On the final Sunday of May, Second Son found himself with unexpected free time after helping with the corn harvest. With the shipment of corn wrapping up quickly, he decided it was the perfect opportunity to head out for a mountain stream fishing trip.
As rice planting season begins in June, he knew he had to seize this moment. After a disappointing first fishing attempt post-ankle fracture, where he didn’t even spot a single fish, Second Son was eager for redemption.
This year, he had yet to catch any mountain stream fish and had been waiting for a chance to retry his luck after a failed attempt during the recent holiday. With several potential fishing spots within a 1 to 1.5-hour drive from Grandpa and Grandma’s house, he figured a departure just after 6 a.m. would still allow for a half-day of fishing.
Opening his fly box, he checked his gear. Despite the previous failure in Gunma, his fly assortment was now sufficient for a half-day’s trip.
With renewed determination, he set out. At a convenience store along the way, he picked up breakfast and some bread for snacks.
He quickly crossed into neighboring Gunma Prefecture, enjoying the scenic drive through mountain roads to reach the stream.
This time, he chose a slightly lesser-known spot compared to his last visit. With fewer anglers around, he was able to fish at a more relaxed pace.
Monitoring his ankle closely as he navigated the stream, he paused occasionally to enjoy the fresh air. Over a few hours, he cast his rod at targeted spots, successfully catching several yamame (Japanese trout) and iwana (Char), before wrapping up his trip around midday.
Due to the ankle not being fully healed, there were still some challenging spots to cross, but it was a fulfilling day.
