Simple, pure, and deadly

by john northrop (solocanoe)
(fort smith, arkansas)

Chris -

Here's a quick story:

My wife asked me minutes after I got home from a recent trip..."aren't you going to unload your gear? I want to drive the jeep today." She's used to my duffle-bag full of rod cases, reels, spare spools, floating and sinking lines, and countless fly boxes. Usually, I'd unload all this gear onto the dining room table so I could re-organize, re-line, change spools, re-pack, etc...getting ready for next time....

I pointed to the tiny, lone rod case, net, and tiny pouch that holds all I need to fish the Tenkara way...and said "I'm unloaded, do you need my key?"

Turning away, I was smiling the same silly smile I'd had on my face all day...I had caught a ton of fish, and had more fun doing it with Tenkara and used only 2 flies all day...Simple, Pure, Deadly. I can't wait to go again!

“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.