Wakasagi fishing is a very popular winter recreational activity in Hokkaido! The best part of wakasagi fishing is drilling holes in the ice on frozen lakes and marshes, dropping a fishing line in the great snowfield as far as the eye can see, and enjoying a delicious meal on the spot. In this issue, we will introduce 14 recommended spots in Hokkaido for experiencing wakasagi fishing!

Lake Kanayama is an artificial lake created by the Kanayama Dam, a dam located in the uppermost reaches of the Sorachi River. Camping and canoeing can be enjoyed around the lake, and in winter, when the lake is completely frozen over, it is a popular place for ice fishing for wakasagi (smelt). The lake is also a popular spot for anglers throughout the year, as it is famous for its abundance of fish and the presence of the "phantom fish" Itou.

Lake Shinotsu is equipped with a covered fishing shed, making it easy to enjoy wakasagi fishing even on snowy days. After enjoying fishing, you can take a bath at the adjacent "Michi-no-Eki Tappu-no-Yu" (Roadside Station Tappu-no-Yu), which will keep your body warm even after a cold day. For those who dine at the restaurant inside the museum, they can have their caught wakasagi tempura cooked for them.

Considered one of the oldest nature parks in Japan, Onuma National Park is not only a place to appreciate nature such as cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, but also a popular spot for wakasagi fishing in winter. Fishing equipment is available for rent, so you can easily enjoy fishing without any equipment.

Lake Abashiri, a brackish lake connected to the Sea of Okhotsk through the Abashiri River, has the largest catch of wakasagi in Hokkaido. Some plans include fishing equipment, so you can easily experience wakasagi fishing without any equipment. This is one of the best spots in Hokkaido where wakasagi that have gone down to the sea come back up, making it possible to catch large wakasagi (10 cm or more in length).

There is a fully iced-over fishing point right in front of a row of hotels in a hot spring resort area, making it easy to experience fishing while sightseeing or for other purposes. For first-time visitors, the staff will carefully guide you on how to fish. After enjoying fishing, you can taste delicious tempura with freshly caught wakasagi. Another attraction is the abundance of winter activities available on the ice, such as banana boating and snowmobiling.

Surrounded by marshland and wilderness, Lake Tangji is a natural lake with a rich natural environment. You can cook the caught wakasagi in the facility, so you can eat them fried while they are still fresh. If you are lucky, you may see red-crowned cranes and deer. This is also a popular spot for viewing the mysterious natural phenomenon "Goshinmatari," which is formed when the frozen lake surface cracks and the ice rises up.

Shumarinai Lake, located in one of the heaviest snowfall areas in Hokkaido, is one of the most popular spots for wakasagi fishing in northern Hokkaido. You may encounter breathtakingly beautiful scenery, such as the sun pillars that the sun appears to form and diamond dust that sparkles on the surface of the lake amidst a blanket of snow.

You can experience wakasagi fishing, a style of fishing in which you fish through holes drilled in the frozen lake. Wakasagi grown in the clean water of Lake Oketo are small in size but have a great taste and are excellent when tempura is served. It is also a popular bird-watching spot.

At Oasis Park, where various recreational activities can be enjoyed year-round, visitors can try their hand at wakasagi (smelt) fishing from January to February, which attracts many people from inside and outside of Hokkaido. Visitors can learn how to put on bait and how to fish, so even first-timers can feel at ease. Wakasagi tasting is also available. In spring, visitors can see swans, which are popularly known as "the messengers of spring to the north.

You can enjoy wakasagi (Japanese pond smelt) fishing at Bessanbegyo River in winter as a tour including tools and clean-up. There are guides who will teach you how to fish, so first-timers don't need to worry. Another attractive point is that you can eat the caught wakasagi as tempura on the spot with original oyster soy sauce or oyster salt.

Wakasagi (smelt) fishing is one of the most popular winter activities at Lake Poroto. You can bring your own tent so you can enjoy fishing at your leisure, and if you bring your own cooking equipment, you can enjoy fresh wakasagi dishes right on the spot where you caught them. Rental equipment such as drilling tools, fishing rods, and chairs are also available for those who do not have their own equipment.

Lake Sakuraoka, a quiet lake with abundant seasonal nature, offers wakasagi (smelt) fishing in winter. Fishing rods, bait, drills, etc. can be rented at the adjacent Kenbuchi Onsen Lakeside Sakuraoka, making it easy for first-time wakasagi anglers. A hot spring bath after fishing is also an enjoyable experience.

Many anglers come to Horokayanto every winter to fish for wakasagi (smelt) at Horokayanto, where the release of wakasagi eggs by the Taiki Fishing Cooperative Association takes place. The sight of "hole fishing," in which anglers make a hole in the ice surface, drop a fishing line, and wait for a unique bite, is one of Hokkaido's wintertime traditions. It is recommended to eat the whole wakasagi you catch as tempura or deep fried.

Nishiki-Onuma Park is a place of recreation and relaxation for many Tomakomai citizens. In winter, visitors can fish for wakasagi (smelt) in a portion of Nishiki Onuma. Wakasagi fishing while enjoying the view of Mt. Tarumae is so exceptional that you will forget the coldness of winter.

Please check the official website for details!