Smelt Ice Fishing

Smelt ice fishing is one of the seasonal charms of Hokkaido winters. Inside tents placed on t op of the frozen river, teams compete to catch the most smelt fish! Warm clothing and boots are provided, the tents are kept warm, and even beginners can learn to fish thanks to the help of professional fishing guides. Freshly caught smelt are also made into tempura to eat right there on the ice.
The key to catching smelt is to find the perfect depth under the ice where the schools of smelt swim. Teams will have work together to decide where to drill into the ice, and how deep to fish. In addition, teams can also race to see who can drill through the ice fastest in a game of speed and strength.