the trip. Shown above is the rotanburu (outside bath). They also have a walking bath filled with river rock that is supposed to cure what ales you as it punishes the acupoints of your tired feet.

Opening Day - スズガモ (Bluebill)

2010-11-02T19:52:00.010+09:00

I was able to make it out on opening day and managed to bring home a few Bluebill despite several glitches in my original plan. I didn't have my boat/blind due to a recent traffic accident and had to wade to my favorite area in high winds and fairly rough waves. I'm glad I started out in the dark, as I may have been too intimidated had I been able to see the conditions. I sat out the decoys and hunkered down in the reeds hiding as best I could. I was only able to hunt for a couple of hours, as the conditions worsened, and I didn't want to get stranded on the small island where I was hunting. The island lay about 120 meters from the coast and I only had about an inch of wader to spare as I floated the decoys back. Although I missed a few and didn't take a few shots that I should have, I had a great time. I cant wait to get my boat back on the water so I can stay out all day.

I jumped this mixed group about a week ago while out doing some recon. Hopefully the swarm will stay around for a while. Once the snow starts, the greenheads should move in, and these guys will be to wise to get fooled into my spread.

Stopped off at a mountain coffee shop to check out some chainsaw art. I'm no art major, but the $1000 they're asking for each of these masterpieces seems a little high.

The leaves finally changed in The Hakkodas. I took a nice tour of the mountains and was able to get some spectacular views. Also stopped in at Skaiyu Onsen for a soak in the area's only coed hot spring. Got some spectacular views there also. - Hanto

Das Boot, Hakoda, and the Hitchhiker

2010-10-12T17:10:00.015+09:00

Step 1, The Making of a Masterpiece: I've finally shunned my laziness and decided to put in some time and effort on my boat in the making of a duck blind for this season. I was able to buy everything needed at the local home center. Reluctant to say, I scrapped most of my original idea of a lay down blind for something I could sit up and drink coffee in. Thankfully I took Kazumi with me to run ideas by, and this is what we collectively came up with.

We decided to go with a bamboo frame and vegetable field arcs for the roof. Everything is zip-tied and pegged and comes apart in three pieces. It takes about 5 minutes to set up.

Shown above is the finished product. I have a pretty good view in front and can flip up the top for overhead pass shooting. I have also installed several plastic tubes to act as reed holders. I think this should do the trick for our defense of the ill willed vicious hoard of migrating fowl this year.

During my commute home, I sometimes stop off at "Hands". Hands is a community farm project worked by mentally handicapped folks who grow veggies and raise livestock. They have a roadside shop that sells some of the best pork I've had. Above is the view from the Hands parking lot at sundown. The mountains in the backdrop is of course the Hakoda Range (The Aomori Alps)

Above is the Hatchimantai National Forrest Park. The kids from a couple of local elementary schools were having a field trip to the park on a perfect day. We stopped off here on our way to Hakoda Hot Spring. At the Spring we were able to reserve a private hour in the ramune yu, a natural carbonated sulfur spring.

On a brief stop off at a local grocery store, Kazumi stopped for a moment to talk to an elderly women sitting on a bench outside the store. The older gal explained that she had taken the cheap bus to town for a shopping excursion at the supermarket and was waiting for the return bus back home. She said that the bus should be by in the next two hours and 42 minutes to take her back. She tried to sleep for a while on a bench next to the bus stop but awoke after only 4 minutes (she was always very specific about her time frames). Lucky for her (and us), she lived near our house and Kazumi invited her to join us on the ride home.

Once at her abode, she promptly dug two pair of old rubber boots from the shed, cleaned out the spider webs and instructed us to grab the nearby homemade ladder, don the boots and follow. She led us to a nearby chestnut tree, handed us a plastic bag and walked away. The chestnuts were boiled and eaten once we made it home and were awesome.

After the chestnut harvest, she had us drive her to her pumpkin patch and allowed us to take our choice of her finest pumpkins. Kazumi ended up sauteing the and sweetening to pumpkins and we ate these for desert for a few nights.

She instructed us that from this point forward, we were allowed to be her friends, provided that we never quarrel, which we agreed. Does this mean we always have to do what she says? Anyway, we had a great time and made a new friend.

Trout Overnighter in Yanagita (柳田)

2010-09-17T12:23:00.011+09:00

Due to an extended gap between work shifts, I was able to get away for an overnight trout excursion in the mountainous area between Ajigasawa and Fukaura. This was the last general area of Aomori that I had yet to fish. The bite was sporadic. I did manage to catch/release several small fish and kept the one nice Iwana and two small hook swallowers shown above. The river was flowing fast and was at times difficult to manage. I had to abandon my starting location after about 300 meters and start again 3~4 kilometers upstream.

I set up camp (so to speak), next to the river and just got the tent up prior to sundown. This is the first time I've used my Kelty trail tent, and It proved to be great. Although it rained on and off throughout the night and the mosquitoes were swarming, I managed to stay dry and bug free all night. It was a comfortable stay in general and a good night's sleep. This was a good field test for my gear. Next summer I can safely plan more overnight excursions into Akita and Iwate.

The fishing was hit-and-miss, but the scenery was spectacular the entire day. I also got a chance to try out my new waders, which proved to be watertight and comfortable with a nice grip on the rocks.

I put the fish on ice and stopped by the local Onsen on my way back for a quick soak and sauna. Trout season ends on 30 Sep, but there's still a month or so of boat fishing available if I can get away. This has probably been my last trout excursion for the year. Hopefully by the start of river season next year, I'll be geared up for Ayu.

Circumnavigation of Tsugaru With Yoshikazu-san

2010-09-01T18:05:00.012+09:00

Shown here is one of the 4~5 different types of fish caught today on an excursion around the whole of the Tsugaru Peninsula. The origianl plan was to head straight to Kanita Porta for Sayuri. We ended up being detoured due to a road outage from a wash out. The torential rains we experianced a few days prior have left a lot of local mountain road sections destroyed.

Had the company of Yoshikazu-san (above) today on the excursion. Our intent was to try for Sayuri off the Kanita Port, but due to the muddy waters flowing from the nearby river, the waters around the port were too mucky to fish.

We took a brief stop-off at Tappi Port to try for Sayuri, but our hooks were repeatedly attacked by a swarm of small and determined Blowfish. On the way to Tappi Misaki from the port we had a rare sighting of a group of wild monkeys (2 shown above)

The water was calm with a slight wind coming out of the west. The mud sliding along Tsugaru's East coast was terrible. Several roads were closed, and we even saw a house collapsed from the mud.

I was able to bring home a few small Aji (Spanish Mackerel), and had these for a light snack with a beer. Had a great time on the ole excursion today. I received some good info from the Kanita Tackle Shop owner on local fishing. It turns out that the nearby river is not only full of trout, but also Ayu. As soon as I can talk the wife into letting me fork over the $800 for an Ayu rod, I'll be all over it.

Kanita Excursion

2010-08-25T14:47:00.007+09:00

Took a field trip to Kanita Village today for some trout fishing and a look around. Had an awesome day on the river catching 22 trout and keeping the seven shown above in the keeper. All were fairly small with the exception of one nice Iwana.

Saw several Toads on the river today including the one shown above. The river in Kanita is not much of a gorge, but beautiful none the less (and full of trout).

The folks at the port were fishing for Sayuri. This is a long silver fish that according to the local tackle shop owner, are very good eating. I may have to head back next week to give this a try.

I was able to come across Odai train station after some looking and help from a local. I found out through the JR Internet site that I can get home from this station in about two hours and 1800 Yen.

The Tsugaru area is the only place that I have seen crop dusting with remote control helicopters. During certain times of the growing season, you can see these buzzing around all over the peninsula.

I started fishing from the above bridge on a small branch off the main river. I took the bridge art shown above as a sign of good luck.

Although I am extremely fond of the Tsugaru Peninsula, I never thought it measured up to Shimokita in regards to the scenery and general excursion "do list". Today's trip has renewed my excitement in looking for things to do outside in Tsugaru. The east coast of the peninsula is awesome, and I can't wait to go back for some more of the same. Mutsu Bay was glassy calm, and I could see Shimokita's Hotokegaura coastline from the port.

I ended my day with a Yakiniku lunch at a local Shariki Coffee Shop and a soak in the Onsen.

Fishing CANX X 3 Weeks / Tachinebuta

2010-08-10T20:56:00.008+09:00

Fishing in the Sea of Japan for the last three weeks hasn't been a go due to some unfortunate conditions. I was however, fortunate in that the final day of the Goshogawara City Tachinebuta Festival was taking place on a day off. Had a great time with the wife, ate some good food, and should be back in the boat next week. - Hanto

Weather CANX

2010-07-23T05:53:00.002+09:00

Our Tai trip was cancelled today due to some bad luck with the weather. Looks like there may be some thunderstorms blowing in from the NW complete with lightning and rough seas.

I stopped by the Aomori City JSY Tackle Shop a couple of days ago and acquired the gem shown above. This is a 60gm short Tai shikake with add-ons of a double hook set and a glowing silicone trailer. I plan to re-tie the hooks to face in the upward position prior to going out next week. This should help prevent a bottom hang up and loss. I can't wait to give this doodad a try.

We'll take another shot at the Tai next week. I should be able to get on the water once a week through the end of August, and try to fit in some trout time also.

Sea of Japan (日本海) With Captain Nomia

2010-07-16T22:15:00.012+09:00

Had a pioneer excursion today on the Sea of Japan with Captian Nomia out of Shariki Port and some folks from work. Fair to great weather and calm seas. Pictured above are the majority of the fish caught. The five of us captured 35~40 fish including; Soi (Black Rockfish), Fat Greenling (Aburame/Ainame), Red Sea Bream (Madai), Flounder (Kare), Shark (Same), and Blowfish (Fugu). We used typical Tai gear with Isome (blood worms) on double hooked 45 to 60 gram Shikake. Nomia-Sencho was helpful and worked hard finding the fish.

About half way through the morning we spotted a school of Blue Fin about 200 meters from the boat. The captain explained that fishing conditions in the North Nihonkai have been extremely weird lately with fish showing up earlier or later in the season than normal and even large schools of tuna in the area that are usually hanging out in the Kaikyo at this time of year. There were even a couple of Oma Captains parked at Shariki Port.

Looking forward to heading out with Capt Nomia again for some more of the same, or even a Tuna excursion given the opportunity.

Hashikami Boat Trip/Misc Pics This Week

2010-05-31T23:47:00.009+09:00

I was able to get out on Saturday to Hashikami for some Aburame (Fat Greenling) and Soi (Black Rockfish). This is the first Hashikami trip I've been on in about two years. Had a great albeit slow day. Pictured above is my catch of the day; an Aburame over 40 cm.

Also pulled in some nice Soi and one small Kajika. The boat skipper graciously gave me about 20 Hoya (Sea Pineapple?) which happens to be one of my favorite foods.

Mt. Iwaki at sunset. Took this pic on my commute back to work after a great weekend of fishing.

The Kiji (Green Pheasant) are out in full force now. I see and hear them almost every day.

Nanohana (Rapeseed Flowers) are in bloom around the house. A good sign that summer may finally be here.

Weekend Fishing and Field Trip

2010-05-16T23:22:00.013+09:00

I was able to round up a hand-full of trout this weekend, and all-in-all had a pretty successful excursion. I fished a large stream for about 2 hours and came up empty handed. I decided to get a little deeper in the brush and fish a smaller stream with no parallel road access, which paid off. The Iwana shown above was my catch of the day. I had to tie up a short leader and weave it over a fallen tree to reach the spot.

I was in clear view of the Aomori Alps and decided to stop and take the above picture. As we've had a chilly spring, there's a lot of melting snow on the peaks creating some rapid moving stream water.

The following day, the wife and I decided to take a trip to Sukayu Onsen in the Hakkodas. The smaller baths have been re-modelled and are very nice. I had the one shown above all to myself for about an hour.

Snagex + Son at Fukui / Shumi Hanto Updates

2010-05-14T02:21:00.010+09:00

Outstanding! 27 cm Rockfish caught by the fishin' magician. I've decided to start blogging again, and wanted to post this up on the ole blog for a 2010 good luck summer. I'll try and go after some trout tomorrow around Lake Towada. I have also made some contacts in the local Tsugaru area to hook up on some much needed boat fishing. I plan to make a trip in early July to the Nyuto Onsen area for some trout and soakage. I will also try once again for Hirame on the Bay. My hunting season was less than desirable. I did however meet some nice folks in the Ofunato area and plan on returning next winter to try my luck again. If you want to see more of the above fishing trip, click the Snagex link to the right and look for the posting labelled "Fukui Rockfish Festival". Hopefully I'll have some Trout pics to post from tomorrow's trip.

Toll Road Fishing

2009-08-22T22:54:00.004+09:00

This was the largest of the batch caught on a recent "drive by" gorge trip. I have driven a particular route to and from work for several weeks now and have been close to death several times due to the constant rubber necking at the stream that parallels the express way. I finally decided that enough was enough and left home for the 2+ hour drive about 5 hours early. I found a small branch off of the main stream and fished it until I came to the below waterfall. I would have normally taken to climbing, but my new company would not have understood the fiasco had I hurt myself. The fish were all small and released, but of course, it was an awesome stopover on my way to work.

Tsugaru Trout Fishing/Beach Combing

2009-07-16T17:09:00.008+09:00

I was able to sneak away for a little trout fishing last week and ended up with a few in the keeper. Caught these on a river that flows into the western side of Mutsu Bay running from the eastern side of the Tsugaru Penninsula. I walked the river for about four hours, but these were all caught on a 30 minute stretch. I didn't even have a hit before or after this stretch. This is a bad picture, but these are all Iwana (Japanese Char).

I also made my way to the Sea of Japan on two separate occasions for some beach combing. A total of four hours of combing resulted in four floats. Nothing special was packed out, but I did have a pretty lucky find shown to the left. This is a Korean float complete with Hangul markings on the seal button.

Back in Action

2009-06-11T12:25:00.005+09:00

I'm finally back into a position where I can enjoy fishing and exploring the country again. I have set aside at least one day per week on my new schedule to trek and fish. Above is a small Yamame Trout that I caught a few days ago on a day excursion to Minmaya on the Tsugaru Peninsula. It was a good trip as I caught and released several small trout, and had a great time back in the keiryu (gorge). I have also heard through the grapevine that there is a particular port in this area that is famous for Soi, Kurodai and Madai (Black Rockfish, Black Seabream and Red Seabream). The main challenge being the Kurodai which I have never attempted to harvest. One interesting point to my Minmaya excursion included fishing on top of the Seikan Tunnel, which is the largest tunnel in the world. I have traveled through the tunnel on a few occasions to get to Hokaido.

Navigation

2009-04-29T11:45:00.016+09:00

Probably the worst map I have ever tried to navigate is the Aomori Hunting Map shown to the left. Landmarks can barley be seen on this map. The map is also a fold out type that is huge (covers the entire kitchen table). When scoping out an area, dealing with the map in the car can be a definite challenge. This map is best used with another/better map that can be marked appropriately. This picture shows an area close to my house. Green areas are temporary wildlife protection areas. These areas change every three years. Red areas are permanent protection areas. The yellow area is a steel shot only area (Lake Ogawara)

This is a page from the Aomori Fishing "Hot Points" Map. This map is awesome. I have scoped out many trout and other species using this map. In the right corner of each page (not shown) there is a helpful key that displays the average length of area fish and the best season to fish each species. Of course this is not a perfect solution, but it is a great starting point if you want to try out a new area. Notice the small finger sticker pointing to a successful trout spot.

My favorite new toy shown at left is the Garmin Etrex Venture HC handheld GPS unit. Used with a good map (displayed underneath, and the two maps above, the GPS is the hands down best way to find stuff and get back to important areas. I have decided not to upload any maps to the unit for now, as that would be way too easy. I think I prefer just following the arrow and trying to figure out the roadways myself.

First Beach Combing 2009 - Not Bad

2009-04-23T14:24:00.009+09:00

I had a break today and decided to do a little scouting and glassing on the north beaches. It started out looking like the makings of a dismal day. The temp was about 5 degrees and the wind was howling. All of the beaches looked pretty bad, as the sand had put about 2 cm top cover on the flotsam. I finally decided to do a little walking and ended up with 9 floats total. I found everything on the new tide line. There was nothing on the winter storm lines, as these were almost completely covered as mentioned above. I only ended up walking about 12 km. I had a great albeit short walk. I spooked several pintail on one of the inlets and saw some bluebill also. Other than that, no wildlife. All of the floats were fairly typical, nothing too rare. I did have one marking, "D.G." (Diaichi Glass) on a seal button, and some good barnacle shells, crust, a couple of nets, and 1 with the attached octopus jig.

I was also able to scout out a couple of potential trout fishing streams on the way to the straights. I hope to make it back to this area sometime in June with my tent to check the beaches, trout fish, scout for deer and do a little port fishing. I did come across a nice whale bone today, which I also brought back.

Not a bad specimen. I did not take official measurements, but this is about 110 cm in length. I'll add this to my collection. I should have an entire whale soon.

April - Slow Start

2009-04-04T16:56:00.003+09:00

Went trout fishing today. The above Yamame is about 4" long. This was the largest fish of the day. The current was a little too fast and the water level still too high. Dealing with the snow melt. If not for the supermarket I would have surely starved to death by now. This season so far has nowhere to go but up. Anyway, It was a great day with good weather and I got to spend it outside.

Tragic Happening - Death at Sea

2009-03-30T15:21:00.004+09:00

My Saturday attempt to catch my first Cherry Salmon was plagued by an unfortunate event. After about 2 hours of fishing with no bite, a call came over the marine band that one of the local fishermen was missing. We immediately ceased fishing and joined in the search. At the direction of the Coast Guard, all boats on the water must stop working and join in the search effort. About an hour and a half later the fisherman was found. All boats then reported back to port out of respect. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but from what I can piece together, the 80 something year old Capt was fishing alone and may have suffered a heart attack and fell overboard.

Condolences to his family and the people of Higashidori Village.

Clam Shucking Hopes Dashed - My Fault

2009-03-27T15:46:00.005+09:00

I don't often report on tragic events, but I'm ashamed and sorry to say that this year I arrived at the local clam festival (Misawa Hoki Matsuri) too late to sign up for the clam schucking contest. Shown above is heat #1 which was won by a gentleman from Hatchinohe. He successfully shucked 6 clams in the allotted 1 minute. Very impressive.

Spring Deer Scouting

2009-03-25T13:32:00.005+09:00

I had the opportunity to go out scouting for deer sign a few days ago. I tried to traverse the mountains but there was still a good snow on the ground and I did not bring my snowshoes. I did find a nice trout stream and will be back to catch some Yamame as soon as the season opens (1 April).

The small mountain row that I intend to scout is in the background of this picture. In the foreground is a traffic mirror and a makeshift snow pole. The road was a little too slick and steep to drive on, so I walked a few miles and looked for sign off the roadway.

I found several tracks. Unfortunately, I think that these all belong to the Japanese Serrow (Kamoshika) and not the Sika Deer. I'm asking around now about the difference in tracks, but I'll more than likely have to go deep into the hills to find the Sika Deer.

Catch and Don't Release

2009-03-19T11:29:00.008+09:00

On a recent scouting expedition to a nearby mountain range, I stopped at one of the larger rivers to see If I could see any Ayu or Trout swimming in the shallows. This familiar sign greeted me as I entered the approach to the walking bridge. This is a common sign around the fresh waters of this area. It basically tells anglers that it's against the prefectural game code to catch and release the Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, and Bluegill. If caught, these fish must be kept, or discarded. According to research by a couple of friends, these species were introduced to Japan in the 1920s and have done considerable damage to some of the native habitat and fish species. I grew up fishing for Bluegill, and have some of my fondest fishing memories as a kid catching Bass and Bluegill. Bass fishing has become a popular sport in Japan with some Japanese Pros doing well in the US tournament circuit. There is some excellent Bass fishing in Japan and around this area. Have fun Bass fishing, just don't throw them back if you see this sign, the native species must be protected, fished, killed, cooked, and ate!

Japanese Hunting Study Guide

2009-03-12T10:26:00.004+09:00

To the left I have inserted a page from the Japanese Hunting Study Manual. One of the tests for getting the license is game identification. A proctor will hold a stack of about 100 cards, each with a picture of a varmint. He'll pull up a card and you have to name the animal and proclaim weather or not this particular beast deserves to be harvested. This seams rather easy by looking at the picture to the left. Any fool can remember that bears and deer are game animals. This test however, becomes far more tricky when attempting to distinguish between the Dusky Thrush (game animal) and the Russet Sparrow (prison time).

Another interesting set of questions on one of the written tests involves track identification. The challenge here is that all tracks are shown the same size. It's amazing how similar a grizzly and chipmunk track appear when shown at the same magnification.

There is also a distance quiz. "How far away is that neon convenience store sign?" the examiner would ask.

Getting the license was an awesome and enjoyable experience. There are several more requirements and tests that have to be passed not mentioned above. For instance, you actually have to go to the skeet range and pass a skill test with a shotgun. The Japanese make sure that you are serious about the desire to hunt, and I am. Hopefully I won't miss another season, and I'll be able to post plenty of hunting pics on the ole blog here.

Fishing News

2009-03-09T14:40:00.017+09:00

Nice Kare!

Big news from Snagex. He was able to catch a really nice Kare (Flat Fish) off the port (pictured right). I'm awaiting details of the catch, but once again he has managed to prove himself as the "King of the Port". He plans on getting an authentic ink print of this one suitable for framing. I'll post the picture when available.

Ayu Fishing

Pictured left is a mess of nice Ayu that were caught just before my Iraq departure. I'll save the details of Ayu fishing for this summer, but this is probably one of the most interesting things that I've ever tried. I'm gearing up now for the start of the summer season.....much much more to follow on this one.

Mebaru / Soi (Rock Fish)

I think that I should be able to break away this week sometime for a little night fishing for Mebaru at the port. Pictured right are a small mess of Mebaru (Red Rock Fish) and Soi (Black Rock Fish) that I caught last Fall prior to leaving for Iraq. Hopefully by the end of the week, I'll have some new Mebaru pictures.

March Big Event - Going for Sakuramasu

I received an Invite from Tenchou to go boat fishing for Cherry Salmon toward the end of this month. This will be my first experience at this and I'm very anxious. The Cherry Salmon is known in Japan as Sakuramasu and is the "out-to-sea" version of the Yamame Trout.

Qatar - Beer Cheaters

2009-02-27T04:40:00.005+09:00

Although I normally don't find room on the blog for matters military, I would be remiss if I didn't mention my partner Phil shown above (I'm the skinny, ugly one). Together we have successfully taken our section to war and returned unscathed. If it weren't for Phil I may have to actually work for a living. The picture above is taken in Qatar. We're on our way home from Iraq and have managed to at least double (through $ and intimidation)our three drink quota. Thanks Phil, I owe you a lot!

Heading Home

2009-02-20T01:18:00.005+09:00

Going Home

It looks like I've been given the go to get back home. No specifics, but the next post I make should be from Japan. I am very excited about getting home. I can't wait to post some excursion data from a good fishing trip or beach combing expedition. I have missed the entire hunting season and the (Kare) Flat Fish don't come out until May, but I'll find something to keep busy. Something outside, in the woods, or on the water. I was informed by my wife today that she was able to procure a very rare bottle of Aomori Nagai Imo Shochu (Shochu is a liquor that can be made from just about anything, in this case a type of long slimy potato). I can't wait to try this and will be sure to send a bottle south to my good friend Snagex, as he has taught me a lot about many of the finer things, such as the Shochu.

Iraqi Ducks

There is a small lake between the flightline and the perimeter that seems to be year round home to Coot and what I think may be Black Duck. I have read that the Black Duck is the smartest of all ducks and after trying to sneak up on this raft of birds, I believe it. The Black Duck scatter themselves in among the Coot and are the first to start the swim from danger.

Stranded Couch

When I left work a few days ago, there was a minor tiff concerning the rightful owner of a black sofa. When I returned the next morning I noticed said black sofa on the top of one of our Hardened Aircraft shelters.

Bravo....

My next posting should be from the library or the road station close to my house in Japan.

Until I post again, I'm on my way to see my wife, eat the Mackerel Pike, soak in the Hot Spring, drink a Kirin Draft, and get back to all things that help me appreciate such a rich and fulfilling life.

Geocaching - New Shumi - Original Post

2009-01-15T13:44:00.010+09:00

Since I couldn't do any hunting or fishing in Iraq, I have taken to planning and day dreaming about buying different species of decoys, drawing out spreads, studying my hunting and fishing maps, buying gear on the Internet machine, etc. After a good hour or so of daydreaming one day while walking the flight line posing as a hard worker, I decided that the main purpose of my life is to scout out the elusive Aomori Sika Deer. This deer is usually deep in the woods, and as as I'm apt to getting lost, buying a GPS unit was my only option. I asked around trying to gather info about which unit to buy and how theses things worked etc. I just wanted to be able to find my car after a long day of scouting deep in the woods. I was lucky in the fact that my boss "The Tank" (named so not after the war machine, but because he can hold as much beer as a large tank), had owned a GPS gizmo for years and knew all about them. I decided to go with the Garmin Venture HC. This unit was the choice as it is the next up from the most inexpensive unit sold (it was close to Christmas and the really cheapos were all sold out). The Tank not only schooled me on the gizmo, but also introduced me to Geocaching.

Geocaching is a kind of game where folks will hide items in a weatherproof container of varying size, post the GPS coordinates on an Internet site, and allow you to go out and look for them. Once found, an entry is made, both on a written log in the container, and on the site. Pictured above, I've found a geocache in this small structure from directions via the site. The name of this cache was "Mud Hut".

So far, I have found 8 geocaches around the base. There are also varying other items involved. For instance, some caches have small trackable items that can be transferred to other caches and logged in the site. These items are tracked on the site to see where and how far they travel. Some cachers also put small items in the cache for trade. There seems to be only a few rules to the game. 1. Put the cache back where you find it. 2. If you take a trade item, you must leave something of equal or greater value. 3. You must log your visit. Other than that its pretty simple.

It's awesome to be able to pursue an interesting hobby, even over here. This summer in Japan, I plan on hiding my own cache. Of course I will do so in grandioso style. This will be placed so that a level of expertise confidence and toughness will be required to log your name. I'll post the coordinates on this site as well as the official site which is listed under my links on this page.

No Country For Old Men?

2009-01-15T13:29:00.017+09:00

I find it odd that the older I get the tougher I seem to be. I don't think it's a matter of being stronger or able to endure more by overcoming physical obstacles. I just think that when some people get older, the mind allowes them to get used to things more easily. Since I've been here in Iraq, I've had to deal with some folks who can't get used to the idea of being here. Depression, anxiety, etc, are a daily struggle with these people. There are a few however, who mold this experience into a craze. The insanity of getting used to things has taken over, and these people are indeed out of control insane. It's these old men that will defend with their last breath that there is in fact a reason for their insanity, but they will never display the reason in an order that makes sense. I'm lucky to be over here with a few old men that are as nutty and out of control as me. One such fellow, Mark, aka, Big Mac aka, Ron Jeremy, decided early on to sign up for and win the local "Biggest Looser" contest. He ended up loosing in the neighborhood of 35 lbs took the 1st place trophy, and won a nice digital camcorder. He is currently in a mad sprint to build a smoking fortress outside our building complete with roof, deck, railing, etc. Of course he doesn't smoke himself, but to understand the gist of this entry, you will most assuredly understand that such a thing wouldn't matter. (I'll add a picture of the smoking fortress later)

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Pictured above, John Barber, aka Jon Ba Ba "Jon" (French for John) Ba Ba (Japaenese for Old Hag) runs a half marathon around our living compound. Jon was on board to enter a 12 mile ruckmarch/run, when he decided that 12 miles was not quite far enough. Why waste your time running a mile or so shy of a half marathon? So the Ba Ba skipped the organized gaggle, mapped out a course, and ran on his own the next day. Jon also marches the 2 miles in to work everyday in complete battle gear (not required to be worn unless directed). This is a very heavy way to get to work. I think that should we get attacked between the hours that Jon is walking in, his chances of surviving unscathed are unmatched.

I came to Iraq with 1 single personal goal; to quit smoking. I've managed to be completely tobacco free for almost 3 months now. I have also attended to some other personal goals by chance. My list of achievements follows: 1. Quit Smoking, 2. Lost 23 pounds, 3. Can now do 10 pull-ups (yes, in a row), 4. Treadmill 5K best time 22 min 30 sec 5. Treadmill 10 k best time 51 min 05 sec. In this last paragraph I'm tooting my own horn, bragging, etc. I'm proud of myself and I want this logged, because I know once I get home it's probably over. I'll be extremely busy and will probably end up back to normal, a chubby, beer drinking, selfish, sportsman, glutton. As long as I can keep from smoking (my ultimate goal), I'll be satisfied.

There is a phrase in Japan, O-skaresamadeshita, that roughly translated means; thanks for the hard work, or in some cases; thanks for managing to get through this less than easy situation along with me.

To the insane old men of the 14th I say, O-skaresamadeshita, and good luck my friends.

Fishing

2008-10-30T14:45:00.019+09:00

When I returned to Japan in the summer of '02, I started off my fishing the same as when I left in '99. A couple of surf poles at the port. I still enjoy this type (and all types) of fishing. Gradually I was introduced to target fishing of all types; Flounder, Seabream, Trout, Halibut, Sweetfish, etc. Although the target fishing is usually the most challenging and interesting. Sometimes there's nothing better than heading to the port. I usually stop in at one of the local ports and ask the fishermen about the bite, then I'll gear-up and go for it on my day off. My most recent shore experience was for the Black Rock Fish. I'll get some pictures developed and add this one later.

Scallop (Hotate) Fishing

Scallop fishing from the port is an awesome way to spend a winter day off. The scallop only come in close enough to catch in the winter months. A metal "coat hanger" looking gizmo is cast out and drug on the bottom. The scallop clamp on and don't let go. I cast out about 50 times before I landed this one. Of course I love the taste of a good scallop, but the wild scallop is special. I have never tasted a scallop as good as the one in this picture. It may be the migratory habits or difference in diet. I don't waste this flavor by cooking. These scallops get eaten raw with a little soy and wasabi.

Yari Ika (Spear Tailed Squid) Fishing

Squid fishing is another option for the winter months. Usually around mid December to mid January, the Yari Ika come close enough to port to catch by casting. This type of fishing is done at night from the tetra. This is one of my favorite types of pier fishing. A slip float is used with a special glowing squid jig. Chicken meat is tied to the jig and hangs about a meter from the surface. I use a flasher, much like a camera flash, to keep the jig illuminated. This is probably my most dangerous style of fishing. Walking around casting and catching on the awkwardly shaped ice covered tetra at night has taken a few lives in my favorite spot. If you lose your sense of awareness while fishing the Yari Ika, you'll die doing something you love. The Yari Ika also tastes great. As sweet as any squid you'll try. No need for cooking here either. Cut in thin strips and sprinkled with soy and ginger.

Deep Tetra Fishing

Most port fishermen know that a nice deep hole in the tetra is usually a good hide out for bottom fish such as Soi, Ainame and Kajika (pictured here). At a particular port about 15 minutes from my house, the tetra are arranged such that if a person had the gumption, they could climb down into the tetra and fish the holes that no one else attempts. So I do. This gets extremely dangerous. I don't take anyone with me when I go climbing for fish. I strap on a small hip pack, wear special shoes, and take a specialized tetra rod that is less than a meter in length. I rig up my own leaders for this fishing using a buller, beads, and fluorescent floater beads. I used blood worms (Isome) or tube worms (Erako) for bait. Sometimes the most difficult thing about this type of fishing is what to do if you catch a nice fish. I had an extremely difficult time getting this fish out of the tetra. The Kajika makes a delicious soup. This is a big headed, bony fish that can be cut into fillets and fried if large enough. I like to put this one in a soup, so that the entire head can be eaten, as this seems to be the most tasty meat.

Kare (Flat fish) Fishing

Kare fishing from the port is probably my most relaxing type of fishing. The Kare will usually bite at the port from mid spring to mid fall. During the hot months however, the meat gets a little too soft and this fish is not as good eating as the early and late season fish. To fish for the Kare, just rig up a couple of drop loops with a little bead flare, cast out as far as possible, and hang out. I like to introduce new folks to this type of fishing as long as they are non-drinkers (AKA my designated driver). I rarely mix drinking and fishing.......this is the exception. These fish can be prepared just about any way you can think of. Kare fishing from a boat is approached entirely different and will warrant a special posting.

Mutsu Hirame (Bastard Halibut) Fishing. The Challenge!

Although I catch a lot of Hirame on the Pacific coast side by charter boat, the really large Hirame dwell in Mutsu Bay. I have yet to catch one. I have decided to go about this challenge using my own boat by launching at different points along the Natsudomari Pennensula inside the bay. I know the fish are there. There is a small bait shop along the Penn that sells live anchovies. This is the bait of choice. The anchovy must be anchored taught about 1 ~ 2 meters from the bottom and allowed to swim freely around the line. Once this is achieved, the boat must move slowly around the area until finding a fish. These fish are timid. They bite for minutes on the anchovy until deciding to take the bait well enough to become hooked. On two separate occasions I've had the fish biting and jumped the gun. This has been an interesting challenge. So far I'm defeated............I'll be back!

Wakasagi (Pond Smelt) Fishing

Lucky for me, I have an understanding wife who lets me enjoy my hobbies. I've tried several times to get her into the outdoors, with no success. This said, I find it odd that a person who hates being outside so much enjoys ice fishing. We go ice fishing for Wakasagi on any one of several nearby lakes in the area. A large Wakasagi is 4~5 inches long. Unfortunately, we can only get on the ice when it reaches 10 or more centimeters thick. This usually happens late January to early February, but some years not at all. A very small rod and reel set is used with a line of 10 ~ 12 tiny hooks and a small bottom sinker. We use a kind of treated maggot for bait. It gets extremely cold on the lake, so we usually fish inside an ice fishing tent in the morning, then venture out come afternoon. Pictured here, Kazumi cooks up some of our catch. A little shake in some Kara-ange breading, then straight in the hot oil. No cleaning required. We eat the whole fish. It comes out about the size of a french fry and has an excellent taste.

Pacific Side Hirame (Bastard Halibut) Fishing

Every September I head to my ole standby deep sea charter port in Hashikami and book a day trip for Hirame. This is a very interesting and sometimes exhausting style of fishing. This type of target fishing requires the Nata. A Nata is a triangular/torpedo shaped gizmo that is weighted in the front, usually with lead. Some folks make their own Nata by melting and forming old lead sinkers, then whittling out the wooden body and attaching. Frozen anchovies are tied from the tail of the Nata and also about 40 cm up the line and out. The Nata is fished about 1 ~ 2 meters from the bottom and constantly raised and lowered. This makes the anchovies appear to be swimming, which attracts the Hirame. Pictured left, Yohei holds up two nice Pacific Hirame. He and I caught about 40 of these on this particular outing........Yohei always seems to bring good luck!

Tai (Red Sea Bream) Fishing

One of the most highly sought after fish by just about every fisherman I know is the Tai. The first three years of my Tai fishing left me skunked, not even a bite. After I caught my first Tai, I have caught at least one on every outing. Tai fishing requires a lot of technique and patience. We use relatively light gear and rig our own leaders. These fish are smart and have excellent vision. They dwell at different depths at different times of the year and roam around Mustu bay and the Tsugaru Kaikyou ( the strait between Aomori and Hokaido) throughout the season in search of food. There are different methods of Tai fishing dependent on the time of year, area, and what the Tai are interested in at the time. Pictured here is a Tai that I managed to catch in the Kaikyou. This fish was over 60 cm.

Sinker Dinkin = Riggin up for just about anything that will bite.

Sometimes I'll head down to the charter port in Hashikami and sign up for some sinker dinkin. I really enjoy this type of fishing (of course). The tackle/bait shop is owned and operated by Mr. and Mrs. Sakashita. These are two of the nicest folks I know. They are always willing to lend advice, and they will never stear you wrong when It comes to purchasing gear. Although there are some types of target fishing available in Hashikami (see Hirame Fishing above), mostly we rig up for 4 types of fish, Aburame (Greenling), Kare (flat fish), Soi (Black Rock Fish) and Mebaru (Red Rock Fish). I make my own leaders for this type of fishing which includes a tenbin (a long metal hanger to attach a sinker and leader), an Aburame/Kare rig which attaches to the tenbin at the end, and a Soi/Mebaru leader which sets on top of the tenbin. We drop the leader to the bottom, real up a bit, and start dinkin. Pictured above is Mitch and I after a day of sinker dinkin. Not a bad trip. There is a potential to catch some really nice fish doing this. I have landed some nice greenling up to 40 cm, and some decent Soi also.

Gyotaku = Ink Print of the Fish

Although I do know a skilled taxidermist in my area, he specializes in fresh water fish. If I ever catch a trout worthy of hanging, I most definitely will drive straight from the river to his house to cut the deal. The most popular fish trophy display in Japan is the Gyotaku. In the traditional method of Gyotaku, the fish is rolled in ink, then pressed on paper to make the print. Fortunately for me, I can stop by a local tackle shop in my area and get the job done in a hurry, as the method used here is the copy machine. This method usually presents a nice display of your trophy suitable for framing, and you still get to enjoy eating the fish. Pictured above are two of my Gyotaku ("Gyo-Copy"). One is of a Kare and the other a Tai. It is my intention to fill the house with Gyotaku, mounted trout, and eventually Sika Deer antlers. I can imagine that the only thing more difficult than harvesting these trophies will be convincing my wife to let me hang them all.

When I do catch something really nice, such as a Tai or nice thick Hirame, I'll take it to Kofokumaru (a local fish shop) to have it professionally prepared. The owner of this shop likes fishermen and time permitting will clean and cut my fish at no cost. I usually drop off the fish and come back later to find it not only professionally cut, but also packaged. Of course, this style of cleaning is used for eating the fish sashimi style, de-boned and chunked perfectly. I always bring at least a 12-pack of good beer as thanks.

This posting is in work. I have many other types of fishing to add to this category. Check back later. Please check out my separate posting on trout fishing that is finished for now.

Trout - Yamame/Iwana

2008-10-25T01:43:00.009+09:00

Trout fishing the mountain gorges of Northern Japan is addictive. This picture is typical of the scenery all day. I usually wake at about 0200 and arrive at the stream 2 ~ 3 hours later. There are so many streams like this in the area that I can fish all season and never hit the same stream twice. The Yamame Trout are abundant. The average size caught (by me) ranges from 15 ~ 30 cm. I usually catch anywhere from 15 to 40 trout with an average take home of 6 ~ 10 keepers.

My rod (sao) is adjustable and ranges in size from 15 to about 18 feet. No reel involved. The bait is a kind of meal worm (budo mushi). Pictured above, I'm attempting to sneak up on what I thought was a good spot. Unfortunately, I was skunked by this hole. A fly can also be tied to the end of the line and floated. This technique works best around dusk.

Pictured left is "Snagex" a fishing and beach coming partner of mine. He's working a pool just below a small waterfall. He ended up pulling a nice Yamame Trout from this hole.

The streams around this area are full of the Japanese Brown Bear and wild snow monkeys. I have seen several monkeys while fishing but have yet to see a bear. This area is abundant with wild mushrooms that the bear like to feed on. I keep a can of pepper spray at the ready.

Pictured here is a nice mess of Yamame Trout. Like almost all of my fishing, When I started Keryu Tsuri (gorge fishing for trout), I was terrible at it. I was introduced to the sport by my mentor "Tenchou", who took me out with some keryu tsuri pros. These guys caught fish all day while watching me get skunked. At the last couple hours of the day, they took me aside and taught me how to catch trout. I've been doing fairly well ever since. I have to go through this ritual a lot with the really good Japanese fishermen. I think you have to prove that your serious before they'll show you anything. Can't blame them for that.

Yamame = a trout that is native to Japan. The word Yamame is made up of two kanji charecters meaning Mountain and Woman. These trout have very good vision and are very timid. If you miss your chance at the Yamame and let them see you, they won't bite the rest of the day.

This is a picture of the Japanese Char (Iwana). Iwana are much the same as Yamame with a slightly different taste. I have caught Char in Alaska and these are similar in appearance and taste. Yamame and Iwana live in the mountain gorge streams. If they venture out to sea, the Yamame become the Cherry Salmon and the Iwana become a fish called Amemasu. Both species become a lot larger and more difficult to catch. I have yet to try this type of fishing......but I will!

Iwana = The native Japanese Char. Iwana is made up of two kanju charecters, Rock and Man.

Another great aspect of my fishing hobby (shumi) is that my wife is an awesome cook. She is always ready to cook up the catch for dinner. She also usually has something on standby just in case I can not be trusted to get the job done.

This is my original post to introduce Japanese Trout Fishing. I'll hopefully have plenty more trout pictures to post next season.

Beach Combing

2008-10-23T22:21:00.006+09:00

Beach Combing is a passion with attached personal rules. Walking the beach for hours on end in search of treasure leaves you a lot of time to think. There are as many mentalities about glass float collection as there are collectors. Some barter with locals for floats, some buy, sell and trade, some steal floats, some sell cheap imitations, etc. I love hunting the beaches for floats because I love hunting the beaches for floats, that's it. I appreciate the float because of the time spent in looking for it. Floats are beautiful displays full of history and mystery, but the bottom line for me is just that I love walking the beach looking for them. If I find floats....great. If I don't...great. I have never bought, sold, stolen, or bothered a local fisherman for a glass float. I also find some other cool stuff on the beach, like the whale bones pictured above. Snagex and I carried 7 vertebrae about 5 miles off the beach. This was after filling our packs with about 30 floats. We picked up the bones on the way back to the car after walking about 10 miles.

I was introduced to Beach Combing and Glass Float Collecting just prior to leaving Japan in '99 by Charles Woodward, aka "Woody". I have listed Woody's blog link on this site. If you want to know more about glass floats, visit his blog and his website. You can find the link to the website on the blog. Woody modestly claims not to be an expert on glass floats, but he most assuredly is. In my opinion, he is one of the foremost authorities, right up there with Walt Pitch, and the rest of the pros. Pictured above is a "grooved mini". This is the only one of its kind in my collection.

I have acquired around 600 floats on my walks. I usually leave the house for a walk around 0200 and arrive at the beach for sunrise. On a typical day of beach combing I'll walk from 10 to upwards of 20 miles. I have picked up over 60 floats on one of these walks, and only one float on another. There is a lot of science involved in the way the currents, tides, and weather bring the floats in to lay on the beach. I have my systems that help predict weather or not it will be a good day, but I'm sure that the biggest factor is luck.

Sometimes I introduce other folks to beach combing. Pictured above is the hall of a friend of mine. This was the first time this individual had been beach combing and he came home with a rare treasure. I have nothing this rare and valuable in my collection. I'm referring to the black float in the middle of the picture above. This float is known as a black pumpkin. I have not seen one of these since. It is believed that these were made in China, but little else is known.

To the Best of my knowledge, the Japanese don't make glass floats for fishing anymore. The glass has been replaced with plastic for the most part. The floats come in various shapes and sizes with different marks on the seal buttons, different mold lines, etc. There are a few good books on the subject and many good web sites. Although the floats are no longer made, fishermen do still use these floats. Pictured above is a fishing boat geared up for octopus. In this case, the float holds the jig upright on the line. the octopus attacks the jig and gets itself hooked. Glass floats are/were used for just about anything you can think of when a float device was needed. This ranged from Tuna net operations to scallop farming.

I'll add more to this posting on my next day off.

Tohoku Hunting

2008-10-23T20:11:00.004+09:00

Hunting - My Newest Shumi

Being that I try and find any excuse to be outside, coupled with my high interest in anything edible, it was only natural for my next hobby to be hunting. This is a hobby that I have been interested in pursuing for some time, just never had the gumption to get started. The fact is, to start hunting in Japan can make for a difficult time. The initial cost of getting started can be over $1K. There are also several classes that must be attended, and several tests that must be passed. In the end I was able to get my license, and it was all worth it. Other than some squirrel hunting as a kid, I never really did much hunting. Being almost 40 years old and just getting started with this, does appear to have its advantages. Aside from having just enough money to have fun, I'm also a lot more patient than I used to be. Unfortunately for now, I don't have much to report on my new hobby. I have only hunted one season thus far, and that was mainly duck hunting. The above picture is a mountain range in Hokaido. This is typical of the scenery while on a Sika deer hunt on Japan's northern most island.

Duck Hunting

Wow! There seems to be nothing better to me now than setting up the decoys and getting in the duck blind just prior to sunrise. Like all my hobbies, I'm learning as I go along with the help of some good friends. Opening day of duck season on Lake Ogawara is insane. A lot of the Japanese hunters shoot from boats while driving straight into giant rafts of Blue Bill. This gets all of the ducks on the lake stirred up and flying right over the blind. Being a terrible shot (getting better), I went through about 20 shells to get my 5 duck limit on opening day. Pictured here is a hunt later in the season. If there's not a big snow on, I can get to the blind from my house in about 15 minutes.

I ended up killing and eating around 30 ducks total for the season. There are several species of duck in the area including Pintail like the one shown here.

My next challenge - The Hokaido Sika Deer

It is unfortunate that I am stuck here (Iraq) for the entire hunting season. Next season, barring any unforeseen negative circumstances, I plan to take an excursion to Hokaido for Sika. Pictured here, Mitch has a nice deer. He bagged 4 on this particular trip, all with a scoped Remmington 870 shotgun. A hunter must be licensed for at least 10 years prior to being allowed to rifle hunt. This doesn't seem to be much of a handicap for most hunters. Lucky for me, Mitch is willing to take me up north and show me the ropes.........can't wait!

Misc. Stuff

2008-10-23T20:03:00.013+09:00

The Tohoku Coast - This is one of the most awesome bits of scenery around.

Towada Street - Cherry Blossoms in full bloom and rare sighting of cowgirl on a very slow horse.

At the Tohoku Matchi Fireworks Festival, the dancing girls are as beautiful as the fireworks, and as much fun to gawk at!

Tanabata Festival - Great excuse to drink beer.

Snake - It is not recommended to get really close to a poisonous snake with a cell phone for photo ops, especially when you are far, far, from help.

More Coastline - there's a lot of coastline on a big island.

The First Concrete Pole in Japan - 8th wonder of the world?

Hey Carl - No matter how much alcohol we drink, we still suck at karaoke!