1st Tenkara Fish

by David Brooks
(Fair Oaks, CA)

I purchased a 12 foot Ebisu a little while ago from one of Tenkara USA's brick and morter dealers. Selecting it was fun since the Bay Area representative carries all of Tenkara USA's rods. I selected a furled line.

I took it home to try it out, and remembered a series of likely looking bluegill/bass ponds I've been meaning to explore.

I got used to the casting stroke, which is much more delicate than a traditional fly rod. Nothing happened and no fish spotted at all until the sun set. Then, I proceeded to catch a bluegill on every 2-3 casts. Some larger bass were in the area, but the bluegill weren't going to give the bass an opportunity.

I fished for an hour in the dark. No problems with snarls and I fishing close enough that I could see the fly in the moonlight. I had to cast over brush, and keep a high backcast to avoid the hill and brush behind me. No problems at all.

I was able to spot the trail out, but just barely. It was a mile back to the car, and it was a spooky walk through the oaks and large piles of river rock (remains from when the area was dredged for gold.)

It was a confidence building beginning.

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” - Benjamin Franklin

"Be sure in casting, that your fly fall first into the water, for if the line fall first, it scares or frightens the fish..." -
Col. Robert Venables 1662

As age slows my pace, I will become more like the heron.

We've all had situations where seriously chewed up flies kept catching fish after fish after fish. It is no sin to tie flies that come off the vise looking seriously chewed up.