If you have read this blog in the past or subscribe to the Zen Newsletter, you know that while I do love traditional tenkara, I also love to push the boundaries of this fixed-line fly fishing method and test its limits. I often find the opportunity to do this in…
On July 21st Zen heads for the seventh consecutive year, back to Rapids Camp Lodge in Alaska. This home-away-from home lodge is a place of pure indulgence. They own both a Beaver and an Otter float place plus a jet that picks you up in Anchorage and is part of…
Tenkara, the traditional Japanese method of fixed line fly fishing for small fish in high mountain streams is slowly but surely becoming Americanized. Whether we like it or not. These days, the hottest tenkara topic on social media venues is around, “big fish”. Some might say it diminishes the method’s…
While tenkara is most commonly used for trout fishing in small rivers and creeks, since its incepsion, Zen has always enjoyed pushing the boundaries of the method. We feel that doing this helps us to design better rods as well as improve our understanding of the fixed line method and…
On October 21st I headed out on my very first adventure to Cuba. I was thrilled to travel there. Cuban culture is near and dear to me having lived most of my life in Miami, Florida. The food, the music, the Cuban ethos – it’s filled with warmth and passion.…
Whenever I sit down or get together with a group of traditional fly anglers we inevitably get to talking about tenkara. The number one question I get asked is, “What do you do when a fish runs?” My response has become a mini lesson of sorts, where we end up…
Guanaja – several months ago I had never heard of the place and didn’t know where it was. It’s part of Honduras, off the coast in the Bay Islands. Guanaja sits directly west of Guatemala and about 43 miles due north of Honduras’ mainland in the Caribbean Sea. People are…
That’s Fly Fishing Fun Bahamian Style Last year my scheduled trip to the Bahamas was cancelled when the country closed it’s doors and borders due to the spreading Covid-19 Virus. While I was disappointed by having to cancel the trip, I understood the restrictions and knew it was for my…
I just returned from a fly fishing trip to Andros South Bone Lodge on South Andros Island in the Bahamas. Liz Fincher and Max Pushak are the managers of this Deneki Outdoors owned destination. While a full write on the lodge, the fishing and tenkara feasibility are forthcoming, here’s a…
As I’m preparing to pack for my upcoming trip to South Andros Lodge in The Bahamas, I’m pondering gear and clothing. I’m trying to combine absolute necessities with other items I just generally would like to bring. I’m gradually condensing my things into smaller and smaller pieces of luggage. I…
We did it! We made it! We got to the 2020 finish line. Exhausted, tired and feeling worst for the wear, but it’s OVER. Welcome 2021, Lets start a new fresh year with a new fresh outlook. We’ve had our downtime, relearned how to wash our hands, sneeze and cough…
Noah Larsen and Arthur Shain returned from their Alaska Packrafting Expedition full of appreciation of the area, their steadfast gear and their personal growth. Here’s an account of their trip: Our westerly traverse of the Brooks Range and Gates of the Arctic National Park began about 20 miles south…
As I settle back into the routine of work and sitting at my desk on the computer I discover that jet lag is a very real thing. I’ve been waking up bright-eyed and bushy tailed at 3am. It’s useless trying to go back to sleep so I get up and…
I just finished packing my Patagonia Storm waterproof bag and I’m at a comfortable 20lbs. Not bad when you consider my Simms Sneaker wading boots are in there, all my toiletries and clothes for a winter evening out in Paris. I try to never let my rods and reels out…
My first memory of fishing was with my dad when I was about four years old and we were anchored off Honeymoon Harbor in the Bahamas. There wasn’t much room for toys on our 27-ft Morgan sailboat, which we lived aboard for about a month at a time. One day…
Originally published in Tenkara Angler, Winter 2019/20 Issue As the fly fishing method and sport of tenkara takes hold and gains popularity in the American market, it will be interesting to see if they way tenkara rods are categorized and described evolves. The current practice of notating the rod’s…
When fly anglers talk about their fly rods, they use a set of terms to describe the rod. This usually includes the rod’s length and the rod’s weight. You’ll hear fly fisherman say they have a 7ft 3wt or a 9ft 5wt, etc. The rod’s weight has nothing to do…
Golden Dorado, beautiful rainbows and fat browns – that’s what awaits in Argentina! April 9th-17th, 2021 we’re heading down to Urban Dorado Anglers and Las Pampas Lodge for pure fishing heaven, total indulgence and an Argentinian experience like no other. Use your rod and reel, use your tenkara fly rod,…
Here’s a short interview that we did with Rapids Camp Lodge in King Salmon Alaska – not a typical tenkara destination but one that is actually as sweet as could be: For the past 3 years, we have been lucky to host Karin Miller & her husband Erik Fischer at…
I’ve just recently returned from another incredible Alaskan adventure and I have to say, the novelty and excitement of this untamed wilderness, never ceases to thrill me. Amy and Dan Herrig, owners of Rapids Camp Fishing Lodge, were our hosts for the third year in a row. They are special…
May 8th, this Wednesday evening at 7:00pm Mountain Time AskAboutFlyFishing.com will be broadcasting a live internet radio show with the owner of Zen Tenkara, Karin Miller, as guest. This will be a great time with fantastic conversation and an opportunity for you to type in your questions in real-time –…
6 Days, 5 Nights of Awesome in Costa Rica PM me if your interested Segment 1: Machaca Machaca are extremely aggressive, and throwing poppers behind overhanging branches along the bank often triggers several fish to attack from below. Once hooked, the fish are as aerial as mini tarpon and as strong as…
Sitting down at my computer and sifting through emails can be a daunting chore. I have 5 different addresses to go through. But on one particular morning back in July, I had a surprise waiting in one of my inboxes. It was an invitation from Deneki Outdoorsto travel to Alaska and…
It’s mid-July and I’m hunting around the bottom of my closet for fleece pants and wool socks. I’m heading to Alaska in less than a week and I’m excited but getting a little nervous since I’ve never been and I was invited there to fish and talk tenkara. It’s sort…
The weather outside is changing and autumn is officially here, in fact, it arrived early in the morning on Thursday, September 22nd. And like clockwork, the sunshine had that warm golden hue to it and shadows were long. Darkness fell a little quicker and the night was noticeable colder.…