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).

Field Master 44 - Count me impressed!

by Dave
(Baton Rouge)

Today, I received my Field Master 44. I will tell you that I debated long and hard over whether to go 39 or the 44. With my recent purchase of a Fine Mode 270 I felt that I had the smaller waters adequately covered and proceeded with the longer 44. I have been telling Chris that I want a rod for everything. One rod to rule them all as I like to say. I wanted a rod that will do everything from pan fish to light salt water grass flats...... I think I have found it.......

Tonight I took the 44 out to a bare lake (in that it is so over fished nothing is ever be caught in it), for some casting practice. The lake is close and my kids were playing at the park nearby so its a win win. Anyway, I threw about 10.5 of 3.5 level line and a fly for practice (didn't have time to break out the new keiryu rigs). This rod is a laser beam. It puts the fly exactly where I want it at any of the three lengths. I can easily say, being able to change the length and balance of the rod is incredible. I can already tell that I like the 4 meter length the best, but found points where I wanted the other two lengths as well. The quality, fit, finish, and aesthetics are just amazing. If you are like me and wanting a rod to do everything, this is the rod. More posts to come, hopefully will have fish pictures in it.=)
Cheers,
D

“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!