The Updated Logo

We have an updated logo now.  I am super happy to have it and it was created by Tenkara Hero co-founder Steve Roessler.  Super sweet.

The Tenkara Hero 

Tenkara lines and line holders

I've got a Tenkara line problem.  Not a real problem more like an obsession.

With trying to keep "local" supported as much as possible, I've been using Streamside Leaders hand crafted furled lines.   Just love them.  Amazing quality, speed of service is great, options are super and I've never yet had a bad experience.  My latest addition to the collection is a 12' foot Kevlar leader and 2 -12' ultralight leaders

Golden yellow in color and has a 2mm tippet ring it is going to be sweet, can not wait to get a fish on it.

Tom Davis of Teton Tenkara just did a great review of line holders.  Click HERE to read that.

TetonTenkara is my "go to" blog right now for info, reviews and updates.  Great stuff.

As you can see, I do like the Raji-Lecia Oni.  At a diameter of 70mm and only tipping the scales at a mere 12.6 grams they are perfect.  I would with other spools that flies were having troubles staying locked in so I love the small bar to hooks flies on and the plastic notches grab the tail ends of your line.

I keep all my lines on a dedicated spool and have them marked with the length of the furled line and have a #3 level line that I am going to start testing this spring.  The other lines there are Masterlines in both 3.3 and 3.6m's and a cool looking spool called the Nissin Pals Fujiru. For me it has a higher esthetic quality then functionality.  A diameter of 65mm and weighs in at 9.2 grams but small center hole, strange line holder insert and single direction fly holder keeps it in 

Bubble Kebari

 The bubble kebari - it has a little wire under the peacock and uses a blue macaw feather.

the glass ass kebari

Lt. Brown Betty Kebari

Another great day at the Creek

salt creek slayer - kill'n'em

Another great day on the water.  Lots of fish and had the chance to sight cast to some monster chubs.  I tested 4 flies today and while they all produced, the salt creek slayer - just killed them.

Salt Creek Slayer

Breaking my own rules by keeping the Salt Creek Slayer on until it is no longer functional.  Had my best day this year at the creek a few days ago.  It had a shocking 1 out of 4 cast average, which is simply amazing.  Way over 50 fish on the day!

Fox River Tenkara

fox river

Blue Bird Kebari

The Blue Bird Kebari - blue thread, blue yarn with a Blue Macaw Parrot feather

Bead Kebari

lots of great fishing lately

new fly pattern designed by John Graves - the Patriot Bean Kebari

Wisconsin's Driftless Area

I have heard about this little section of Wisconsin for over 15 years now and finally had the chance to fished it. The Driftless area southeast of LaCrosse.
It's near the Elroy-Sparta trail (which is an amazing place for bicycles) but also Trout.  Tight little streams called Coulee's and there are lots of them.  Most with little spots to put off the side of the road to fish.  You are not going to pull out any lunkers but the chance to get your feet wet and catch trout about 4+ hours from Chicago is a great find.  The Driftless Area is super cool and is perfect for Tenkara.  Lots of overhangs and corners where it could be next to impossible to cast western style.
Tenkara, once again.....TENKARA

Cow Crossing - hope you are upstream when they do their business (crossing or #2)

Tenkara Jedi Master Oni Loops

Not a lot of Go in my Hero

I am in technology prison.  HELL is more like it, maybe even a deep level of Dante's Inferno.
My work computer is with the IT crew, work phone stopped getting emails 3 days ago and I have been fighting for hours with my GoPro.  It seemed to lock up on my last expedition and has been nothing but a royal pain in the ass (P.I.A.) for 2 nights now.
Updates are not working, iPhone app helped for 2 minutes before it went crazy, take batteries out, try to reboot, wifi remote is not functional, pop out SD card, reboot, look for more updates, refresh app and even uninstalled things, reboot computer, reboot GoPro, refresh and even re-added them and on and on and on.... I am just max'd out with it.  Something that is supposed to record joy is such a pain I don't want to ever use it again.  And if I was recording any of it, the current video would be flagged and would be a solid beeping noise.

SO .... I'll have some reviews out soon on the last trip including gear reviews, trout caught, camping gear reviews, food tips, local trips and I even have 2 new rods that are unfished to talk about that just came in the mail.

Jack's very first fish is on Tenkara!!

I took my oldest son fishing for his first time this week.  Let me back up slightly.  We went to a med-large outdoor store and found his first fishing pole.  Sweet little telescoping rod & reel combo in the theme of STAR WARS.  yes!!  The kit with was $14 also included a backback, sun glasses, tackle box with Stormtrooper cover, practice rubber casting fish.  All in all an ok deal.  He loved he.  We talk about fishing, I show him the pictures on the way out of the store with everyones mega sized fish, come home and even dig for worms in the garden.
Load up the bike with kid-trailer and head to the closest pond.  Get to the pond and by now he has befriended all the worms and even had names for them, so it came as a shock when I took good ol'Barnie and skewered him to a hook.
The set up is a total junker, its no propeal pocket fisherman but it was cheap, star wars, he loved it good enough.  After a stretching the line I get the set up out to the weed line.  We are fishing.
He is set and ready.  I rig up my biking Tenkara rod, a Diawa 33SF and start to cast.  No fish right away and while I am checking on Jack, I notice he is already tangled in the weeds.  So, I hand him the tenkara rod, explain to keep the tip high and go work on his set up.  Not 2 seconds later he is already on a fish!  He is screaming and of course my natural instinct was to grab the rod, so he doesn't break it but I notice that this fish has a little bit more muscle then a bluegill.  We fight the fish together for a short time, get him in and jeepers the boy just caught himself a bass.  First fish ever on a Tenkara rod with a fly I tied. Hash-tag proudpappa.

And as if that wasn't enough he also got a solid sized bluegill and we caught a few more small bass and more bluegills.  During all the excitement I also notice that the Star Wars rod bobber rig was in the same place with no fish on.

Once again TENKARA out fishes standard tackle.  And best of all, done by a 4 year old.

Fox River Valley Killer Bugs

Fox River Valley Killer Bugs (#20 & #21)

Hook Size 14

Thread - White 6/0

Body - Red Heart Camo

Tail - Red Ultra Fine Wire

yellow headed kebari

Fly #12  Yellow Headed Kebari

Head: Gold Thread

Hackle: found brown feather

Thorax: peacock

Body: black thread

hook size #10

Fly #14

This is #14.  Still thinking of a name for her. 

Hackle: found white & gray feather

Thorax: peacock

Body: black thread

Tail: the tip of the hackle feather

Even Darth Vader is into Tenkara

Happy Monday!

micro flies

Dropper Flies, Micro Flies call them what you want, all I know is that you need good hands to tie flies this small.
I have always been fascinated by the idea of having a two or three fly rig going.  So between reading a lot about nymphing and an article of indicator kerbari, I have tied a few micro flies.  These are the first three.  No certain patterns, just seeing if I could tie flies this small.  These are size 26. Tiny tiny tiny

Salt Creek Slayer

Salt Creek S;ayer

I really like the combo of the red butt with peacock and the black hackle.                                             Lets see what the fish at the creek think

Naming Flies - Fox River Killer Kebari

Fox River Killer Kebari

I love tying flies and I don't really have a style or anything.  But what I do have is an issue naming flies.
Some I think simply need to be fished and maybe the name will come from fishing.  This one I am going to name the Fox River Killer Kebari

Current Fly Box Picture

Just what I currently have in my fly box

Up-close Trout

Up-close Trout, a photo by cklineUHC on Flickr.

Flys of the Day

Flys of the Day, a photo by cklineUHC on Flickr.

Parrot Flies

New Tenkara Flies tied with molted Macaw feathers

Blue Macaw Kebari

A Blue Macaw Kebari

The TenkaraHero

A simple blog - Tenkara fly fishing, a GoPro and sometimes a iPhone.