毎年1人で来てくれるゲストは今や75歳 お客さんの中でもハイエンドクラス 年季が入った帽子がかっこよくて 今回も三日間のガイド 川歩きが心配なので あまり歩かずに釣りができる場所や川を渡らずに釣りができる場所を選んでのガイドだった。1日目はブラインドでも釣れる川で47cmまでを5匹ほど釣り 1年ぶりの北海道の釣りでウォーミングアップ 2日目は1発大物狙いで 入った川でライズに遭遇。なかなかライズが安定せず フライもなかなか流れの芯に乗らず フライを交換とライズを待っての対戦の釣りで ３つ目のフライを16番のエックスにしたら ゆっくりと口先を出して出てきた魚に見事なすっぽ抜け。これで終わったと思いきや またライズしてくれた。フライを変えるかと悩むが そのまま投げ直すと ゆっくりと口先が出てきて今度はしっかり食ってくれた。その後が大変で走り回り ジャンプしたりでドキドキハラハラ。ネットに収まったの口先が尖った雄のニジマスだった。 75歳の強運はすごいなあとあっぱれ。昨年は68cmのブラウンで記録更新 今年はニジマスで記録更新。まだまだ記憶を塗り替えていく75歳 私もどこまでサポートさせてもらえるのか 興味津々は続く
A 60 cm Rainbow Trout Caught at Age 75
One of my returning guests, who has been visiting me every year, is now 75 years old. He’s one of the most experienced anglers I guide, and I always admire his well-worn fishing hat—it tells the story of a lifetime on the water.
For this three-day trip, I was mindful that long walks and difficult river crossings might be challenging for him. So I chose rivers where we could fish with minimal walking and spots that didn’t require crossing the river.
On the first day, we fished a river where blind casting can still produce fish. It was the perfect warm-up after a year away from Hokkaido, and he landed about five rainbow trout, the largest measuring 47 cm.
On the second day, we decided to focus on one big fish. Soon after reaching the river, we found a rising trout. The rise was inconsistent, making the challenge even greater. The fly repeatedly missed the main current seam, so we waited patiently between rises and changed flies as we tried to solve the puzzle.
The third fly—a size 16 X-pattern—finally drew a response. A large trout slowly broke the surface with just the tip of its mouth… but it missed the hook.
We thought the opportunity was gone.
Then, to our surprise, the fish rose again.
I considered changing flies, but decided to cast the same one once more. Again, the trout slowly appeared, barely breaking the surface with its mouth. This time, it took the fly solidly.
What followed was pure excitement. The fish made powerful runs, leapt repeatedly into the air, and kept both of us on edge. When it finally slid into the net, it was a beautifully hooked-nosed male rainbow trout measuring exactly 60 cm.
I have to say, the luck of this 75-year-old angler is truly remarkable.
Last year, he set a new personal best with a 68 cm brown trout. This year, he did it again with a 60 cm rainbow trout.
Even at 75, he continues to rewrite his own fishing memories.
And I can’t help but wonder how many more years I’ll have the privilege of supporting him as his guide. I look forward to finding out.