Persistence gets paid off

I was watching Japan against Germany for FIFA Women's World Cup last night. German players looked bigger and stronger. They got their impressive unbeaten record for the World Cup and not only that Germany is the host nation for this tournament. So, I thought that they were clearly a favourite to win the game.

However, Japanese girls held on. For their lack of physical advantage, they were using their speed and accuracy, and their passing game was joy to watch. I think they believed in their style of football, and didn't give it up. The game was deadlock but the Japanese side finally got a winning goal into the extra time.

Their persistence paid off at the end. Much like fishing in the winter weather, I thought. It is wet, cold, and windy, so you got have some faith in it. Keep casting and believing fish will find your fly, and eventually you hook up something.

昨晩のなでしこジャパンのドイツ戦。よくやったとしか言い様がありません。大会３連覇を狙う優勝候補ナンバー１、過去１２年ワールドカップで負け無しの信じられない無敗記録を保持し、しかも今大会は地元ドイツで開催。どう考えてもドイツの方が有利な所、なでしこガールズがやってくれました。

体格とパワーで負けている分、日本は、スピードと正確なパスワークで一歩も譲らず。まさしく柔よく剛を制す。最後まで自分たちのサッカーを信じてプレーし続けた結果だったと思います。

昨日のサッカー試合の様に、クロダイのフライフィッシングには粘り強さが求められます。点がまったく入らないサッカーの試合と似て、まったくカスリもしない時間帯が多く、そうかと思うとアタリが突然来たりします。特に、雨によって水温が急に変わったり、天気の荒れる冬場は少ないチャンスをいかに物に出来るかがポイントになってきます。それには、やっぱり釣れると信じて釣りをしなくてはいけません。「まったく釣れねえなあ」と上の空になっていると、突然きたアタリを逃してしまいます。

This was my catch of the day on the last Sunday.


My only catch for yesterday. It took my little shrimp pattern.


It was very cold and wet today.

For an enjoyable night life

This miniature light (Tag Light by ABITAX ) has been a light source for my night fishing for some years.

I got two of these on each side of my fly vest around chest pockets. The light is nicely designed and only weighs 4g which I like as my fly vest is already heavy enough.

It doesn't give me enough light to walk on a unfamiliar trail or to wade across a river safely in total darkness, but it is bright enough for me to move around a camp site and to change flies at night around bridges, habours, etc.

To spice up my night life though, I bought this, Petzl e+Light on the last weekend. It weighs 28g and comes with a case. The body can rotate 360 degree, and I can either wear it as a head light or attach it on my fly vest with a clip.

I can set it to give me a normal light (on low or high setting) and a red light. The light is waterproof to 1m as well.

According to a product info, e+Light is designed for emergency, so it is not as powerful as other bigger head lights in the market, but those lights weigh 3 times more than e+Lite, so for its compact size, it is highly functional. Besides, compared to my Tag Light, this light is still as bright as a full moon, I think.

Hopefully, the weather gets better on this weekend, so that I can test the light in on the river at night.

Passing a fishy test

I had a question mark about hooking ability of my new shrimp pattern last week, but those fish I got this week were securely hooked on the corner of the jaw, and there was no way for the hook to come loose.

It is too early to say how effective the fly is, but so far it looks like the new shrimp pattern is passing the test.

先週に続き、今週もこの前巻いたエビのパターンをテストしに川へ行ってきました。先週の様にフッキングした魚がバレる様な事は無く、今回は、ガッチリと口の蝶番にかかっていました。

さらにテストが必要だと思いますが、新しいエビの毛鉤、今の所は合格点な印象です。