“Tenkara is like a haiku,” Ishimura said. “The construction is very limited. You can be very creative and adapt to any situation by changing the lines.”

Isn't she just the coolest person you've ever known? I first met her in Sweden at the World Fly Fishing Championships. She is smart, interesting, educated, and gracious beyond description.

I'd like to see her do a Tenkara class at the conclave. The history of the technique really is not just Japanese, although knowing the culture they probably "perfected" it. I've seen the technique used in all forms through out Europe. With all the modern fly rods our techniques have been morphed into basically dry or a bobber. Ancient nymphing is probably the most "effective" method there is by far. It is only recently that when we started calling in "Czech Nymphing" that it has caught on like it was something completely new. Far from it.

In Portugal we thought we were hot schyte for using 11 foot high modules graphite rods to gain access through the brush and impossible fishing locations. We were really out smarting all the other teams. One of the controllers questioned such a "short" rod being effective. With only having an 11 foot rod, he explained, it really limited your reach, plus you would often spook fish. He suggested at least a 14 foot rod as being a much better tool for the job. When I asked to see his set up I was expecting to see some new form of super technology that some European genius has created. What he brought back was a simple 14 foot cane pole with a leader and 3 flies tied to the end. It was a eureka moment for me. I could see exactly what he was talking about as soon as I saw his rod / pole (No comments Terry,..... yes you). I have no doubt he could have out fished all of our well equipped, uppity arses.


Hey Terry does my beer smell funny to you?