Sakhalin taimen (itou)

Japan's biggest freshwater fish: a long, round-bodied salmon relative with a broad, flat head, a big mouth, and small dark spots on the back and sides. Brown-olive to silver; spawning fish turn deep red on the tail and lower body. Unlike the Siberian taimen, it can go to sea.

2–3 ft and 5–20 lb.

Historically about 6½ ft; today fish over 4 ft are a lifetime catch.

Fish (salmon fry, dace, smelt), frogs, mice and other small animals.

A slow-growing predator that can live over 15 years. It lives in slow, meandering lowland rivers, marsh lakes and brackish lagoons, and some go to sea along the coast. Spawns in spring in small tributaries.

Found from Japan & South Korea and Russia, Mongolia & Kazakhstan. Lowland rivers and lakes of Hokkaido (the Sarufutsu, Sarobetsu, Kushiro and Teshio areas), Sakhalin, the southern Kuril Islands and the Russian coast of the Sea of Japan.

Lowland rivers and lakes of Hokkaido (the Sarufutsu, Sarobetsu, Kushiro and Teshio areas), Sakhalin, the southern Kuril Islands and the Russian coast of the Sea of Japan.

3–20 ft in slow pools and bends.

3–10 ft.

Spring after ice-out (April–May, but avoid spawning fish) and autumn (September–November).

Dawn and dusk, and at night.

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

Overcast days and slightly colored water after rain.

Bait fishing is discouraged; most anglers use lures and flies.

Big minnow plugs, spoons and large streamer flies (mouse and fish patterns).

9 ft medium-heavy spinning rod or 8–10 weight fly rod (two-handed rods are popular).

Barbless single hooks — strongly recommended for release.

20–30 lb braid or 12–20 lb monofilament.

25–40 lb fluorocarbon.

Swing big streamers or cast minnows across slow pools and undercut banks, especially at dawn and dusk; itou often follow several times before hitting.

Keep the fish in the water, use a big rubber net and barbless hooks, and take your photo quickly.

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.

Do not keep — protected.

Do not keep: released by anglers.

Hokkaido's rivers are brown bear country: carry bear spray and a bell, make noise and never leave fish or food at the river. The water stays cold — wear a wading belt.

Critically endangered (IUCN). In Japan, local river rules and conservation agreements ask anglers to release every itou, and some rivers close in spring to protect spawning fish; it's listed as protected in Russia's Red Data Book. Release every fish. 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.

Only a few thousand adult itou may remain in Japan. Every released fish counts.