I'm sure it has been clear to everyone that I have been winding down the TenkaraBum and Finesse-Fishing sites for a while now. There is very little left in stock - just three tenkara rods and some lines on the TenkaraBum site and just five spinning rods, some lines and some ultralight spinners and spoons on the Finesse-Fishing site.

I will be taking a step closer to retirement beginning November 11. I will be away from the shop for a month. Not a fishing trip, not a business trip, not a vacation. Instead, more of a temporary or "practice" retirement. While I am away, you can purchase anything that is in stock but it won't get shipped until December 11 or shortly thereafter. If you are quick, I can ship items on November 9 and 10.

While I am away from the shop I will not be able to sell any replacement parts that may be in stock but not on the website, and will not be able to order any parts that are not in stock. If you need a replacement part, I would suggest contacting Keiichi Okushi, who owns Tenkara-ya in Japan. Google can find the email address for you.

I do not plan on even reading emails, let alone answering them. There are a number of other fine tenkara shops in the US who can answer urgent questions or provide immediate shipment for any gear you may need right away.

I will be back, but until then, take care (and don't break anything).

Why Level Line for a Beginner

This morning (August 17, 2013) I saw a question on a forum asking for someone to explain what the difference was between level and furled lines. He said he knew that furled lines were tapered but asked what level lines were.

He received several answers. Most suggested that furled lines were easier to cast. They should have said furled lines are easier to cast if your form is bad. With good form, level lines are very easy to cast. What is more, they are easier to actually catch fish with!

Level lines are lighter than furled lines*. They sag less and are easier to hold off the water's surface. If your line is in the air rather than in the water, you will get much less drag. You will get better presentations. you will get more strikes. You will notice more of the strikes you do get. The combination of more strikes and better strike detection is a pretty solid advantage to level lines in my opinion.

It may take a little longer to learn to cast a level line. You will have to learn good form. However, time spent learning good form will pay off handsomely. Learning to cast properly will take minutes longer, not weeks longer, and with better form and a lighter line you will be rewarded with hundreds if not thousands more fish.

*Blanket statement alert! If you make your own furled lines, you can make one lighter than you can buy. I do not believe you can buy one anywhere that is as light as a readily available size 3 level line. If you want the advantages that light lines bring to tenkara, fish level lines from day 1.

TenkaraBum Home > Tenkara Line > Why Level Line for a Beginner

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” - Benjamin Franklin

"Be sure in casting, that your fly fall first into the water, for if the line fall first, it scares or frightens the fish..." -
Col. Robert Venables 1662

As age slows my pace, I will become more like the heron.

We've all had situations where seriously chewed up flies kept catching fish after fish after fish. It is no sin to tie flies that come off the vise looking seriously chewed up.

Warning:

The hooks are sharp.
The coffee's hot.
The fish are slippery when wet.

Beware of the Dogma

All the hooks sold on TenkaraBum.com, whether packaged as loose hooks or incorporated into flies, are sharp - or as Daiichi says on their hook packages, Dangerously Sharp. Some have barbs, which make removal from skin, eyes or clothing difficult. Wear eye protection. Wear a broad-brimmed hat. If you fish with or around children, bend down all hook barbs and make sure the children wear eye protection and broad-brimmed hats. Pay attention to your back cast so no one gets hooked.

Also, all the rods sold on TenkaraBum.com will conduct electricity. Do not, under any circumstances, fish during a thunder storm. Consider any fishing rod to be a lightning rod! Fishing rods can and do get hit by lightning!