Intentional Fishing - Tenkara in Focus

by Les Albjerg
(Caldwell, Idaho)

It is confession time! I have been a sloppy fixed line fisherman in my first year.

I just finished watching Episode 1 of Season 2 of Tenkara in Focus. It is FREE! What Paul and John have put together is simply amazing. If you have not watched the free In Focus Season 1, it is worth going back and watching.

So, I have made a decision after watching this video. It is time to be more committed to learning traditional Tenkara. Tonight I am going to look at my 50 mile radius streams and identify those that lend themselves to traditional Tenkara, and will be dedicating some of my fishing sessions to really learning the art of traditional Tenkara.

At this point, I consider myself a Keiryu fisherman who has been dabbling in Tenkara. I am not going to give up Keiryu, but I am going to be more intentional fishing high gradient streams with Tenkara techniques. So it is time to do a little more planning and stop being so utilitarian in my fishing.

The free lessons on Tenkara in Focus are amazing. The downloads I have purchased would be cheap at twice the price. John and Paul will open up the nuances of Tenkara for you!

“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!