【Car Camping】Fishing in the Stream at the Source of the Tama River "Sakubadaira"! A Journey Aiming for the Early Morning at a Fishing Spot Along the Mountain Trail

A fishing trip to Sakubadaira, located in the source region of the Tama River, with my Jimny. Arriving at night to prepare for early morning fishing, I settle in for a meal and a nap before entering the stream. What kinds of fish inhabit the deep source stream near the mountain peak?

Sakubadaira, where there is a mountain trail, is a place where nature remains abundant, and it experiences drizzly rain.

Sakubadaira, where I spent the night in my car, is the trailhead for Mt. Kasatori, and a clear river flows along the trail. It is located near the source area close to the summit, so to arrive early in the morning from my home in Tokyo, I had to leave quite early, thus I decided to arrive at night and take a nap in the parking lot.

The weather that day was mostly cloudy, but the fog grew deeper and it started to drizzle. Seeing the blurred silhouettes of the pine forest in the thick fog created a horror movie-like atmosphere. Since it was my first time staying here, I could only pray for nothing to happen.

As usual, the bed kit was already set up inside the Jimny, so all I had to do was lay out the mat and sleeping bag. This simplicity eases the psychological burden and lowers the hurdle for car camping.

Spending time alone in an unfamiliar place can amplify feelings of anxiety and loneliness. High-functioning tools that are helpful in such times become like a reliable companion.

After a simple meal, I went to bed and woke up early the next morning to be the first to enter the river.

The window is covered for bed preparation. Due to the drizzle, I can't take my fishing gear outside, so I'll have my meal in the limited space. Since cooking was difficult, I decided to keep it simple with what I bought.

Even the table space is cramped like this, but it’s not particularly inconvenient. Drinking some alcohol and snacking on side dishes like grilled chicken helps relieve the tension, and I’m gradually starting to relax. When I pay attention to my surroundings, I can faintly hear the sound of the river flowing, creating a very quiet environment. I want to enjoy this drizzly night.

Because there is only space to sit on the trunk, I wished for a roof to avoid the rain. However, as I don't have a tarp, I decided to hook a waterproof sheet onto the partially open door and secure it to the body with magnets to create an awning. Surprisingly, this was quite comfortable, and when I get home, I thought I'd like to improve it into a more practical shape.

The next morning, I quickly replenished my energy with rice balls and soup. The flavor of the soup stock seeps into my dry body. When dawn breaks, it is sunny, and it seems like today will be comfortable. I stuff my mouth with rice balls and prepare to leave before other fishermen arrive.

In a situation where the water temperature is low and no fish are coming, I had a miraculous hit at the final spot.

In a place surrounded by trees near the headwaters, it was early morning, and quite cold water was entering my feet. From experience, fishing in such an early time slot typically yields no results, but in order to fish in fresh spots that aren't disturbed by other anglers, I have no choice but to enter the stream quickly.

Even as the sun rose, there weren't many fish showing themselves, making it seem like a tough outing. Even so, a very large fallen tree was beautifully covered in vibrant green moss, creating a stunning landscape. I truly felt that I was in the headwaters. The narrow river width is also a stream type that I really like.

As I continued fishing without a hit, the water got shallower and shallower, and I reached the end of my fishing points. I thought this would be the end. At that very spot, a miraculous hit happened! Carefully netting it to avoid losing it. Beyond this point, there wasn't much space or depth suitable for casting lures, making this truly the last chance.

In the Sakuba-daira, beautiful silver Yamame were living.

What I caught was a magnificent Yamame with its fins standing upright, shining silver beautifully. The fish's perm markings (spots) were faintly tinged with blue, standing out on its pale gray body. It was possibly the most beautiful Yamame I had ever seen. Experiencing this emotion made it impossible to quit stream fishing.

Sleeping alone in my car overnight in an unknown place brought some anxiety, but this trip became one where I encountered an emotional fish and felt truly alive.

I want to continue searching for attractive spots while staring at the map, hop in my Jimny, and swing my rod again.

Interview & Text / Kazuma Tanaka

【Car Camping】Fishing in the Stream at the Source of the Tama River "Sakubadaira"! A Journey Aiming for the Early Morning at a Fishing Spot Along the Mountain Trail

Sakubadaira, where there is a mountain trail, is a place where nature remains abundant, and it experiences drizzly rain.

After a simple meal, I went to bed and woke up early the next morning to be the first to enter the river.

In a situation where the water temperature is low and no fish are coming, I had a miraculous hit at the final spot.

In the Sakuba-daira, beautiful silver Yamame were living.

PICK UP

CATEGORY