scof21_

When Steve and Dave approached
me about with the idea that I should
pen an article for SCOF on Tenkara
I was dubious. What could I possibly have
to say on the subject? I own three boats, four
boat bags, and 20 some odd fly rods. I’ve spent
the last 20 something years assembling and
refining my arsenal of equipment, knowledge,
and abilities for better or worse. I am of course
familiar with the concept of Tenkara. I grew up
in the South on the banks of the Tennessee
River and the first fish I caught was likely on a
cane pole which is, if we are being honest, not
entirely dissimilar to a Tenkara. But along the
way cane poles gave way to spinning rods and
rooster tails and ultimately a fly rod. Today I am
a self-professed big fish junky and I giggle like a
small child when I feel a fish pull the line through
my hand as it steams in the opposite direction.
While not a casting aficionado, I can cast a long
line and I enjoy doing it because more often than
not longer casts result in bigger fish. Tenkara,
while having some obvious benefits for fishing
small streams, of which we have in abundance
here in East Tennessee, doesn’t in any way fit
the style of fishing I love to do most and it is not
a technique I feel compelled to revisit despite
having had limited success in selling Tenkara
rods in my shop.
S.C.O.F MAGAZINE
139