Not so easy...Uninvited Guest?

Hide & I took a day off and went to W-River for Steelhead fishing. He seemed to catch first Steelhead by Fly in last week fishing trip by himself.(Of course I desired to go together, but I had very busy days...).

We left home at six in the morning, and arrived there about nine o'clock. But there was two big change from last trip. The number of fishermen and amount of water flow were increased!!

Today we tried to find new hole first, and we walked over thirty minutes toward downstream. Finally we found the good pool looked like good for Steelhead! But there were many people, so we couldn't have enough space for fishing.

We returned to the upper stream on foot, and tried the previous hole which Maestro & Yokoyam3 caught good ones. But we didn't have a luck, maybe because of the rise of the river. As a result we had no fish in the morning.

After short lunch, we moved previous good hole in the upper stream. We acted separately, so I went down the stream from the parking place. When I was going to pick the fly up after drifting, feeling a tug on the line. Then I pulled the rod up quickly, felt it strongly enough. But I was disappointed a lot , when the fish appeared. It was not a trout, but a carp or something like that(24inches/60cm). To be honest with you, it did not look beautiful, but ugly. He bit the Nymph Fly not the egg dropper.

After that, I joined Hide at the upper stream. We tried the hole in front of parking, and I landed a resident Rainbow(13inches/33cm). It looked far better than the previous one, though the size was not enough big.





We could not give up soon, and fished till the sunset. Finally I caught the badlooking one again. Oh my god!

Beginner's Luck!

<2/19> I joined Steelhead fishing trip to W_River near La Grande OR. It was my first try for Steelhead. Yokoyam3, Maestro and Hide already came there on 2/18. I left my home at 6:30AM, and arrived Motel about 9 o'clock. It took about 3.5hours(There was time difference also).
When I arrived there, there were wild turkeys in front of Motel. They seemed to be familiar with people, didn't look like wild.

We moved to the river about 10 o'clock, but it was so cold and there were much pieces of ice on the water. Although I tried to cast, the nymph fly didn't go under water but on the ice. So, we had to wait until ice were melted.

After a while I tried again, but it was same result. So I decided to go down the river.

I found good hole, and did the first cast. Then my indicator looked like stopped and faded, so I hooked it. After that I felt strong tug, and the big one jumped a little. It must be Steelhead!! I was so excited!

Though hooking seemed to be succeeded, I'd never felt easy. It's tug was so strong and took a very long time to pull it close to me. Usually I used a landing net, but it was of no use for Steelhead. Finally Yokoyam3 helped me to push the fish on the ice, and I really got it! It was my fist Steelhead, and looked so beautiful. I was deeply moved and became absent-minded for a while. One of my dreams became true! There was nothing to say!!

27.5inchs(70cm)!!

<2/20>In the morning, there is also ice on the water, and It was difficult to do fly fishing. So we moved more down the river. At that hole Maestro and caught good ones, but I caught only one white fish. So Hide and I decided to return upper the river again as a last chance.

I caught good one at that hole. It was not so big(18inchs/45cm) but so beautiful and did good fight. It might not be Steelhead, but it was not important for me. I was happy to see it, which looked really beautiful for me.

I think I never forget this trip. I would like to try this river again in a short time.

First experience of Movie Theater

We went Movie Theater in Meridian to watch 'Curious George'. It was just first time for us to watch the movie at theater after my daughter's birth.

My wife and I wondered if my daughter became fretful, but she was glued herself to the movie. It was also first time for me to watch the movie in US, maybe good training for hearing Engilish?

Valuable One

Today I took a day off and went to SFOB after an interval of about a month. When I arrived there, it was about noon and fine weather but so windy and chilly. And I saw a Bald Eagle again(Though I fogot to write it down, I saw it before on 12/30/05 with Hide) . This 'Bald' seemed to have the meaning of 'white' in old English. It looked like so cool for me. Because I'd liked a bird of prey from my childhood.

I tried some hole, but didn't have any luck. So I moved to the last hole on about four o'clock. Weather got warmer than before, and it was enough to take my globes and knitted cap off.
I used stonefly nymph again, so after two or three cast it happened suddenly! My indicator vanished and I felt strong something when I did hooking. It fighted very strongly and it took much time until catch in the net.
It was so beautiful and valuable for me!

17 inches(43cm)


Just after that fish, I missed one Rainbow(I judged by fight and its color). But I caught three White Fish. That was first catch of White Fish for me. Its tug was far from Rainbow's one, not so strong.

I was almost satisfied with fishing result today after long time. I can't help fishing because of occasional luck.

My birthday(Surprise, Fishing, Super Ball)

On the day before my birthday, we had a lunch at Thai restaurant with my American colleague's family and his friends. After main meal, he prepared surprise birth day ice cake with candle for me. I felt shy a little, but very pleased.





On my birthday my daughter and I went to nearby pond(1 min. by car) for fishing together, while my wife made dinner. Although our target fish was Bass and tried with Lure tackle, couldn't get any luck. But, the old couple caught some rainbow trouts with power bait in front of us.

I didn't know there was rainbow trout! Though it might be hatchery one, it was enough for playing I thought. It may be good training for fly fishing also. After that, we played in the park with a slide, and returned home.

We really enjoyed dinner watching Super Ball on TV from 16:00. The game was continued until 20:00, but was so fun! I spent a good birthday with my family. Thanks to my wife and daughter. My slogan of this year is 'Balance(for everything)'

Terrible Rise of O river

Finally the flow of O river reached 2380cfs!
There seemed to be no fishermen there recently.
I wish it returned normal flow in the near future.

Chili Festa

My wife found the article about Chili Festa in Meridian on newspaper. So, we went to try it.

It took $5 per person to enter and free to eat samples. There were about 8 small volunteer shops, and my wife and I enjoyed tasting very much. My daughter was also pleased with some cracker. After tasting, people should have voted, so we voted each favarite one.

We checked the next day's newspaper. The shop which my wife voted was in best 3, but mine wasn't elected. My own tastes is unique?

From 30 to 200cfs

I couldn't have gone fishing recently, so I went O river after very long time(for me).

When I reached there, I was surprised. The flow of O river was the largest I'd ever seen. Almost 6times as much as usual(from 30 to 300 cfs)!

I couldn't decide the hole to try, because there was no sign of fish.

Although I first tried large pool with wooly bugger blindly, there was no bite.

I drive here and there to find the rise, so finally I found some rises and decided to fish here.
The photo's fish was only one I caught today. I caught it by midge parachute.

After that one, the fish continuing the rise had never bitten my midge fly.
Was it because of not match the hatch? or snow becoming heavily? I don't know.

A red glow in the morning sky

Recently I've seen beautiful dawn.


Maybe it is one of happinesses to have a breakfast with my family seeing a glow in the morning sky.

Last Fishing Trip in 2005

Hide and I took a day off, and went SFB River as Last Fishing Trip in2005. It snowed but, not so cold. We tried to find new hole, and took a walk about a hour one way. But there was no fish to bite fly.








After 1st hole, we moved and tried last hole together. Then chance has come, my indicator disappeared suddenly with stoneflynymph pattern. The fish jumped a little, but I missed it. Oh my god!

Though we got skunked together, I had a confidence of stonefly's effectiveness. I really want to catch good one by stonefly nymph.

One good Rainbow

I had just a little time for fishing today, so I went urban Boise River. But it blowed so strong and time was limitted for me, I did lure fishing.

Reaction of fish was almost none, but I could get one chance. It was not so big, but good size for this river I think. 15inch(39cm)

I hope to catch good one by fly within this year.

New Rod Debut, but...

Today, I could go South Folk of Boise River with my family. It was their request to go fishing together.

Recently it was getting warmer(2℃) than before(-10℃), so I agreed their proposal.Of course, when I was fishing, their were playing in the car(back space) .

I used new #6 rod first time, and it was so good for me. I felt casting distance was getting longer than before. And it was also first time for me to fish there in winter.

I wanted to catch the fish by Stonefly Nymph, but there was no reaction. Although I also tried nymph dropper and Conehead Zuddler etc., it was same result. In addition to that, fishing time was given two hours. As a result, I got skunked.

To make matters worse, Engine Oil pan was damaged by fallen rocks on the way to home. We could reach our home safety, but oil was continued to be leaked, finally got empty. So, I had to call road service to come my garage next morning.

Shoveling the Snow

Last night, we had much snow. But I didn't have a time before leaving for office. So my wife and daughter had to shovel the snow.

I heard it was so hard work for them. I'm sorry, I needed to get up earlier...

I've just bought them!

I bought SAGE fly rod(VPS 690-4 #6) in fall special sale. I think it would be used for Steelhead and lake fishing(including ASHINOKO after returning Japan).

But major reason to buy it was the price! Though it usually costed about $500 in Japan and $400 in Boise, it became $250 in sale!

Of course I knew if it was broken after returning Japan, I had to send it to SAGE USA directly by myself. But I thought it was worth to buy now.

To tell the truth, I'd already bought ROSS REEL just a little befere also. Though it costed $275 in Boise, it seemed to be about $400 in Japan.

Anyway, it seemed to be time to go fishing!

Frozon Pond

My daughter and I went to the park together, because my wife needed time to study for written examination of IDAHO diriving license. There were many water birds and pond was completely frozen. Boise is so cold now! Thickness of ice seemed to be enough for skating or something.



There were a kind of geese also. She forgot herself and run after geese. Finally she had a fit of coughing because of running so hard, I had to persuade her to run. But I had a good time with her almost all day.

Sea World

We enjoyed seeing show of dolphin etc. Especially killer whale's (called 'SHAMU') one couldn't be better. Everything included splash was so powerful!

This is a golden trout. I saw it in Freshwater Aquarium, and it was first time to see for me. I didn't know it was fish of California.(Cutthroat is Idaho's fish by the way)

I wish I have a chance to fish the golden trout.

La Jolla again

We visit places where my wife lived in her high school days for a year. For example, apartment, high school, restaurant etc.She seemed to be very pleased with this visit.


After that, we went back to La Jolla, and took a walk around downtown. Fortunately there is Christmas parade, so we had a good time.

We also enjoyed sunset in La Jolla sea shore. It was so beautiful.

San Diego Zoo

San Diego Zoo was just like nature forest in itself. It was fun enough by taking a walk.

Although we used guide bus first, it might not be necessary looking back now.

Move to La Jolla by car

We moved to La Jolla(San Diego) by car today. It took about 2hours(not so long time). In the evening we took awalk around the La Jolla coast. And, we found nature seals on the rock. I was surprised by abundance of its nature.

Anaheim Disney

My daughter seemed to be very impressed with TIGGER, because she liked him very much.

She also seemed to me to be deeply moved by Christmas parade. My wife and I were satisfied with her smile.

Sightseeing in LA

We had very typical sightseeing in LA, but it was fun for us.

1. Little Tokyo:
My wife bought some Japanese food. And we ate Chinese Soup noodles in soup after long interval.

2. Dodger Stadium:
It was under constraction, but I was glad to come here.






3. Hollywood & Beverly Hills(Rodeo Drive)
Just looking.






4. Santa Monica(for dinner)
We really enjoyed fresh sea food(Spiny Lobster etc.). It was difficult to have it in Boise.

1st day of vacation

It was time to go vacation! My family were so excited, but I felt a little nervous because I hadn't experienced private trip in US.

My foreboding has come true. Our first flight to SFO was delayed for two and half hours by weather in SFO. It wasn't easy to keep my daughter's feeling good, but we could reach SFO safety.

Though I had to find alternative flight because we missed original one by previous flight delay, I could have done well. So we could breathe fresh air of LA in the evening.

Although we were almost worn out, we decided to go SANTA MONICA for dinner. We tried Japanese food restaurant 'Musha', and it was so nice. Especially I was surprised by 'Aburi-Saba' & 'Ankimo'. In addition to that, my daughter slept well all the dinner time, so my wife and I could talk each other leisurely.

The day before vacation

The yesterday's snow was still left around our shed. I had wanted to use it as fishing room, but actually there was no light and heating. So I decided to use it as storage.





By the way, I take a fist vacation(about 1week) from tomorrow. And we are going to visit LA(Disney etc.) & San Diego(Zoo & Seaworld) on Tuesday.

I have to say good-bye to fishing for a while, but I'm looking forward to our fist family trip in US.

So tired

Yesterday, I decided to go South Folk after long time. Because I felt expectation of big rainbow. And I got up too early naturally, left home at 6:30AM.

Although I knew it might be a little snow, actually snow was getting heavier on the way to South Folk. So I had to give it up to go South Folk, because my Outback didn't wear snow tire. I left the free way and turned back the way I had come.

Three hours later, I arrived in O river. It was first experience for me to try this river in the morning. Some part of river was frozend! Too Cold today.

Although there was hardly any rises, I found some one in the upper stream hole(almost same as 11/11's hole). I decided to fish here.

I missed a bite to midge spinner once, after it there was no reaction to dry fly. And I tried almost evry pattern I hit upon, but there is nothing either. Finally I was given advise from another angler, and I caught this fish(17inch/43cm) by San Juan worm pattern.

After this fish, it began to blow harder and it hailed! I had to give today's fishing up.
I was really worn out today.

Day after Thanksgiving

We acted separately today. My wife went shopping mole alone early morning. Because day after Thanksgiving had big sale. She succeeded to buy aimed one.

My daughter and I went Fred Meyer to buy a Christmas Tree together. After that we also went Walmart to buy DVD player. On the way to Walmart she fell asleep, but she didn't throw a tantrum. Good job!
Though this tree may be too big in Japan, I don't mind it. Enjoy Boise Life!