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From our inception we have been approached by numerous clients asking where/with whom they could learn more about tenkara. As a result, and in collaboration with the Tenkara Guides of Utah, last year we started developing a new program to put people in touch with guides who know tenkara well, love it, and have tenkara as part of their guide offerings.
As a result we developed the Tenkara Guide Network™
Maybe we need to revise the term “fixed-line fishing” slightly. While it is accurate to describe tenkara as a “fixed-line” method of fishing, it should be noted there is more flexibility and versatility in tenkara than most people think. One example of that is how I normally use our tenkara level lines.
I normally fish tenkara level lines, but today, something possessed me to dig up my traditional tenkara line and give it a workout.
“Traditional” may not be 100% accurate as tenkara lines were made from horse tail, not today’s modern materials. But the furled style is traditional. What Tenkara USA calls a “traditional tenkara line” is also known in Japan as “tenkara tapered line”.
How does that sound? Every Wednesday, as you find yourself looking forward to the coming weekend and still with a couple of days to tie new flies before you head out, you’ll now find a new tenkara fly tying video or post right here.
On our first week running the series, I’d like to show you a video I recorded over a year ago while visiting Japan. I have been meaning to share this video with you for a long time, and am very happy to finally get it done. This is a video of Mr. Takashi Yoshida, a well-known tenkara angler and fly tyer in Japan showing a unique tenkara fly using the alula feather of a pheasant, known in Japanese as the kenbane (you may visit his blog here, yoshidakebari.jugem.jp). The video is a nice follow up to yesterday’s post by Jason about using contrasting colors on tenkara flies, as you’ll notice Mr. Yoshida’s effective use of contrast in his fly. I hope you’ll enjoy it.
This video is 9:52 long, and is best watched at full resolution by clicking on the gear icon and selecting 720HD.
There are many variables that make an artificial fly attractive to fish: size, silhouette, movement, and color. Anyone who has seen a sakasa kebari underwater knows that they’ve got excellent, lifelike movement and this is probably the main reason they are so effective. But movement often overshadows color in sakasa kebari design. Typically, the bodies are an afterthought and nothing more than a simple black or other muted colored thread. While these flies work, I think we can take a lesson from the great attractor patterns like the Royal Coachman, and incorporate not just color, but contrast into sakasa kebari to make them even more effective.
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I have been thinking, for over three years our message has been “tenkara is simple; it allows you to carry less stuff with you. Just a rod, line, spool of tippet, forceps and nippers and then a box of flies. Less stuff”.
I truly love being unencumbered by gear. I love not having to take something (or forget it on an outing) that other anglers may perceive as vital. I love not having to deal with a bunch of gear. But then, I have been thinking: what can we do with that under-utilized capacity that we have of carrying more stuff with us?
So, I’d like to ask you to join me on a mission to carry more stuff on your next outing.
When you go fishing next time, bring with you an empty (or nearly empty) backpack. Line it with a trash bag if you wish. And, as you walk to your favorite fishing spot, along that fishing trail that fills your spirit with goodness, pick stuff along the way and stuff it in your backpack. Heck, just use your vest, all those pockets left empty by the absence of your spare fly boxes, floatant, packs of leaders, box with splitshot can come in very handy.
As you walk, instead of looking at the water – you will reach it in a second – look at the ground a bit, look for faded beer cans that were discarded a long time ago (if you pay attention you will find these EVERYWHERE), look for the crushed plastic bottles, look for pieces of fishing line, and reflective Cheetos bags. When you’re on the stream, look at the branches hanging over the water, there will be some lost tippet in there, maybe even a lure at the end of that. Pick these up, and stuff them in your backpack. When you walk back to your car, take satisfaction in that heavy load you’re carrying in your pack. Rejoice in the feeling of carrying a lot of stuff with you.
Tenkara has opened the doors to remind people how little they can carry with then. But now, I think we can start making better use of carrying less fishing gear with us by actively and purposefully carrying more trash out.
P.s. I probably don’t have to write this, but if you are wondering when the “Carry More Stuff Day” is going to be, it should be noted it is everyday!
My friend Masaki’s favorite hangout spot is a great sushi restaurant in San Francisco, Aka Tombo is its name. It is right in Japantown. A few months ago I mentioned to Masaki that it would be fun to see a “Tenkara Roll” in the menu of a Japanese restaurant.
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Every so often I’m reminded that outside perception is a double-edged sword. When perceived as a small, solely-owned entreprise that is run by one person with a mission, the community respects and rewards the entrepreneurial spirit, the underdog if you will, and roots for his success. When the small, solely-owned enterprise run by one person is rewarded and starts succeeding and growing some people may start perceiving it as a large corporation, “the man” if you will, that is out there for an ulterior motive.
Recently I read a couple of things out there, on the world wide web, that reminded me Tenkara USA may now be perceived by some as a large “Tenkara Inc.” that is out there to dominate the world. The perception of growth in a new market like tenkara can also bring about new competitors, vying to take a slice of the market being created. As new companies try to imitate our products, in some cases trying to market the “tool” while ignoring the “method” of tenkara, I’m reminded that leadership in a product category and growth presents its unique challenges, perception is probably the smallest but most vocal and to me the most personally disturbing.
A few days ago I started going through some of the pages of our website to update content. I noticed I had not updated the “About Tenkara USA” page in quite a long time. It contained a couple of paragraphs about Tenkara USA, what its mission is and the fact that we donate 1% of our revenues to environmental non-profits. I had written that page soon after starting Tenkara USA, more concerned about stating what Tenkara USA is I didn’t concentrate on sharing the story of who Tenkara USA is.
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When John Gierach contacted us expressing his interest in tenkara, I had no idea his interest in Japanese culture would extend so far beyond the type of fishing we were introducing here. In 2010 I had the pleasure of spending a couple of days at his home, where I learned that in college he enjoyed Japanese literature, not long after became interested in bonsai, and then even tried making his own gyotaku.
Margaret will have to forgive me for having fun with some video clips I captured on my iphone while we visited Colorado a couple of weeks ago. This video was too good not to share.
While stopping for lunch in Breckenridge, Colorado, we noticed a good number of fish in the stream that runs through town. I was not sure we should fish for them, they were right in the middle of town. But, my wife, Margaret, suggested we try it.
Sitting at the airport, somewhere on the East Coast, and decided to start a guessing game. No prizes this time, just the pleasure of knowing you have a real good eye.
So, I have been travelling for the last couple of days. I came a bit farther this time to fish with some really cool folks. So, where did I go? And with whom did I fish? Pictures below. And, if you need a tip, recorded a cool interview. I’ll disclose the answer…in about 2 weeks! Yes, you will have to wait that long and the answer may surprise you! But, I may post other pictures slowly in this post.
Meanwhile, here is some fishing in pretty cool small streams in New England, using the 12ft Iwana – perfect rod for that.
