I'm sure it has been clear to everyone that I have been winding down the TenkaraBum and Finesse-Fishing sites for a while now. There is very little left in stock - just three tenkara rods and some lines on the TenkaraBum site and just five spinning rods, some lines and some ultralight spinners and spoons on the Finesse-Fishing site.

I will be taking a step closer to retirement beginning November 11. I will be away from the shop for a month. Not a fishing trip, not a business trip, not a vacation. Instead, more of a temporary or "practice" retirement. While I am away, you can purchase anything that is in stock but it won't get shipped until December 11 or shortly thereafter. If you are quick, I can ship items on November 9 and 10.

While I am away from the shop I will not be able to sell any replacement parts that may be in stock but not on the website, and will not be able to order any parts that are not in stock. If you need a replacement part, I would suggest contacting Keiichi Okushi, who owns Tenkara-ya in Japan. Google can find the email address for you.

I do not plan on even reading emails, let alone answering them. There are a number of other fine tenkara shops in the US who can answer urgent questions or provide immediate shipment for any gear you may need right away.

I will be back, but until then, take care (and don't break anything).

A Number of Firsts - Kiyotaki, Micro Fishing and a Blue Fly

by Bob H
(New Jersey)

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to get about 4 hours of fishing in at one of my favorite streams. This particular river has a large amount of overhanging trees which always makes casting somewhat of a challenge.

I started with my Daiwa Kiyose 30SF rod with 10’ of level line. After a few casts of fighting the trees overhead, I realized the Kiyose 30SF was too long and a shorter rod was in order. So I rigged up my new Shimotsuke Kiyotaki 21 with 7’ of level line which worked perfectly. First cast and I landed a beautiful redbreast sunfish which produced a nice bend in the rod plus a good fight.

I really enjoyed fishing with this rod. The Kiyotaki 21 met all my expectations. On a few occasions I did understand Chris’s comment regarding how a foot more rod would have been nice. I did the next best thing. Added a foot more level line. Problem solved.

I did make an attempt at micro fishing. I rigged up the tackle using the micro fishing kit I purchased from Chris. Unfortunately, after a half dozen casts, my line got totally tangled up which looked like a birds nest (bait casting days remembered!). Definitely a result of “user error” and not due to equipment failure. Fortunately, later that evening I did manage to untangle the mess which took me about an hour to accomplish. I’m ready to go at it another day.

Finally, I caught 3 bluegill on a blue killer bug tied with the blue yarn provided by Chris, These were my first fish caught using a blue yarn fly.

13 fish in all were caught on the Kiyotaki 21 and I can honestly say, it was a very enjoyable experience. The majority of fish were caught on a size #12 Sakasa Kebari tied using the blue #7 Owner hooks purchased from Chris.

“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.

All the hooks sold on TenkaraBum.com, whether packaged as loose hooks or incorporated into flies, are sharp - or as Daiichi says on their hook packages, 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. Pay attention to 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!