Japanese Americans recall fishing at Manzanar

Archie Miyatake, 84, looks to the Sierra Mountains as he recalls how he and fellow internees sneaked past guard towers to fish for rainbow trout while confined at the Manzanar War Relocation Center near Lone Pine. He was 16 when he and his family arrived there from Los Angeles.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

A replica guard tower stands at the Manzanar War Relocation Center. The Manzanar National Historic Site is gearing up for Saturday’s 40th pilgrimage, an annual commemoration of what Japanese Americans endured during World War II.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Jiro Matsuyama holds the fishing rod and reel that he purchased from Sears and kept under the seat of his car while serving as manager of the Manzanar War Relocation Center off-site reservoir during World War II internment. With the freedom to drive off the site, “I always carried a fishing pole ... whenever I saw a fish I’d run to the car, grab my pole, and run into the bushes.”  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Jim Matsuyama examines his father’s World War II-era fishing rod and reel. Jiro Matsuyama was manager of the Manzanar detention camp’s off-site reservoir and thus had a car and freedom to come and go, which enabled him to catch fish when the opportunity arose.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Archie Miyatake, 84, takes photographs of the Manzanar War Relocation Center’s off-site reservoir. Miyatake’s father, Toyo, was a photographer and set up a studio while the family was interned at the facility.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Jiro Matsuyama shows his son and former fellow internees where he had carved his name into cement in 1943 at the Manzanar War Relocation Center’s off-site reservoir.  (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)