Hooks from Japan!
Today, I got the best piece of mail I’ve gotten in a long time. Japanese tenkara angler Hiroyuki Hasegawa (known as @kebarer on Twitter and Che Kebarer on Pinterest) sent me a great assortment of Gamakatsu and Owner hooks, plus a few surprises…
Read MoreNew Year’s Tenkara Resolutions
It’s that time again when we’re all supposed to make a list of things we want to accomplish in the new year. Instead of making the cliche list of resolutions that people never achieve like losing weight, quitting smoking, or exercising more, I’m going to make a more attainable list about things I actually want to accomplish. So, here goes…
Read MoreRandom Tenkara Stuff
Nothing big to write about today–just a few glimpses of what’s going on at Tenkara Talk headquarters…
Tenkara USA Hemostats and Nippers
I recently got a chance to try out the Tenkara USA Hemostat and Line Nipper combo. At first glance, they don’t seem remarkable. They look just like any forceps and line nipper and perform their unglamorous (though necessary) functions dutifully. They both have a nice black matte finish that won’t reflect sunlight and scare off spooky fish. What is remarkable though is the price.
Read MoreAmerican Tenkara Museum
Today, I got the first ever TenkaraUSA print catalog in the mail. Daniel was kind enough to not only autograph it for me, but also write a nice message. This is a truly special item and as soon as I opened it, it reminded me of something I’ve been thinking about for quite some time–establishing a tenkara museum.
Read MoreHoppers, 5.5 X Tippet, and Random Stuff
I’m heading back to Rocky Mountain National Park Sunday for what might be my last chance to catch the hopper frenzy on the Big Thompson. In anticipation, I tied up half a dozen foam hoppers as per John Rumney’s design. In general, I’m not a big fan of foam but I have to admit it makes a very effective hopper pattern that is easy to tie, floats well, and is durable.
I deviated a little from the original pattern by using a longer-shank hopper hook and a Chernobyl Ant foam cutter for the body instead of the beaver tail contoured cutter but they still look good and I’m confident they will work. Here’s how to tie John’s hopper pattern:
I also made a recent discovery that I think could help me pare down my fly fishing kit a little. 90% of the time, I find myself fishing either 5X or 6x tippet (the exception being when I’m lake fishing with midges and need to drop down to 7X). I usually carry a spool of each size and switch according to fly size, water conditions, and fish wariness. While at my local fly shop last weekend, I found something I’d never seen before–not 5X tippet, not 6X tippet, but 5.5X tippet!
It’s called Trout Hunter tippet and at 0.0055″ it’s right in between typical 5X and 6X diameters. This tippet has a great strength-to-diameter ratio and is a very versatile size that will allow me to carry just one spool instead of two. The tippet comes in UV resistant, waterproof packaging to keep it “fresh” while a larger diameter spool reduces line memory:
I finally broke down and got Tenkara Talk business cards. I just wanted something to hand out on the stream to spread the word about tenkara. I made the cards myself in Photoshop using a picture Brian Flemming took of me on our recent trip to Rocky Mountain National Park. It might be a little shameless, but I kind of like the way they came out.
That’s it for now. I’ll have a post after my trip on Sunday. I hope you’re getting out and enjoying some great fall tenkara fishing!
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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