June in Hokkaido, when the big mayflies begin to hatch.
I had the pleasure of guiding Leigh and Grant, a wonderful couple from New Zealand who have been enjoying fly fishing for many years.
The mon-kagerou (Green Drake) hatch was later than usual this year, so I had a hard time deciding where to take them.
But these two lucky anglers found themselves in the right place at the right time—they hit a rising!
In the morning, we enjoyed catching small rainbow trout. Then, in the afternoon, we waited patiently at a pool, hoping for a rise from the bigger fish. Before long, delicate mayflies began drifting softly through the air, and soon, large rise rings started spreading across the flat water.
One by one, the mayflies emerged just below the surface, fluttering silently away once their soft wings unfolded. But a few unfortunate ones, noticed by hungry trout, became part of the food chain.
Leigh gracefully brought in a stunning 19-inch rainbow trout. Grant’s rod bent again and again, though the fish managed to escape—perhaps my flies didn’t quite do their job. But in the end, both anglers had their moment of triumph.
The air was slightly humid, and the overcast skies made for the perfect fishing weather—not too hot, not too cold. After lunch, we moved on to another pool and tackled a much trickier rise.
Later in the day, thunder rolled in and a short rain shower brought the fishing to a pause, leaving the evening rise for another day. But as we walked back along the riverbank, I saw them hand in hand—a couple walking together, and it felt like a scene from my own ideal of life.
It was just a one-day guided trip, but both Leigh and Grant patiently stuck with me despite my poor English.
Thank you so much—it was truly a fun and memorable day.
Leigh is also involved in initiatives supporting female fly fishers. If you’re interested, I encourage you to check out her work.
https://womenonthefly.nz
Below is the wonderful guide review I received from Leigh.
Fly Fishing in Hokkaido – A Memorable Day with Araki-san
As New Zealanders with a passion for fly fishing, my husband and I were thrilled to have a day exploring a Hokkaido river with Araki Koudai of Field Scope Guide Service.
From the moment we met, Araki-san was the perfect host. He supplied all the gear and took us to a stunningly peaceful spot, surrounded by nature. The river was alive with rainbow trout and huge mayflies – an absolute dream for dry fly fishing.
Using Araki-san’s beautifully tied dry flies, sometimes paired with a nymph dropper, we got to see some great fish. I was lucky enough to land a lovely 46 cm rainbow hen, while Grant connected with a few feisty smaller trout. Naturally, a few managed to shake free, and others took a good look at our flies, before refusing to bite. That’s fishing.
We can’t recommend fly fishing in Hokkaido highly enough – and especially Araki’s guiding services. It was an unforgettable experience.
I’m looking forward to seeing you both again. ARIGATO!!