Masu salmon (cherry salmon, yamame)

Asia's own salmon. River fish (yamame) are small trout with oval dark "parr marks" along the side, small black spots on the back and a pinkish band; the amago form has red spots too. Sea-run fish (sakuramasu) come back bright silver with small dark spots on the back, and turn olive with red-pink stripes when they spawn.

Yamame 6–12 in; sea-run sakuramasu 18–25 in and 3–8 lb.

About 2½ ft and 20 lb (10 kg).

Insects in rivers; small fish, squid and krill at sea.

Some fish (mostly females) go to sea for a year and come back big and silver in spring; others (mostly males) stay in the river their whole life as yamame. Spawns in autumn in mountain streams. The landlocked Formosan salmon of Taiwan is a protected relative.

Found from Japan & South Korea, Russia, Mongolia & Kazakhstan and China, Hong Kong & Taiwan. Cold, clear mountain streams and rivers of Japan (Hokkaido to Kyushu), the Korean Peninsula, the Russian Far East and Taiwan (landlocked Formosan salmon); sea-run fish along the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk coasts.

Cold, clear mountain streams and rivers of Japan (Hokkaido to Kyushu), the Korean Peninsula, the Russian Far East and Taiwan (landlocked Formosan salmon); sea-run fish along the Sea of Japan and Sea of Okhotsk coasts.

1–10 ft in streams.

1–6 ft in riffles and pool heads.

River seasons usually open between February and March and close at the end of September for spawning; sea-run sakuramasu runs are in spring (April–May in Honshu, later in Hokkaido).

Early morning and evening, and during insect hatches.

No tide in fresh water; rising or steady water levels after rain are usually best.

Overcast days and slightly raised, clearing water after rain.

Worms, salmon eggs and stream insects (kawamushi) on fine line, where bait is allowed.

Small minnows (2–3 in), spinners and spoons; dry flies, nymphs and tenkara flies.

5–6 ft ultralight spinning rod, tenkara rod or 3–5 weight fly rod; 8–9 ft medium spinning rod for sakuramasu.

Small barbless hooks; many streams require them.

3–6 lb monofilament or fluorocarbon (8–12 lb for sakuramasu).

4–6 lb fluorocarbon tippet.

Work upstream, casting small minnows or flies into pool heads and along rocks, staying low and quiet. For sakuramasu, swing heavier minnows and spoons through big river pools in spring.

Yamame are very shy: approach from downstream, keep your shadow off the water and make the first cast count.

Catch and release: wet your hands, keep the fish in the water when you can, and release it quickly. Use circle hooks and a dehooker.

Excellent eating — one of the best-tasting fish in its range.

Bleed and ice it right away. Fillet, then remove the skin and any dark bloodline.

Excellent: salt-grilled whole on a skewer (shioyaki) is the Japanese classic; sakuramasu is prized for sushi and grilling.

Mountain streams have slippery rocks and sudden rises after rain; wear felt or rubber-studded wading shoes. Bears, hornets and mamushi pit vipers live in Japanese mountains.

Every Japanese river needs a fishing ticket from the local cooperative, with closed seasons and size limits. Taking sea-run salmon and sakuramasu from rivers is banned in Hokkaido, and only a few Honshu rivers sell special sakuramasu permits. Taiwan's Formosan salmon is fully protected. Check local rules. Sea fishing in Japan and South Korea needs no license for visitors, but local fishery cooperatives set rules; rivers and lakes require a day or season ticket (in Japan, a yugyoken) from the local fishery cooperative, and many rivers have closed seasons.

Wild yamame are worth more than stocked fish; release wild fish when you can.