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).

Tenkara Fishermans' Summer (Apologies to Haig-Brown)

by Rory E. Glennie
(Vancouver Island, B.C.)

As a Tenkara style fly fisher I am spoiled by the embarrassment of riches at hand. Having fly fished on Vancouver Island, B.C. since 1970 I am an anomaly. That is, I have not fallen head over heels for catching that big, shiny, silver slab of a salt water salmon, to the exclusion of the great fun to be had poking about more intimate fresh waters. I find time to enjoy both.

Much like the mountainous Japanese birthplace of Tenkara, Vancouver Island is blessed with countless waters particularly suited to this style of fly-fishing. Small streams during normal/low summer flows offer good trout fishing opportunities. Streams like the Englishman, Quinsam, Little Qualicum and Elk rivers come to mind, as do many tiny mountainous headwater flows of larger rivers. There are some streams I know, where at places you can actually jump across without getting wet, which hold some surprisingly nice trout in the random deep spots. These are without exception pretty trout in pretty surroundings. This is secretive fishing in intimate surroundings.

Summertime flows limit trout to specific habitats; Greenish hued pools where you cannot see the bottom. Bubbly current tongues between and behind boulders in a tumbling cascade. Undercut banks with overhanging bushes. A washed out hole in the substrate near a partially submerged log. The dark watery cavern next to a log jam. These are the prime spots to sneak up, Ninja style, and drop in your fly.

Simplicity in Tenkara style fly-fishing frees your mind to concentrate on becoming one with the environment. Dress in muted Earth tones to blend in. Move with purpose and dexterity so not to alarm your quarry. Cautiously ease into the water only when absolutely necessary. Visualize the rise before making the cast. Meld with the moment... and enjoy the surprise as the shock of reality snaps you back into being when a good trout takes your fly.

Cheers!

“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!