Wednesday, November 24, 2010
2…4…6…8…Ten…kara
12:08 PM | Posted by
Cassie Designs
Yes, RoundRocks now carries Tenkara fly rods!
Tenkara is the traditional Japanese method of fly-fishing where only a rod, line and fly are used. It originated in the mountain streams of Japan and is the ideal method for stream fly-fishing.
Tenkara is about fly-fishing simplicity. It eliminates unnecessary complexities to let you enjoy the fly-fishing experience. Instead of gear, you're free to focus on your casting and fishing techniques. The ultra-light and portable gear is great for backpacking, 11-13 foot rods collapse down to 20 inches and the long rods allow you to effectively fish challenging waters.
Tenkara is about fly-fishing simplicity. It eliminates unnecessary complexities to let you enjoy the fly-fishing experience. Instead of gear, you're free to focus on your casting and fishing techniques. The ultra-light and portable gear is great for backpacking, 11-13 foot rods collapse down to 20 inches and the long rods allow you to effectively fish challenging waters.
GEAR
Tenkara was a fishing technique that originally used bamboo rods. Over the centuries, Tenkara has evolved to the point that modern Tenkara is known for using sophisticated technology to produce extremely light and strong rods. The rods are made with high-grade carbon-fiber, and are telescopic, making Tenkara rods the most portable yet pure style of fly-fishing. The rods' extended length (normally 12ft) and portability (they close down to 20 inches, with all pieces fitting inside the handle) makes them ideal for mountain stream angling and backpacking. Traditional Tenkara lines are furled, and, like in western fly-fishing, are necessary for casting the weightless flies forward.
Tenkara was a fishing technique that originally used bamboo rods. Over the centuries, Tenkara has evolved to the point that modern Tenkara is known for using sophisticated technology to produce extremely light and strong rods. The rods are made with high-grade carbon-fiber, and are telescopic, making Tenkara rods the most portable yet pure style of fly-fishing. The rods' extended length (normally 12ft) and portability (they close down to 20 inches, with all pieces fitting inside the handle) makes them ideal for mountain stream angling and backpacking. Traditional Tenkara lines are furled, and, like in western fly-fishing, are necessary for casting the weightless flies forward.
TECHNIQUE
The absence of a reel makes it the simplest style of fly-fishing, where each basic element has evolved to be the most effective at its use. The few elements between you and the fish, along with the sensitive rod, will transmit even the smallest vibrations directly to your hands.
Tenkara is very well suited for: fishing a dry-fly (virtually drag-free due to the supple line and little line in the water), dapping a fly on a pool or holding it on an eddy, Czech-nymphing and high-sticking, playing a soft-hackle wet fly, and manipulating the traditional reverse hackle flies. Fixed-line fishing methods such as Tenkara allow for a lot of control over the line and fly.
The absence of a reel makes it the simplest style of fly-fishing, where each basic element has evolved to be the most effective at its use. The few elements between you and the fish, along with the sensitive rod, will transmit even the smallest vibrations directly to your hands.
Tenkara is very well suited for: fishing a dry-fly (virtually drag-free due to the supple line and little line in the water), dapping a fly on a pool or holding it on an eddy, Czech-nymphing and high-sticking, playing a soft-hackle wet fly, and manipulating the traditional reverse hackle flies. Fixed-line fishing methods such as Tenkara allow for a lot of control over the line and fly.
Casting requires a slower and shorter stroke to completely turn the tippet over. Though simple and easy to do, a large casting repertoire can be acquired and can be useful in different fishing situations. For example, a snap cast can come in handy when wanting to change direction of the fly without false-casting, while an under-hand cast is good for getting under a tree.
We have found that the Tenkara approach provides a fun and easy way to introduce kids to fly fishing. Plus, it’s a load of fun for those of us who are looking for something new and different to add to our enjoyment of our beloved sport. Check them out on our web site: http://roundrocks.com .
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
What Happens at Round Rocks, Stays at Round Rocks
It happened again. A customer came into the shop recently and began fondling the fly rods. Yes, he already had a few rods, but, as any fly angler knows, you can never have too many rods. So he tried out a few and found one that "felt right." After deciding on a rod, he made his way to our reels. He moved from fondling to caressing. His eyes began to lose focus, but after a few minutes he took a deep breath and decided on the right reel for his new rod. As he was checking out, he said, "My wife is going to kill me for getting another outfit." My reply? "What happens at RoundRocks STAYS at RoundRocks!"
In my defense let me say emphatically: we do not run an unethical business nor do we condone immoral lifestyles. Sure, we tolerate the usual amount of lying that accompanies any gathering of anglers. But we are committed to protecting our customers from the disasterous consequences they bring on themselves.
Like, for instance, the guys who make their way to northern Utah "on business" and deduct their "business" trip--including fly fishing--on their taxes. What happens at RoundRocks STAYS at RoundRocks!
Or the anglers who sneak away from work a bit early or take a l-o-o-o-n-g lunch break to score some nice fishing mid-day. In fact, some of Logan's finest have been known to conduct "stakeouts" on the Logan River along the golf course. It does me good to be able to say to a police officer, "Don't worry, Officer. What happens at RoundRocks STAYS at RoundRocks!"
I know. It's a slippery slope when we grow comfortable with fibs and little white lies. Once we start down that slope, it only becomes easier to tell our own tall tales and, before you know it, your last fish grew an extra few inches as you told the story. Or, instead of going to the meeting, you "meet" your friend at the river. Or (believe it or not), people have even skipped church to go fishing! In fact, one of the biggest brown trouts ever caught in Utah was landed by a couple of kids that skipped church in order to fish. If only they had caught smaller fish, no one would have been the wiser. But they got busted because of the size of the fish. If only they had come directly to us--we would have had the solution for them: What happens at RoundRocks STAYS at RoundRocks!
So be assured: we can keep a secret, we don't snitch on customers, and we presume the innocense of those who step into our shop. Bryan and I figure that's the only way we'll have any chance of expecting the same in return. Because, like our customers--our wives don't need to know about the new gear we have to "demo" or the afternoons when we have to "update our fishing report." And both Bryan and I have taken some pretty nice tax-deductable fishing trips. So I'll make a deal with you: if we protect YOUR privacy, you can protect OURS. Remember: What happens at RoundRocks STAYS at RoundRocks!
The Nekid Fisherman
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Nekid Fisherman
DON'T TRY TO BUFFALO YOUR WIFE!
Jim Croce was right: You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind; you don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger and you don't mess around with Jim. Actually, he was only 80% right because I learned you also don’t do some things without telling your wife.
Jim Croce was right: You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind; you don't pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger and you don't mess around with Jim. Actually, he was only 80% right because I learned you also don’t do some things without telling your wife.
The fall bow hunt just started in Utah, so many anglers’ thoughts turn to a nice venison stew or an elk steak. I fell prey to that delusion a few years ago and committed the unforgivable mistake of trying to sneak some wild game meat onto my wife’s plate without telling her. Since she rarely reads our fly fishing newsletter, I think I can avoid any additional fallout when I tell you MY side of the story. All I ask is that you keep a secret.
My wife used to eat the pheasants I hunted in Iowa. She eagerly eats the fish I bring home. And she’s been known to even try rabbit and squirrel. So when we moved to Utah and I began hunting deer and elk, I thought she would at least try some. Nope. Not Dave’s moose meat. Not his caribou. Not even her husband’s hard-won elk meat. No wild game. Period.
So I thought (which is where most wayward actions arise) I’ll cook some buffalo, since it is a great game meat that closely resembles beef. Buffalo steaks! That’s the ticket!
So I brought home some incredible buffalo steaks. I grilled them to perfection. And we sat down for a wonderful dinner. She loved the meat. In fact, she enjoyed nearly every bite—every bite except the last three left on her plate. That was when I said, “And at least it isn’t elk.” I couldn’t keep my trap closed.
She put her fork down beside her plate and said, “It’s not elk.” She said it in a way that suggested it better not be elk. So I quickly assured her it wasn’t elk. And then I realize that I’m in it pretty deep by now. She said, “What is it?” as she fondled her steak knife. I have never been a very good liar, so I admitted that it was buffalo. Now both of her elbows went on the table, but at least she hadn't started gesturing with her steak knife. She said, “It’s beef.” This in a way that said IT BETTER BE BEEF!
What an ethical dilemma! I could either tell her the truth or tell her the truth that she wanted to hear. Being a coward at heart, I chose the latter. I agreed with her and said it was beef. For just a nano-second, the tension left her body. Whew! That was close, I thought.
But the brief moment of possible reprieve passed and she continued, “It’s not beef, is it?” No, I admitted, it’s really buffalo. So she got both sides of the truth anyway. And, as it turned out, it didn’t seem to make her feel any better getting the whole truth. Without a word, she picked up her plate, went to the kitchen sink, disposed of those last three wonderful morsels of buffalo, and went to her office.
The rest of the evening passed rather slowly and quietly. I think it was partly because she gave me so much time to think about what I had done and partly because I tend to think pretty slowly when I’ve done something REALLY BAD. To this day I believe the entire evening would have gone better if I’d told her I’d had an affair with a buffalo rather than sneaking buffalo steak onto her plate.
The good news is that we have repaired the damage that the buffalo caused that night. And she showed her spirit by getting me to eat some chili that a friend had made. After I had eaten the chili, she sprang it on me: IT WAS MADE WITH ELK! I think she wanted me to learn some empathy by getting my reaction when somebody surprised me with wild game meat. Unfortunately, her lesson was lost on me; the chili was excellent!
The Nekid Fisherman
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