Catch and Eat Abashiri Gourmet

This time's Abashiri gourmet feature is a little different from the usual gourmet feature.
This is because instead of going to a restaurant and enjoying the food, you can catch the smelt that is the ingredient and eat it in the great outdoors.

Lake Abashiri is a nutritious lake because it is connected to the Sea of Okhotsk, which is rich in nutrients in the sea. For example, clams grown in Lake Abashiri are famous for their large grains. Lake Abashiri is covered with ice in winter, and you can enjoy smelt fishing. The smelt raised in Lake Abashiri, which is rich in nutrients, is also large in size, and you can catch a big egret as large as 15cm...! It is characterized by being larger than the common smelt.

Every year from January 5th to mid-March, Lake Abashiri pond smelt fishing is held. You can check the status of events on the Abashiri City Tourism website "Oishii Machi Abashiri".

How do you catch smelt?

Ice fishing may sound difficult, but it's actually easy. Smelt fishing in Lake Abashiri welcomes tourists and beginners.

Here is what you need for smelt fishing in Lake Abashiri.

• fishing rod
• gimmick
• bait
• make a hole in the ice
• chair
• tent
• Tempura set

All of them can be rented locally, so you can come empty-handed as long as you take measures against the cold.
By the way, even if you purchase the "smelt fishing set" and include recreational fishing, fishing rods, tackle, bait, drilling, and chairs, the price is quite reasonable at 1,800 yen for adults and 1,400 yen for elementary school students.

Can a beginner catch smelt?

Of course, even beginners can do it.

Once you're ready and set up your fishing rod, all you have to do is wait for the smelt to come.
In Lake Abashiri, where the shadows of fish are dense, you can see a bite on the rod after waiting for a few minutes.
Smelt pull gently, so don't be hasty and take your time to check it.

Let's eat the smelt you caught yourself as tempura.

Once you've enjoyed smelt fishing, let's try making tempura out of the smelt you caught yourself! Freshly-caught smelt is so soft and fluffy that the bones of the smelt make people groan when they eat it. Pakuri with tempura! The taste when you do it will surely be unforgettable.

If you become a master, you may be able to catch 700 fish (!?). If you like fishing or gourmet food, please come to Lake Abashiri in winter.

Original cocktail "Planet of Blue" made with the image of drift ice

The drift ice itself is white, but when the drift ice overlaps, it becomes a mint blue color that seems to have absorbed the color of the sea. The “Planet of Blue” is an original cocktail that reflects the various expressions of drift ice and is made by mixing four kinds of cocktails with the image of gems and the earth.
Since it was developed in 1996 by Master Suzuki of the authentic bar "BEER & SCOTCH BAR THE EARTH", it has become a cocktail that can be said to be the "face" of the bar.

The gorgeously glowing blue cocktail is a drink that you definitely want to take a picture of.
Real drift ice is used for the ice, and when it melts, the air bubbles in the drift ice burst open, and you can enjoy the sound.
It has a refreshing taste and is gentle on the palate, making it very easy to drink.
When you are mesmerized by the deliciousness, the drift ice clearly appears in front of you.
You will also be healed by the gentle gaze of the master.

Abashiri's drift ice can only be enjoyed for a limited time.
Those who have seen the drift ice can immerse themselves in the afterglow of the impression of seeing the drift ice. In any case, Abashiri x drift ice is the best performance.

How about "Planet of Blue" for a romantic night in Abashiri?

■ Shooting cooperation

Lake Abashiri smelt fishing

BEER & SCOTCH BAR THE EARTH
北海道網走市南３条西２丁目５−１
0152-43-5939