Tenkara Talk Trivia
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while, you’ve probably seen some changes over the years. So I thought it would be fun to give a little history on the site, and where it is now.
1. This website started out as backpackflyfishing.com. Originally, the main focus was on fly fishing and lightweight backpacking but it soon morphed into a tenkara only site and eventually became “TenkaraTalk”. I found myself writing more and more about tenkara and less about backpacking so I decided to make the switch. Here’s my old logo:
2. Before settling on “TenkaraTalk”, I considered a lot of other names. Here’s a list of some of the names this site could have been called (after rereading some of these, I think I made the right choice):
- Tenkara Blogger
- Tenkara Guy
- Tenkaraholic
- Tenkara 360
- Go Tenkara!
- No Reel Required
- A Stick and Some String
- A Stick and String
- Ditch the Reel
- Recovering Reel Addict
- Recovering Reeler
- Rod without a Reel
- Tenkara Evolution
- Tenkara Revolution
- Tenkara Guerrilla
- Tenkara Junkie
3. The current logo was made by my friend Brian Green of Brian’s Backpacking Blog from a mockup I made in Photoshop. The two “Ts” inside the red graphic obviously stand for “Tenkara Talk” but they also are supposed to be evocative of a torii, a japanese gate that signifies entrance into a sacred place. The “red box” surrounding the two Ts is supposed to represent a Japanese seal, or hanko (the traditional method to add one’s signature to a document).
A Japanese Torii:
Some examples of hanko:
The Tenkara Talk Graphic. See the resemblance?
4. The original logo was also created by Brian and looked like this. It was a good logo but I never did like the “amputated hand” look, LOL:
5. At the time I’m writing this, Tenkara Talk has almost 250 posts and 2,400+ comments from awesome readers like you who share your insights, tips, experiences, and passion for tenkara!
So, there’s probably more than you ever wanted to know about Tenkara Talk. I feel like the site has progressed over the last couple of years and I hope it continues to be a good resource for both new and experienced tenkara anglers–a place to have really intelligent discussions about tenkara. I’m proud of the content I write and take it very seriously. But the thing I’m most proud of is the fact that I have such amazing readers. I never expected this blog to get the attention it does (especially considering tenkara is a niche within a niche). But I’m grateful to have a loyal following of such intelligent and articulate anglers. Without you, I would be blogging in a vacuum. And while many readers tell me they learn something from this blog, I have to say that I think I have learned more from them. Every time I put an idea out there, I get comments that really make me think and push the idea even further. So, I just wanted to say thanks for your support and feedback. Ultimately, that’s what keeps me driven and will continue to make this blog even better.
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About Me
Jason Klass is a former fly fishing guide who now exclusively fishes Tenkara for trout in the streams and lakes of Colorado...Read More
I have in the past collected certain items from Japaan and recognized your logo as a hanko somewhat reminiscent of a Japanese gate. Does Jason mean ‘healer?’ I think that that translates as Iyasu in Japanese. Wasn’t there a 17th century shogun by that name?
As my two given names more or less translate to ‘lake’ (Lynn in Gaelic) and ‘beloved’ – I guess my Japanese name would be something akin to Mizuumi Saiai (though some have told me Lynn means waterfall? Thus Taki Saiai). Must be why I like fishing!
Lynn,
Jaosn does mean healer but I have no idea about the Shogun. Your name seems fitting though!
Must say I’m glad you went with “Tenkara Talk.” Also, I found the symbolism behind your logo very interesting! Thanks for sharing.
Hey.
Never noticed the tori gate image. Very nice. If the past is any indication, the figure of this site (and it’s creator)are bright indeed!
Jason, you have done a wonderful job blogging about tenkara! I hear your name often when I’m on the road and people have been following tenkara. Keep up the great work.
Daniel
Hey, thanks Daniel. That means a lot coming from you. After all, I would never have known about Tenkara or have created this blog if it weren’t for you!
I remember how “Backpack Fly Fishing” got me into tenkara! I thru-hiked the AT this year and ran into the guys over at Elemental Horizons at TrailDays in Damascus, Virginia and saw them making the trico pack. I was like “WHoooaa, didn’t Jason Klass design this?!”. They were surprised I knew about it apparently. Small world somehow. And for some reason I still do not own a trico pack. Ridiculous. Maybe one day.
Stephen Outten
ElCamino.Blues.Blogspot.com
Cool story Stephen! Elemental Horizons did sew that pack for me but also sold it under their own name of “dragonfly”