Tenkara for Wounded Warriors

by Okieflier
(Mustang, OK)

I had the privilege of participating as a fishing buddy at a Project Healing Warriors retreat at Broken Bow, OK this week. One of the young wounded warriors was severely wounded and could not use this left hand to tend the fly line on a traditional fly rod. I had my TFO 11'6" Soft Hackle Tenkara rod with me and figured this might be the solution to help him enjoy fly fishing. He started using it and low and behold he caught his first rainbow trout on the rod. You can tell by the smile on his face he was very happy. I suggested to the leader that he might want to had a couple of Tenkara rods to his arsenal. What a great tool to make fly fishing available to our wounded and disabled citizens.

“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. 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!