Spoiled Rotten!

by Les Albjerg
(Caldwell, Idaho)

This is a review of "Tenkara in Focus Episode 6
Premium Download." First off, thanks Chris for offering this download. It was worth every penny. Paul and John from England have several free videos on YouTube that are worth viewing as well.

I have watched the video twice now, and have learned a lot! What amazed me are several things. I was surprised he caught fish with all of those people around. I was surprised at how small the stream is. I was surprised that this was such a regulated and limited opportunity to fish! Ten fish caught and released, and you are done! I was surprised at how small the stream was. I was surprised at how many people fished it! I was surprised at how much I learned in working a prospective trout holding area.

The biggest lesson learned is how spoiled I am living in the United States. I have been fishing since I can remember. When I was a small boy, we would ride our bikes to the Crow River and catch lots of fish from carp to bass. I often used a fixed line rig! I learned catch and release because mom said, "Don't bring anymore fish home!" I have lived in 7 different states, and always had a place to fish less than 15 miles away. In one place I had two awesome trout holes less than 100 yards from the back door.

I recommend this video to help you learn to slow down. Tenkara continues to make me think more when I fish. The length of line is limited, so creativity must be increased to catch fish. This video will stimulate your creativity!

Talking about video's, if you have not watched Tom Davis' videos over at Teton Tenkara you are missing some great free lessons. Shimano and Diawa have a ton of videos on YouTube that are free. I wish I knew Japanese. Don't forget all the great advice on this website as well. This afternoon based on Chris' "Minimal Dace", I am working on some other minimal streamers. We don't have Black Nose Dace in the streams here in Idaho, but we do have "Speckled Dace." Smart fishing is fun fishing!

So I count my blessings to live where fishing opportunities abound, and are relatively uncrowded.

“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!