The Tenkara Hero's new logo

Tenkara Hero is my blog based on Japanese Tenkara style fly fishing.  Here is the new logo created by Tenkara Hero's co-founder Steve.  It is super sweet

sea glass ass kebari

Glass ass

Brown Bead Kebari

Salt Creek Slayer

bead kebari

materials picked by J. Graves

The Driftless Area - Wisconsin

Have a new spot in Wisconsin for Trout.  It's about 4+ hours from Chicago but is amazing.  Little spots to pull off the side of the road to fish and lots of them.  

Tenkara Jedi Master Oni Loops

Another Tenkara'er

Had a friend from Rhode Island in this past weekend and in the spirit of Adventure we took off to Salt Creek for a little Tenkara.   With temperatures in the mid to upper 90's it felt wonderful to have our feet in the water.
Within 5 casts he had his first fish on.  Tenkara!!!
He had about 5 total fish and 3 species.

Technology H.E. double hockey sticks (L.L.)

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 (not really a bad thing) and worst of all 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 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

The Dark Side of Tenkara

I think I might be on the Dark Side of Tenkara!?!

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

Naming Flies

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

Tenkara Fly Box

The current look of my Tenkara fly box

Tenkara Parrot Flies

New Tenkara Flies tied with molted Macaw feathers

Tenkara Rod Holder and 2012 Rod Collection

This is my year end 2012 rod collection.  It has already changed a lot so keep an eye out for a 2013 update

Rods from Left to Right

TenkaraUSA Amago

TenkaraUSA Yamame

TenkaraUSA Ebisu

TenkaraUSA Ito

Daiwa Kiyose 43MF

Daiwa Soyokaze 27

Daiwa Kiyose 33SF

Kiyotaki 24

Kiyotaki 18

Bear Grylls Paracord knife review

The Bear Grylls Paracord knife is a solid tool that has multiple uses and will last a lifetime.  

I love the sheath, it has the ability to be taken apart and have the belt/strap holder moved around on sheath allowing you to put it in almost any position on a belt, backpack or harness.  Think mine is going on my wading belt.

It is a little at the heavy size at almost 5oz and I do plan on swapping out the current cord to a different color and I have heard when rewrapping you can add additional inches of cord.

Night Powder

The only time people in the Midwest hope for fresh powder is right before Christmas or if you own a snow bike.
Almost a foot of snow has fallen and it is one of those special nights where it is a little bright outside.
Riding in deep fresh snow in almost total silence at night is one of the most amazing things ever.

Ride on

my still kinda secret fishing spot

The Driftless Area -SW Wisconsin

My secret fishing and camping spot is in what is called the Driftless Area of Wisconsin
I attached a great little article on how folks help maintain it and keep it beautiful .

And don't worry, all my secret spots are still secret...

A great Tenkara blog

Lately I've been on the road for work a lot and have been spending more time reading then fishing, snow biking or fly tying.  And although it kinda sucks not doing those things, I'd like to let everyone know that one of my go to blogs and just an amazing fisherman is Tom from Teton Tenkara
http://tetontenkara.blogspot.com/
Teton Tenkara

Not only are the reviews great but he is out there in the snow and cold and always catches fish.
Thanks Tom

Night Snow Biking

The only time I have had as of late to ride is well ... late.

I've got a quick route thru the woods in my back yard, along the creek, thru the field and back.  

Macaw Tenkara Flies

New flies tied with Macaw feathers

Macaw Kebari 

Last Tenkara of 2012

Last Tenkara of 2012

Cold, windy day on the Fox River, but still very nice to be outside and in the river.  This mission was more recon than a solid attempt to catch fish.   I've work a nice stretch of the river south of Batavia and about half way to Aurora.   Good amount of islands, cuts, eddies, and access to the thin deep part of the main channel.
2013 will be the year of the FOX