Negative Positive Angler Episode 7 — Microfishing

After last week’s episode, many may have expected this week’s episode to dive into Hiro’s issues, but once again, it completely skirted the issue. Instead, Negative Positive Angler episode 7 focused on Fujishiro which may have left many viewers unsatisfied with the show’s pacing. I wonder if the show will forgo any big moments for Hiro and opt to let him slowly finish life on high ground. While it might upset many people, it would represent an honest and innovative approach.

You never quite know the people you know. Even if you spend your entire life alongside someone, you’ll never fully know them. And if you’re just slightly amicable with them, the blanks associated with them are much bigger. That seems to be the situation the Everymart crew finds themselves in. Although they share the joy of angling, they seem to know little about each other. As the girls and Hiro wonder about Fujishiro’s past and present, an answer eludes them.

As their day progresses and conversations about Fujishiro continue, the Everymart crew begins to open up about themselves. The biggest reveal is that Takaaki used to be a host—a fact that everyone finds amusing, but one he takes pride in. Hiro however, doesn’t divulge anything about himself. As the day rolls on, he dismisses the idea of fishing for bait and sets out to try his luck at lure fishing instead. However, that proved unsuccessful, so back to sabiki fishing he goes. With a tender moment packed in, the episode ends as the crew again shares a meal together.

The Fishing Corner

Negative Positive Angler episode 7 fell back on sabiki fishing today, so let’s focus on another type of fishing relevant to the plot. But before that, let me say that hearing Kozue compare fishing to a gacha shook me to my core. She’s not wrong, but that’s a statement I never wanted to hear. Ruminations of a weeb that learned an uncomfortable truth aside, have you heard of microfishing?

When people think about fishing, they always think of big fish. That’s pretty much the status quo. But that thinking is a disservice, as scaling down your gear and tackle opens you to a world you never even knew existed. Luckily, the popularity of micro and tanago fishing has skyrocketed recently.

In microfishing, you target fish smaller than 6″ (some say 8″) with small hooks (sizes 12–30). For anglers looking for a challenging venture, microfishing is where it’s at. I won’t delve too deep into this since it’s only related to what was shown in Negative Positive Angler episode 7. But fishing for sardinella (and any other bait) can be a treat when using micro gear. I highly recommend that any angler give it a try. However, I should mention that the gear can be somewhat difficult to find outside of specialty shops like Tenkara Bum or The Art of Microfishing. The latter has its own Facebook group and a thriving online community, where the admins gladly help you whenever you have any questions.

Negative Positive Angler Episode 7 – Overall Comments

The narration in this episode made me feel like I was watching Yuru Camp, and that’s always a good thing. However, it’s discouraging that this far into the show we haven’t gotten any major development.

I know that some people take a long time to heal, and that may be what the show is going for. Instead of heart-tugging moments, we are getting a slow burn, where a character gradually heals different aspects of themselves over time. But that approach might discourage plenty of viewers. And for now, all we can do is wait and see.

Screenshots: Crunchyroll
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