This time, we would like to introduce a real fishing technique from Yuzo Ishida, a Lake Biwa fishing guide.

Yuzo Ishida mainly guides on the clear-water northern area of Lake Biwa, one of Japan’s most famous bass fishing fields. His advice comes directly from actual guiding experience on Lake Biwa.

The technique he recommends is the Light Free Rig.

The Free Rig itself is becoming more known among bass anglers outside Japan, but Ishida’s approach is slightly different from a standard Free Rig. The key is to use a lighter sinker and fish it carefully around rock areas, reefs, and hard structure.

According to Ishida, this method is effective around offshore structure and rock areas in the northern part of Lake Biwa, regardless of depth.

The basic retrieve is very simple.

Cast the rig, let it reach the bottom, and slowly drag it along the bottom. When the rig touches rock, reef, or other structure, stop it for a few seconds.

Instead of hopping the bait aggressively, the important point is to keep the bait close to the bottom and let it sit naturally around structure.

For the sinker, Ishida recommends lighter weights than a regular Free Rig: 2.5g, 3.5g, or 5g.

By using a lighter sinker, the rig is less likely to get snagged while still maintaining bottom contact. This makes it especially useful in rock areas, where heavier rigs can easily get stuck.

For the bait, 3–4 inch craw-style soft baits are recommended. Examples include HIDEUP Stagger Craw, O.S.P DoLive Beaver, and Keitech Crazy Flapper.

This Light Free Rig is not only a seasonal technique. Ishida says it can be effective throughout the year.

Recommended setup:

Rod: Daiwa Rebellion 741ML+FS
Line: PE #1 braid with 14 lb fluorocarbon leader
Sinker: 2.5g, 3.5g, or 5g
Bait: 3–4 inch craw-style soft bait

This is a practical clear-water Lake Biwa technique from Yuzo Ishida.

Guide: Yuzo Ishida
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yuzo_ishida/