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).

Best Aussie Bass

by Dean Price
(Murwillumbah NSW Australia)

I was fishing the local weir a few weeks back catching a few smallish fish (a kind of long sardine best describes them) that I target occasionally which the locals call a slimey. They're a challenge to catch with such a small mouth and I enjoy the quick take when they attack the fly. At the weir I always use a Daiwa 53m keiryu rod as the length is perfect to fish over the concrete spillway. I also use the same keeper kebari fly as this has been a very consistent fly and the only one that seems to work in a color of tan with a touch of red ribbing.

Later in the afternoon the local bass started to feed and I had one eat the size 12 kebari and as the rod bent down to the max I knew this was a going to be a struggle. After a 5 minute battle of walking up and down the weir trying to control the sudden directional changes I felt the fish tire and pulled it towards the ramp at the end of the weir. It then went nuts again when it saw me before tiring for the final landing submission. I took a quick photo which actually didn't do the size of the fish justice - which didn't worry me as I was keen to return it quickly as it put up a long fight. It was easy my best bass ever in 15 years of fishing for them.

I caught another one that afternoon that the local kids helped me land which was quite a bit smaller and still a decent fish.

Every winter Australian bass (Macquaria novemaculeata) start to spawn in rivers from the fresh water to the salt water. They are very easy to catch at this time and are usually under the protection of a closed season around this period.

“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!