Matching the hatch is the name of the game, but here in Akanko there's no need of tiny midges or delicate presentation.

The flies must be big, with a tubed body of 2.5cms in length. Although wary predator by nature, Amemasu cannot resist chunky meals once the action is on.

No sign of mayflies about. Nor that of Amemasu in sight yet. But we could already feel the thick presence of life just underneath the surface.

The first fish took my Monkage nymph on a slow erratic retrieve.

Numerous good fish were sighted in the pool by Takimi bridge. With the big sun high up in the sky they were not too cooperative. But if you gently drift a sparsely dressed #16 pheasant tail. . .

The afternoon was exceptionally hot, with temperature reaching 30c. After drowsing a while back in the lakeside hotel we went out again to fish the better part of the day.

The water taxi service takes anglers to less crowded spots for a very reasonable fare of 3,000yen return. Makes a difference especiallyon a busy weekend like this.

The feature attraction for this year was spey casting demonstration by some of the well known experts.

As far as monkage fishing is concerned, single hand casting is more effective in my humble opinion. But its elegant casting style has its own appeal I must admit.

Seeking a refuge from the heat of the day, we drove down to river Akan 10kms away.

The river in most part runs thru a lush forest of beech. The abundance of insects was phenomenal. Watch out before you bash the bush, or you'll be choked in the swarming of a couple thousand Caddis!!

Our choice for the evening was Yaitai, a tiny little island floating in the south western corner of the lake.

Merely 100meters across and wide, but the surrounding sandy shallow provides a great habitat for the mayflies, and a dinner table for our finny friends.

We drove back to the village of Akan to spend the rest of the afternoon at the Flyfishing festa. Annually held in lake Akan over the past decade or so, it is arguably the largest gathering of flyfishers in Japan.

More of those wary big fish are hiding themselves in the rough white waters.

In the steep valley there often is limited space to play the fish. Strong tippet of 3X is the norm here. And let's see if your hook is strong enough?

Upper Akan river is managed as ''C&R only' - a precious few exceptions in the otherwise almost lawless wild wild north.

Fish of decent size can be sighted, though you'd soon find out most of our playmates are quite well educated. But not to worry - walking 1hourr away from popular entry points often turn the odd in your favour.

The next morning saw us wading under the big blue sky. A perfect day for anyone - except for us the flyfishers perhaps?

We spent a good part of the morning prospecting around Bokke, one of the known hot spots with a sandy shallow. But, alas, no action worth noting.

Hidden in the woods is a Shinto shrine with a typical divine gate. We paid a visit wishing for - what else - a super hatch.

An unexpected by catch, Uchida crawfish foul hooked on my nymph.

They too were introduced from N. America as a food source for the early settlers. Not considered as a delicacy any longer, they are happily crawling about on the riverbed everywhere. But wait there, ask any of those happy fat trout what their favourite dinner is?

Stocked rainbows make up majority of them. But thanks to the strict enforcement of C&R (and the sportsmanship of the visiting anglers), many survive multiple seasons to regain their nature. Throwing giant dryflies (sometimes as big as #8!!) to those solid fish is a first class entertainment in anyone's book.