Mike Warren is a tenkara guide in the Driftless Area of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota.
From Mike:
MY TENKARA EXPERIENCE
I find people genuinely enjoy the relaxed simplicity of Tenkara. And it’s a perfect match for our curvy, short-run Driftless region streams providing the needed accuracy, stealth, and an intimate connection.I have been using tenkara methods and Tenkara USA products since 2012 and integrated tenkara lessons and guiding into my services in 2014.
MY BUSINESS
I started guiding in the Driftless area in 2009 after snickering when seeing so many visitors fished only the most heavily publicized and marked locations with easy access points. There are so many more than a few famous streams here... After starting small, guiding on weekends, about 20 days a year now, a dozen-plus years later, I've guided over 700 clients, retired from my other career, and work with Driftless visitors over 100 days per season between April 15 to October 15.
I avoid the "cookie cutter" days by making every Driftless experience unique, matching streams to a client's desires, physical abilities, and fishing background. I also try to make your day a complete experience. I offer up a little Driftless history, provide more upscale meals, offer a wide variety of rental equipment that includes an assortment of Tenkara USA rods and Orvis waders/boots, and always pick clients up in a clean, well-equipped vehicle.
It's a great retirement gig, a fun way to make a few extra dollars, and as one of my clients said while we stood knee-deep in a beautiful Driftless trout stream, "Mike, I gotta say — I love your office."
