Golden Shiners and Killies

by Kevin P Etherson SR
(Mineola, NY)

I went to my favorite creek again and had another many fish day while using my Shimosuke Kiyotaki rod. I was able to hook and land a variety of fish including, killies, sunfish and a few golden shiners, the smallest and largest of which I've posted a picture of.

This golden shiner put up a good fight and the rod handled the fish beautifully. The small killie put a good bend in the rod and finally came to my hand with ease. I'm amazed at how soft this rod is and the control that I have with it.

A few people stopped to see how I was doing and asked about the rod and were in disbelief that I was after the smallest fish that I could hook and land. I let them know that anyone can catch a big fish but it takes real skill to catch a small fish. I showed them the rod and the Owner smallest hooks that I was using and most of them walked away shaking their heads in disbelief.

I don't think I converted anyone which is a good thing, after all it's a small creek and I don't want it to get to crowded.

“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 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. 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!