Hidaike Hera Fishing Center - Toyota City (Nr. Nagoya) Aichi Ken
Hidaike Hera Fishing Center is a small lake specialising in Hera Buna fishing. The lake has 174 pegs (spacing ~2m!) positioned on floating pontoons. With depths up to 5.3m fish can be caught throughout the winter. The shy-biting fish average 500g / 25cm and put up a spirited fight. It costs ¥1500 per day (¥1000 for half a day and children) and is open from 0630am until 1600pm. You can rent tackle; it costs ¥800 for a soft whip and rig. This tackle is not the best and the whips are only around 3m so you can't fish near the bottom on the majority of pegs. You need to bring your own landing net to scoop the fish out of the water. Thursday is a holiday.
When I visited the local anglers were using traditional tactics of soft whips/poles with long bristled bottom end floats. A good guide can be found by clicking this link http://www.marukyu.com/eng/marukyu/beginner/crucian/gyoshu3_4_3.html.
The bait being used seemed to be a variety of pastes and mixtures and some people were using waribi-udon. Again, a good guide can be found by clicking this link http://www.marukyu.com/eng/marukyu/pdf_file/udon.pdf.
There are toilets on site and the 'office' sells bait and basic tackle. Hot water for drinks and cup noodles is also available. Hot lunch can be ordered when you arrive (served around 1130am). There is quite a range of Japanese food available on the menu and prices average ~¥700.
Hidaike is best reached from by car as it is located close to theToyota-Kanpachi Interchange of the Tokai-Kanjo Expressway.
You can get to within about 2 miles (by road) of the lake by train. It takes about 70 minutes and costs ¥820 from Nagoya station. Take the Higashiyama Line (Yellow Line) from Nagoya to Fushimi. At Fushimi change onto the Tsurumai Line (Blue Line) towards Akaike Station. At Umetsubo Station (7th station AFTER Akaike Station) change onto the Mikawa Line towards Sanage Station. Get off this train at Hiratobashi Station and either walk (it is a long walk!) or take a taxi (a taxi costs ¥1200) to the Lake.
NOTE: Hiratobashi Station is a very small station and there may not be a taxi there and there is not a convenience store nearby. If you want to use a taxi or stock up on supplies you should get off the train at Sanage and go the convenience store there. From Sanage a taxi costs ¥1400.
Last updated 29th January 2009