Catalog 20111201 Web Spread

8/3/2019 Catalog 20111201 Web Spread

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www.aasa.cm


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Mountain Stream

Fly-shingRainwater gathers itsel into rivuletsand streamlets and then comestogether into something that thetenkara angler loves, the MountainStream. Spotted trout lie hidden inthe shadows, among the cobbles andclean, round gravel. Te tenkaraangler lits the y and efortlesslycasts it to another pocket. Fallingrom above, rom heaven, the

tenkara y lands and the untroubledtrout takes.

A rod, a line, a y y-shing at itssimplest.


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Te more you know,the less you need.

Beyond the absence o a reel, tenkarais about the experience, and also aboutreliance on technique instead o gear.

About tenkArA

enkara is the traditional Japanese method o y-shing that uses only a rod, line andy. Simplicity, precise casting, delica te presentation, unsurpassed y control these area ew o the things that distinguish tenkara. As a plus, the gear is super compact andonly the truly essential is used, making it ideal or backpacking, or simply going artheras you explore your avorite stream. enkara anglers take advantage o a long rod andlight line to achieve y presentations not possible with western tackle.

enkara has a long history. Developed in the mountain streams o Japan, tenkara wasthe original domain o commercial anglers, proessional shermen who used to catchnative trout (amago, iwana, yamame, ito) or a living. Its history is suspected to go backat least our hundred years, though little o it is documented. One thing is or certain,however, the original tenkara anglers were the most ecient y anglers the world hasever seen. And they did it all with only the necessary equipment: rod, line, and otenone y pattern no reel, no oatant, no split-shot, no indicators.

Te name tenkarais written in Japanese katakana characters (normally used ororeign words): - our logo is based on the rst character o tenkara: e/. A commonly accepted meaning to the word is rom heaven or rom the skies.Speculation is that this name came about because o the way a y sotly alls on thewater as i coming rom the skies. Regardless o the origins or possible interpretations,the name tenkara is used to describe this very specic method o shing.

In tenkara there is no reel; only rod, line and y. Te most obvious dierencebetween tenkara and modern western y-shing is the absence o a reel. Rods arebetween 11t and 14t 7inches long. A xed length o line, ranging rom the samelength as the rod to as much as 2.5 times the rod length - is attached directly to thetip o the rod. Te ies are very cool, the most characteristic have their hackle acing

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orward, and typically tenkara anglers stick with one y pattern only! All you truly needis rod, line, tippet and y.

Te biggest advantage o tenkara can be seen in mountain streams large or smallwhere currents and eatures are abundant and the line being kept o the water meansno mending. enkara is not limited to small streams, and can be well-suited or manytypes o trout waters, big and small, as well as on warm water sheries, ponds and lakes.But, i we can suggest it, go sh a mountain stream.

enkara is not dapping and its not cane-pole shing, it is y-shing. In act,tenkara is very much how western y-shing started. Fly casting is necessary just asin western y-shing, yet most people nd that learning to cast a tenkara rod is moreintuitive than a western y rod. Landing a sh without a reel is also very easy andintuitive, one simply raises the rod tip, and brings the sh in.

Te tenkara rod is long, but telescopes to a small portable size. A tenkara rod ismuch longer than a western y rod, and this is where much o the advantage is gained.Te long rod allows or great reach, and or the line to be kept entirely o the water soit is not susceptible to the varying current speeds and eddies o the stream Although therod may be in excess o 12t long, the telescoping design allows it to be packed downan average o twenty inches in length, making it perect or the hiking, traveling andbackpacking.

enkara is very easy to learn, yet provides the opportunity or lielong learning.enkara can be a valuable tool to get beginners involved in the sport, anyone canquickly pick up on the intuitive nature o casting and landing a sh with tenkara. Yet,its ocus on technique instead o gear provides experienced y anglers with a method tobe mastered over many years. It can be as simple as one wants it to be.

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Te Essenceo enkara

enkaras efectiveness can be largelyattributed to the combination o along rod, and light line. Keeping theline of the water at good distanceseliminates drag, and allows or greatcontrol over the y.

Tis is what tenkara looks like.

Dr. Hisao Ishigaki

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Photo by Ryan Jordan

About DAnieltenkArA uSA, founDer

Tere is a pretty long version o howI came to discover tenkara, but oneday I did and ell in love with it. Aterthirteen years o y-shing, I saw intenkara the perect mix o y-shingelegance, that childhood shingsimplicity, minimalism/portability orbackpacking, and a new challenge.Shortly ater sta rting enkara USA, Imet my teacher, Dr. Hisao Ishigaki,the leading authority on tenkara inJapan. Under his close tutelage and theteachings o the best tenkara masters, Ihave learned more about tenkara thananyone outside o Japan. As the rstperson to introduce tenkara outsideo Japan, my goal is to introduce thetraditional practice o tenkara to

anyone interested in a simpler methodo y-shing.

About tenkArA uSA

enkara USA is the rst and only company dedicated to introducing tenkara outsideo Japan. Founded in April 2009 by Daniel W. Galhardo, enkara USA is a ullyindependent US-based company.

Te vision or enkara USA is to introduce tenkara outside o Japan, to open the doorsto people who like the idea o y-shing but have always ound western y-shingtoo complex, and to excite experienced y anglers through an undeniably eective but

simpler approach to y-shing.

o have created a small revolution in the stagnant y-shing industry, introducingtenkara to lots o people who would never otherwise have taken up y-shing, andespecially getting to sh with and witness my y-shing heroes (Craig Mathews, EdEngle, John Gierach, Ralph and Lisa Cutter, and Yvon Chouinard) adopt tenkara hasmade me incredibly proud o having created enkara USA, says Daniel.

Trough requent visits to Japan, including a recent 2-month stay in a remotemountain village, enkara USA has developed very strong relationships with tenkaramasters in Japan. We rely heavily on their knowledge and eedback to ensure ourproducts, like the knowledge we share, are o highest quality and true to the tenkaratraditions.

enkara USA products have acquired renown worldwide, applause rom our teachers inJapan, and passionate devotion by our customers.

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I liked the way I could graceully pick apart a small stream withthe long tenkara rod and light line, and I enjoyed the rereshinglack o clutter.

-John Gierach, author

Its y-fshingIts the purest orm o the sportI think it willbe the salvation o y-fshing.

-Yvon Chouinard, ounder o Patagonia

It was a perect drag-ree presentationmore perect than anyWestern y rod could ever approach the situation.

-Ralph and Lisa Cutter, authors and y-fshing instructors

Te day I discovered tenkara gear and fshing was the day Iknew that or me at least, y fshing would be changed oreverperhaps the most extraordinary advance in backcountry gear inthe past decade.

-Ryan Jordan, ounder and CEO o Backpackinglight.com

Like the natural orce o gravity gatherssmall streams together into biggerstreams and then into rivers, tenkara hasdrawn individuals together rom acrossthe country and the world to orm apassionate and thriving community.

enkara has resonated, it has inspired,and it has encouraged people to thinkin dierent ways. Because o the tenkaracommunity, tenkara is here to stay.

Te tenkara community is one o thethings o which enkara USA is mostproud.

Made up o the early adopters, the

open-minded experienced y anglers,the enthusiastic brand-new y anglers,bloggers and shing guides thecommunity is passionate about sharingthe tenkara experience.

Please visit: www.tenkarausa.com/orum

enkara Community

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enkara

Gear

Catalog

Ordering information on page 31


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All our rods have been designed by enkara USA,in the US, and are manufactured in China.

About tenkArA roDS

Each element in tenkara y-shing,being vital and necessary, has beenrened and perected to be the best at itspurpose. Our rods have been designedto stay true to tenkara traditions andbring the best o tenkara to you.

Teir length ranges rom 11t to 14t7in, which translates into a hugeadvantage or tenkara in mountainstreams, small or large.

enkara rods are telescopic and ultra-portable. Teir average collapsed lengthis a mere 20 inches; each segmentremains protected inside making themideal or backpacking.

All our rods are 100% guaranteed or

lie. Due to their telescopic nature,segments may be easily replaced ineeded.

enkara Rods

IO 13t/14t 7in (390-450cm) 6:4 sot

Te most versatile tenkara rod anywhere, the Ito has so action and can be shed at13 or14 7inches.It is the premium rod we always wanted.

Weight:4.1 oz; Closed length:25.8 in;Open length: 13t or 14t 7in;Handlelength: 12 in; Segments:9; Finish: matte black with dark blue sections

$235.95

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enkara Rods

Te lightest eeling tenkara rod, it is an ideal all-arounder or most trout streams. Youcant go wrong with the Iwana. It has aster action or pin-point accuracy.

Weight:2.7 oz; Closed length:20 1/2 in;Open length:12 t;Handle length:11 in;Segments:9; Finish: glossy carbon with dark green stripes

IWANA 12t (360cm) 6:4

AYU 13t (390cm) 5:5

A very versatile length, its ideal or wider and more open streams. Tis mid-weighttenkara rod has a soer action, making the rod do more o the work or you.

Weight:3.6 oz; Closed length:203/4 in;Open length:13 t;Handle length: 111/4 in;Segments:9; Finish: glossy carbon with dark green stripes at end o segment

$157.95

$39.95

$165.95

Add-on available: shorten your Iwana with a 10 or 11 rod handle section

Choosing a Rod

We have kept our lineup simple while trying to oer a good selection o authentictenkara rods. A couple o considerations:

Rod Length: Consider the longest rod that is practical or the water that youare shing. Longer rods give you the most control over the line and y over longdistances, and allow you to keep your arm closer to you so you dont get tired by havingto extend your arm out. Are your typical streams small and brushy with overheadcover? Ten the 12-t Iwana (maybe with a 11t handle) may be the best choice. Onlarger, more open waters consider the Ayu (13-t), Amago (13.5 t) or Ito (variable 13-t or 14-7 inches). Te 12-t rods like the Iwana, and Yamame oer a good all-aroundlength.

Fish Size: enkara is made or typical mountain stream trout (10-20), and is notideal or targeting very large sh (e.g. steelhead or similar sh). With that being said,all rods are made with very high-quality carbon-ber and are capable o handling mostsh. I youre requently catching sh over 17, please consider the 12t Yamame, or the13t6in Amago, which we designed to have more backbone and assist in landing larger

sh more quickly. Otherwise any rod will work ne.

Rod Action: Fishing rods come in dierent actions: some are soter (.e.g 5:5)others are stier/aster (6:4 or 7:3). enkara USA rods are rated using the enkaraAction Index. Tis index tells anglers where the rod will ex when given a rmshake. A 5:5 rating indicates a rod where the rod will ex in the middle portion,translating into a soter-eeling rod. A 6:4 rod indicates the rod exes 6/10th o the wayup, translating into a more precise cast and higher sensitivity, and so orth.

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enkara Rods

Tis is our large sh/large river rod. It has a matte black nish or reduced lightreection. Te handle was meticulously designed to provide good counterbalance tothe long rod and or extra comort on a long day o casting.

Weight:3.5 oz; Closed length:21 1/8 in;Open length:13 1/2 t;Segments:10;Handle length:11 in; Finish: matte black

$169.95

AMAGO 13t 6in (410cm) 6:4

Tis is our astest/stifest rod with g ood length or any stream and more backboneto handle larger sh. Casting eels precise and powerul. Tese rods have a subduedmatte nish.

Weight:3.6 oz; Closed length:201/4 in;Open length:12 t;Handle length:10.5 in;Segments:9; Finish: yellow matte nish

$139.95

YAMAME 12t (360cm) 7:3

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About tenkArA lineS

In tenkara y-shing, the line must loadthe rod to cast orward the virtuallyweightless y. enkara rods allow ormuch lighter lines to be cast than anywestern y rod, translating into drag-reedrits.

enkara USA traditional lines are urledand tapered and designed to be easily castand quick to setup. Tey are a great lineor anyone starting in tenkara.

enkara USA level lines have a constantdiameter and can be kept o the waterat greater distances. We recommendstarting with a line the same length asthe rod (plus 4 eet o tippet), and i sodesired using as much as 30t o line.

Te #4.5 line is easier to cast andappropriate or most shing conditions.

Te #3.5 is easier to keep o the water atlonger distances.

We like to recommend that you try boththe traditional line and the level line asyou may soon nd a preerence or oneor the other.

enkara Lines

$19.95

$24.95

$12.35

$12.35

enkara USAs traditional lines aretapered and have been developed to

cast in perect balance with our rods.Tey are very easy to cast, are suppleor minimized drag and memory andwill make very delicate presentations.Length is xed. Made in USA

High-visibility uorocarbon designedto cast your y with precision, and

being kept of the water at greatdistances a hallmark o tenkara.Spools o 35 o line allow the anglerto cut and use the desired length oline. Made in Japan

raditional enkara Line

enkara Level Line

10 1/2 13

#3.5 (easier to keep of the water)#4.5 (easier to cast)

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About tenkArA flieS

enkara ies place les s emphasis onimitation and more on presentationand manipulation, reecting a generaltenkara philosophy: technique insteado gear.

When I rst heard o the concept

o using only one y pattern I wasvery skeptical, says Daniel Galhardo,enkara USA ounder. Under theteachings o Dr. Ishigaki, I learned thatmost tenkara anglers stick with their oney pattern, which they use anywhere,anytime. Learning how to use my oney anywhere has been liberating, andvery eective. I no longer have to worryabout what is hatching, nor do I haveto keep switching ies. enkara USAhas curated a selection o our simpley patterns used by tenkara masters inJapan.

Rule o thumb: size 12 ies in mostconditions, larger ies (size 8) or asterwater or places with larger insects, andsmaller ies (size 16) or more pressuredwaters and waters with smaller naturals.

Flies

$7.50

Ishigaki Sakasa KebariSize 12

Set o 3

$7.50

Oki Sakasa KebariSize 8

Set o 3

$7.50

Fujioka Sakasa KebariSize 12

Set o 3

$7.50

akayama Sakasa KebariSize 16

Set o 3*Sakasa= reverse hackle, Kebari= y

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About tenkArA netS

enkara nets make landing a sh moreenjoyable: easier to handle them,easier on the sh, and a great tool orphotographing the catch in the water.

Inspired by the design o the originalJapanese tenkara nets, which are made

by artisans rom a single tree branch,our nets will revolutionize the way youthink about nets:

Te rame is positioned at an anglerom the handle, a simple but incredibleimprovement over western nets: tuckthe net handle through your wadingbelt, and the oset angle keeps thenet o your back allowing or reemovement. Ater netting the sh, kneeldown and press the handle behindyour knee, thus reeing both hands.

Te super ne hand-made mesh (2mmgaps) evenly cradles the sh, minimizingdamage to its skin and preventing itrom getting stuck as may happen withwider-gapped nets. Te mesh will notabsorb water, thus drying with a quickshake. And, it will never snag your y.

enkara Net

$89.95

$42.95

Tese nets will make you change theway you think about y-shing nets.

Teir elegant and unctional design areunmatched.

Net rame diameter: 10.6in (27cm)Handle length: 12in (30.48cm)

Weight: 5.3oz (150g)Mesh Bag Depth: 8in (20.3cm)

For any angler desiring to make hisown net, instructions and resources areavailable in our orum:www.tenkarausa.com/orum.Tese hand-made mesh bags will gentlycradle your sh, and will never snagyour y. Mesh bags available directlyrom enkara USA only.

enkara Net

enkara Mesh Bag

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Accessories

$9.95

$11.95

Te most convenient way to manageand store your lines. When walking

through the woods or going home:collapse your rod, secure your y on oneo the notches, wind the line around theholder, secure it between the oam andthe spool and slide it over your rod.

A small, ultra-light orceps with a attip to remove barbs rom your ies

and to remove hooks set deeper in ash. Small nipper to cut tippet whenreplacing your y.

Line Holder

Forceps/Nippers

Additional Items

$185.95

enkara Leather WalletDesigned and hand-made in smallquantities by artisan Kazuhiro Kuwata

(Giu preecture, Japan) exclusivelyor enkara USA these leather walletsembody the simplicity o tenkarain an original and authentic design.Available directly rom enkara USAonly please check our website or callor availability.

$9.95

enkara DVDMost o our videos are available orree on the web:

www.tenkarausa.com/videosBut, i youre interested in owning aDVD with the videos we made, wemade one with a super cool design oa Japanese trout, the yamame. Own itor posterity and or ofine viewing.

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Te enkara USA Guarantee

enkara USA is very proud o being the rst company to introduce tenkara outsideo Japan. We want your experience with tenkara and enkara USA gear to be nothingshort o extraordinary, ater-all the growth and viability o tenkara in the US dependson it.

Our rst priority is to make great perorming products that are durable and long-lasting. Tis is a job that we take very seriously with continued improvement o ourproducts based on your eedback.

We oer a lietime guarantee on all enkara USA rods and make it very easy andinexpensive to get rods repaired or replaced oten by quickly sending you replacementparts. All other items are guaranteed ree o deects.

We encourage you to give tenkara a try. I or any reason you eel tenkara is not agood t or you, we oer 60-day returns and exchanges on rods, 14 days on leatherwallets and -shirts.

Te bottom line: As the rst company introducing tenkara outside o Japan wewant people to give tenkara a try and dont want any broken enkara USA rods outthere. We want you to be shing with them and sharing your tenkara experience

with others.

*Please contact us beore returning items or reunds or exchanges

How to Order

Orders may be placed directly with us (online or over the phone), or through oneo our dealers.

For your convenience we highly encourage you to order online through our secure

website:www.tenkarausa.com .

Should you need assistance or preer to place an order ofine please contact us at:[email protected] or 888.i.tenkara (888.483.6527)

We accept all major credit cards, checks and money orders.

Shipping

We oer ground shipping (cost or most orders is $9.00 - USPS/UPS Ground or FedexGround depending on destination), or expedited 2-day shipping (cost or most orders is$38 - UPS 2-day or USPS Express)

Orders ship the next business day (orders placed by 12:00PM PS may ship the sameday on a best-eort basis)

enkara International

International warehouses in Canada and the UK available or international orders.Please visit www.tenkarausa.com to place your order.

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enkara USA and the Environment

From day one, enkara USA has made a rm commitment to donate at least 1% salesto support environmental organizations. Tis money goes to grassroots organizationsthat protect the resources our customers enjoy the most: mountain streams.

We have set our commitment on stone by joining 1% or the Planet, an initiativeounded by Yvon Chouinard o Patagonia and Craig Mathews o Blue Ribbon Flies (aenkara USA dea ler).

Regardless o prots, 1% o our sales are donated each year to conservation groups suchas rout Unlimited. In addition, 10% (up to $10) o every shing item purchased ispaid as an excise tax to the government and benets the Department o Fish and Game.

Te bottom line: regardless o how we manage our business nances, or every newtenkara angler an average o $16 is given to the environment on his rst purchasealone.

enkara Resources

enkara USA BlogPlease visit

www.tenkarausa.com/blogor thebest resource on tenkara anywhere. Ourposts reveal the multiple, ascinatinglayers o tenkara. Tere is more to itthan rst meets the eye.

enkara Guide NetworkGuides can provide great value bysharing in-depth knowledge on localwaters and techniques. Te enkara

Guide Network will put you in touchwith knowledgeable guides who oertenkara as part o their service. Readmore about the enkara Guide Networkatwww.tenkarausa.com/GN

*Te enkara Guide Network is a directory ofguides, enkara USA is not responsible or liable fortheir services.

TENKARA

GUIDENETWORK

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Instructions


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Rod Care and Notes

1. Wipe each segment with a dry cloth as you close the rod at the end o the day. Donot store wet.

2. Ater shing, open the cap at the bottom o the rod to let out any water accumulated

inside.3. Periodically take pieces apart through the bottom o the rod and clean each piecethoroughly with a damp cloth. Let them dry completely beore putting back together.

4. Please ollow instructions on using the rod, especially on leaving hard tip inside therod while setting it up. Most breakages occur when tying or removing your line to therod tip and snapping it.

5. Do not store rod or line in a hot and/or humid area (e.g. trunk o your car).

6. Be careul with sharp edges o rod segment ends when collapsing or carrying yourrod.

7. Rods can conduct electricity. Do not use in thunderstorms or near sources oelectricity.

Opening and Closing the Rod

1. Remove the top plug, and tilt therod slightly to expose the sot braidedmaterial (AKA: lillian).

2. o prevent tip breakage, leave hardtip inside the rod (hold it there withone nger to keep it rom coming outand snapping), and using the knotssuggested on the next page, connectyour line to the lillian.

3. With one hand holding the rod bythe opening and starting with the rodtip, slide each segment out until theybecome snug with the next segment.Pull all segments out in order.

4. o close the rod, push segments

in, always starting with the thickestsegment and collapsing them in order.Its best to have the rod parallel to theground or at a low angle to preventpieces rom sliding in out o order.

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Setting Up Te Line, Part 1

raditional line to rod

1. ie a stopper knot on the rod tip(Lillian). An overhand knot is enough.

2. Form a girth-hitch, and, whileleaving the hard tip o the rod inside,slip the girth-hitch over the Lillian, andtighten it against the stopper knot.

Level line to rod

1.Form a simple slip knot with thelevel line.2.With the hard tip o the rod inside,expose only the sot tip (lillian), andpass it through the slip knot twice.

Leave

at least

1/2tag

To loosen

knot

To tightenknot

Setting Up Te Line, Part 2

ippet to traditional line

Loop-to-loop

ippet to level line

1.Make a stopper knot on the end oyour level line2. ie a slip knot as in the illustration.3.ighten the tippet against thestopper knot.

* Tere is no need to cut any of your level line whenreplacing tippet.

Note:Tere is no need or a leader.ippet is attached to the traditionalline or the level line in one o theollowing ways. We recommend usingapproximately 4 t o 5X tippet

Main

Line

Leave at

least 1/2 tag

Add between2 and 5 feet oftippet

Trim excess

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Casting

Casting with tenkara is very similar as with western y-shing.Te main dierence is that you can cast a much lighter line with it. Te casting strokeis a bit shorter (stop at 12 oclock on the back cast, instead o urther back). Te castingcan also be a bit more delicate. And, with the intent o keeping the line o the water,

with just y and tippet in the water, stop the rod a bit higher on the orward cast too.

ips:Keep your arm close to your body and relaxed. Use less power. Te mostcommon error is to overpower the cast. Stop the back-cast at the 12 oclock position.Dont be araid o using your wrist, this will allow or more o the rod to work or you.

Landing is one o the most intuitive parts o tenkara. Tough may people ask, howdo you land a sh without a reel, the answer is very simple: the same way you dowith a reel. When possible, angle the rod tip so it is above you or right behind you,bring the sh or line closer to you, and depending on how much line youre using (we

recommend starting with a length no more than 2t longer than the rod), grab the sh(or net it), or grab the line, calmly bring the sh closer to you, and net it (or grab it).

Landing Fish

ips:Dont lit your arm high when landing a fsh, it is much easier to control thefsh with your arm close to you. Bring the fsh to calm water and calmly land it.

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enkara


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Te enkara Experiencerout are beautiul and they live in beautiul places. We desire a connection tothese sh and to the places where they live. enkara gives us a simple and directconnection.

Working with what the river gives him, the tenkara angler holds the rodcomortably low. Te line is kept high of the water to avoid the pull o intercedingcurrents, to allow the y to linger, to drit naturally in the sot spots amongboulders, eddies, currents and seams, or to be manipulated as i it were alive.

enkara is about simple connections to the river, to the y, to the sh. Te longrod and xed length o line allow a direct connection to the y across the river,giving the angler control and eel - and yes, even reach - not possible with westerngear.

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One yenkara anglers commonly use thesimplest y they can tie, and stick

with that one pattern while countingon diferent techniques to entice sh.

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In Search o enkaraI was clinging to mossy rock, hal o my body under a waterall. Fity eet straightbelow, the waterall crashed into a small basin sending mist into the air andkeeping my companions wet. Features on the rock ace were disappearing and allsounds my riends chatter, the roaring waterall, my own breath stopped.

Eight hours earlier, we had rappelled down a 70t waterall. We shed a streamthat ran or miles between two impassable, verdant, mossy rock walls, inside aseemingly impenetrable jungle. We caught many o the wild Yamato Iwana, rareon accessible streams in the area. Upon reaching the top o the last waterall o theday, I thought about my rst encounter and subsequent visits with Dr. Ishigaki,my teacher, who taught me how to properly sh tenkara. I thought about myrecent meeting with 89-year-old Mr.. Ishimaru Shotaro, who, some 77 years earlier,had to learn tenkara by observing a stranger rom a distance. And I thought aboutall I had discovered in regards to tenkara through other encounters, much reading,

and through teaching it.Four years earlier I had rst heard about tenkara. Te thought o a simpler

way o y-shing appealed to me: only rod, line and y. Te ultra-light,minimalist and compact nature o the gear, ideal or backpacking andadventures such as this, ensured I could always carry the gear along.

Continued on page 51

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tenkArA MASterS

Te concept o a master is part oJapanese culture, and Im honored tohave learned rom some o the best.

Mr. Ishimaru Shotaro may have beenone o the rst tenkara teachers in

Japan when he decided to teach this art,which he learned by secretly observinga stranger rom a distance when he wasa kid.

At 89 years old, with rail legs, Mr.Shotaro had not been able to get backin the water or 3 years. Ater speakingabout tenkara, revealing great storiesand a ascinating history, he decided hewanted to sh again, he wanted to shwith me.

suri o shimashoo (lets go shing), hesaid. One o his old students, who hadcome along, and I helped him put onhis waders and together we walked intothe stream again. Te light rain didntbother him a bit; he was happy to shonce more.

Ten, the efectiveness and advantages o tenkara over western y-shing struckme. Tere really is no need or a reel in mountain streams.

Finally, I noticed there was a lot more to tenkara, and I should go in search o it .

And so, here I was, spending 2 months in Japan, on my third visit, seeking to revealthe deep layers o tenkara. enkara is easy, and though supercially very simple, Ihave ound that the more I learned, the more there was to learn.

I learned that the ower o tenkara is the Fuji no hana (aka. Hysteria); that uzzymaterial rom a ern (the Osmunda amily) can be used as dubbing on ies. ToughI release almost all sh I catch, I learned about cooking troutshioyakistyle: onlysea-salt as seasoning coating the trout skin, skewered, and prepared over a re.Ten, I learned that ater eating a trout, I can honor it by not letting anything goto waste and preparing something called kotsuzake: lightly roast its bones over there and put them in warm sake- a ritual o mine i I must eat a sh that I catch.enkara nets are made rom one single branch o a tree yet perorm so much betterin a stream that I now comortably carry a net with me or I can leave it behind i

I have to climb wateralls.

Tere is as little or as much to tenkara as one wants to make o it. In Japan, theysay tenkara has ten colors. Te search or tenkara is a personal one. But, here isa hint: with as little as possible between you and the sh, you can nd tenkara onany stream you visit.

continued from page49

50 51

Catch and Release


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Catch and Release

enkara began with the original commercial shermen o the Japanese mountains a ewhundred years ago. Tese shermen used tenkara as a means to an end it was a wayto earn a living, and they were good at it. So good that 100 sh a day were common.

Mr. Shotaro rom the previous page was not a commercial sherman, but when he wasgrowing up he could catch a lot o sh, 150 was his record.

imes have changed. With the advent o dams, increased water usage, deorestation,urbanization, growing populationscold-water resources and cold-water sh areincreasingly pressured and imperiled.

People should not be denied the right to eat a sh that they catch, perhaps even enjoy acup okotsuzakeaterwards (page 51). But, luckily we dont need to depend on shingor ood anymore: an energy bar has similar calorie and protein values as a trout.

Ater spending two months in Japan and seeing the poor shing in the country due toactors such as dams and overshing, I have become a much stronger believer in theimportance o catch and release and responsible taking. Tings are not as they oncewere in Japan or anywhere else in the world.

When I asked Mr. Shotaro why he was able to learn tenkara by observing a strangerrom a distance when nowadays people think y-shing is dicult despite the wideavailability o resources such as books and videos, he responded, there were a lot moresh back then.

Please Catch and Release.

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Te way toward mastery o anyendeavor is to work toward simplicity;

replace complex technology withknowledge, hard work and skill.

- Yvon Chouinard, ounder and CEO o PatagoniaQuoted rom his article Simple Gits on tenkara and simplicity.


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