a couple three weeks

by mike willis
(elk grove, ca, usa)

it's been a couple three weeks now since i stepped myself into the wacky and sublime world of tenkara. i must say that it has been a really great ride so far. i've been cutting my teeth about a half-mile from my home, and somewhere between the lessons of patience and the festering blackberry brambles waiting to pop themselves from my hands, i've managed to learn a little bit and even caught a fishy or two. as the days get longer and the air warms, i wonder what the next couple three weeks will hold.

“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.

Seriously, all the hooks sold on TenkaraBum.com, whether packaged as loose hooks or incorporated into flies, are dangerously sharp. Some have barbs, which make removal from skin, eyes or clothing difficult. Wear eye protection. Wear a broad-brimmed hat. If you fish with or around children, bend down all hook barbs and make sure the children wear eye protection and broad-brimmed hats. Be aware of your back cast so no one gets hooked.

Also, all the rods sold on TenkaraBum.com will conduct electricity. Do not, under any circumstances, fish during a thunder storm. Consider any fishing rod to be a lightning rod! Fishing rods can and do get hit by lightning!