Maebashi, Jan 31, 2024 (News On Japan) - Ice fishing for smelt on the frozen surface of a lake on Mount Akagi in Maebashi City has finally opened on January 31st, after significant delays compared to previous years due to insufficient ice thickness caused by the warm winter.
The smelt fishing on the ice of "Akagi Onuma," situated at an altitude of approximately 1,300 meters, is a winter tradition typically held from early January to late March. This year, however, the warm winter and lack of snow had prevented the ice from reaching the necessary thickness, but after a delay of about three weeks, the eagerly awaited opening day has arrived, attracting many visitors.
Fishermen were seen lowering their lines through holes in the lake's surface, pulling up smelt one after another. Despite the joy of the season's opening, caution is still necessary as there are areas where the ice is not yet sufficiently thick. To prevent accidents, ropes have been set up to restrict access to these thinner patches of ice, and the fishing hours have been reduced by two hours compared to the usual schedule to ensure time for checking the ice conditions. A man in his fifties who came to fish said, "I've been looking forward to the opening day. I want to catch a lot and enjoy them as tempura." Taikou Aoki, the head of the Akagi Onuma Fisheries Cooperative, expressed relief that the season could open safely, adding, "We will continue to operate with careful consideration for safety while monitoring the weather and other conditions."
Source: NHK
