-English version follows Japanese-

エッピング・フォレスト:ロンドン北東部からエセックス州に跨る広大な森。
そこに点在する100を超える湖沼と生息する様々な種類の魚たち。
そのうち約25の池では釣りが可能...
その存在を知りここ数日間、ネット検索に耽り、脳内イメージを膨らませていました。

池々は大きな森に広く散らばっているため、公共交通機関を利用する場合の釣りは健脚が求められます。

駅から徒歩25分ほどでこの日第1の池:ある調査結果によればこの森で「最もヨーロッパブナが多い釣り場のひとつ」に到着。
釣り人の踊るこころとは裏腹に、水面は死んだように静まり返っていて、魚影は全く見られません。
釣り始めてからしばらくして、通りがかりの初老のカップルが話しかけてきました。
曰く最近、何らかの理由で魚が大量死し、その回収作業が行われたとのこと。
嫌な予感は的中...早々に荷物を纏めて次の池に向かってバスに乗りました。

街を抜け、バス停から木洩れ陽差す森の上り坂を25分ほど歩いて次の池へ到着。
打って変わって溢れる生命の躍動は一目瞭然!

終日ひたすらパンを餌に釣果は11匹、うち7匹はラッド、残りはフナ雑種(金魚とヨーロッパブナとの交配種?)でした。

エッピング・フォレスト初釣行としては余りある成果となりました^^


Epping Forest; A vast, green area spread over a part of North East London and Sussex.
More than 100 lakes and ponds are scattered throughout the forest, about 25 of which offer fishable swims...

Over the last few days, I have been obsessed with it...indulging myself in gathering information on the internet and picturing my adventures there.

If you are an angler who relies on public transportation, a lot of foot work is necessary to get around, for each swim, station and bus stop can be pretty far from each other.

The first lake of the day, which was said to be, 'one of the best waters for Crucian Carp in the forest', was some 25 minutes walk from the station.
Contrary to my excitment, the lake looked ominiously quiet.
My doubt was confirmed when an eldery couple stopped and told me that allegedly, there had been an incident that resulted in a mass of dead fish floating on this water.
I finished packing up my tackle in no time and hopped on a bus to the next swim.

From the bus stop I needed to walk another good 25 minutes uphill to the pond.
At first glance it was obvious that the water was teeming with fish.
I caught eleven in total, 7 of which were Rudd and with the rest being Goldfish or its crossbreed with Crucian Carp.
All day long the only bait they were willing to take was not worms but bread.

It was almost too successful for my Epping Forest fishing initiation...
What a forest, what a pond, and what fish!


Effect_20190821_102124
我らが森へようこそ!
Welcome to our forest!

KIMG2357
いざ参らん、未知なる森を!
…とは言えイングランドの森は日本のそれと違い、入山に際しそれほどの緊張感を要しません。クマやヒグマやイノシシのような大型危険哺乳類はもちろんのこと、ヤマカガシやマムシやハブ、オオスズメバチ級の致命的な猛毒を持つ虫や動物もいませんし、山岳信仰や修験道の修行場、お寺や神社、仏像やお地蔵さんなどに相当するキリスト教以前の土俗宗教由来の人造物も少ないので、あの独特の妖し気な、或いは神秘的な雰囲気もありません。

In you go, the virgin forest!
As far as Nature is concerned, English forests are somewhat tame - no large deadly mammals such as the Black Bear, Grizzlies or Wild Boars, nor creatures with lethal venom such as the Yamakagashi(Tiger Keelback), Mamushi(Japanese Pit Viper), Habu(Okinawan Pit Viper) or Japanese Giant Honet.
Contrary to Japanese forests which are filled with an eerie/spritual aura created by those thousands of shrines and statues of local deities, it is rare for us to bump into any pre-Christian religious sites in the English forest.

KIMG2354
第一の池。生命感ゼロ...
The first pond of the day. No sign of underwater life whatsoever...

KIMG2355
森のひとこま
A scene of the forest.


KIMG2363
第二の池にて、初のロンドン・ラッドが出ました!目標魚種確保!
My First Ever London Rudd on the second pond of the day. Target species achieved!!

KIMG2359
Another Rudd
またしても

KIMG2365
This one with a terribly deformed mouth...
ひどい奇形の口を持つ個体。

KIMG2376
雑種ブナ1。いつかは釣りたや純ヨーロッパブナ!
The Hybrid No.1
Hope I can catch a True Crucian Carp some day!

KIMG2374
雑種ブナ2匹目。とても綺麗!
No.2. Beautiful fish!

KIMG2387
3匹目。
No.3

KIMG2393
4匹目にして最後の釣魚。本釣行中最も美しい金色が有終の美を飾りました。
No.4
The last and shiniest to conclude the day.