May 4th to 6th, 2023 - Solo Fishing Trip at Lake Kasumigaura, Miwa

 
I decided to cast my line at Lake Kasumigaura from May 4th. I don't have many good memories of spring fishing at Lake Kasumigaura in recent years. However, I reconsidered that notion. Now, whether it will turn out to be bad luck or good luck remains to be seen.
 
I started preparing for the fishing trip on the morning of the day and arrived at the site in the early afternoon. I set up my fishing rods, used a spod to concentrate feeding in the baiting area. As a change of pace, I used a Nagoya-style sinker with a single hook as my rig. There was not a single angler around me practicing bottom fishing.
 
The weather on the first day was good, with a southward wind blowing throughout the day. There were no signs of fish, and the next morning arrived. I checked the bait early in the morning, and everything was fine. Until last season, I used PVA for anti-tangling and feeding, but this time, with the Nagoya-style sinker, I could easily reset the bait without using PVA. The old-style approach is not bad either.
 
Even after the golden time of the morning had passed, there were no bites on the sensor. I wondered, "Maybe I should expect something in the afternoon?" While taking photos of the surroundings and passing the time, finally, at 10:30 a.m., the sensor went off! Moreover, the reel's click was sounding strong. As the fish ran like a small carp, I adjusted my expectations and made a big hookset, feeling the weight that I hadn't experienced in a long time. Shortly after, I could feel the intense shaking of the head. "It's an Black Carp!" Has a good-sized fish finally come to my newly acquired Rod.com from a few years ago? This rod with a long pause effortlessly absorbs the vigorous headshakes and maintains a stable line tension. The wind blowing throughout provides a delightful music of line singing. It's a moment of pleasure and tension.
 
I took my time to bring up the prey that didn't come up easily, without forcing it. The moment I saw the dorsal fin, I was certain it was an Black Carp. It didn't look that big when it was far from the shore, but as I brought it closer, my estimation improved. Maybe around 140 centimeters?
 
It was a rare solo landing for me, so I felt a sense of tension. I calmed my excited heart, stopped the Black Carp from diving by holding it and allowing it to breathe, gradually making its body rest on the water's surface, and finally landed it in the net. Mission accomplished!
 
I placed the rod behind me and put my hand on the net frame. I knew it was impossible, but I tried lifting it out of the water anyway. It didn't budge at all. I looked around the embankment to see if anyone was observing this exchange, but no one was there. Just as I was thinking, "Oh, dear..." a savior appeared. One of the four family members who were fishing in the distance started walking towards me. I raised my hand as a signal for help, and they hurriedly ran towards me. The other three also dashed.
 
Later, I learned that they had been watching my situation but hesitated to approach without permission. Since they rushed to me at my signal, I was truly grateful.
 

 
The three of them helped me bring the fish ashore. We safely moved it to the mat. At this moment, I thought to myself, "This might be one of the largest I've ever caught!" Since the scale on the mat was obviously not enough, we measured it with a tape measure. The result was 152 centimeters. I had only been able to land fish by myself up to 140 centimeters before. It was impossible to handle it alone.
 

 
Fortunately, the family who came to help said things like, "We've never seen anything like this!" "It's like a fish from the sea!" "Like a monster fish hunter," and they got excited. They helped by pouring water to clean the fish's body, taking photos, and taking care of everything until the final release, despite the sliminess, without making any unpleasant faces. It was truly an exceptional assistance!
 

 
This family was from Saitama, a group of four including twin fathers and their son. After the release, they were about to return home soon, so I asked them to take a photo. Everyone had such wonderful smiles.
 
After that, I didn't get any bites at all, and it was the final day of the three-day trip. Strong winds blew from midnight, so I had to pack up early in the morning. The first and only bite I got was a good-sized Black Carp. It didn't reach the dream size, but I enjoyed the excitement of aiming for a big catch during the extended holiday. I'm satisfied!