Tenkara in Focus: Yamame (ヤマメ) Capture & Kura-san’s Fly Tying Cabinet

If you’ve seen any of the “#3 Tenkara Nylon Level Line” content on our site, or are familiar with our original blog site, then Kura-san (Kazuo Kurahashi) will need no introduction. In this episode (and in the pictures below the video) you can seen him in action on-stream catching (and releasing) a lovely little wild yamame (ヤマメ) – as well as coaching Alan into catching a wild iwana (イワナ) in the technical waters of Itoshiro with Go Ishii. Tenkara in Focus Season 3, Episode 2 also reveals Kura-san’s awesome woodworking skills…

Tenkara Yamame & Iwana C&R PLUS Kura-san’s Fly Tying Cabinet: Tenkara in Focus Season 3 Ep2 (テンカラ)

Without further ado, let’s check out the episode (and you can pick up on the pictures and notes below for extra interest, info and enjoyement...PLUS don’t miss this month’s special time-limited offer below

Tenkara Catch & Release

A large majority of the anglers in Japan still fish for the table – and it is interesting to see that (especially considering the origins of tenkara as a professional branch of survival and small-scale/cottage industry angling) modern tenkara anglers are at the forefront of promoting Japanese Catch and Release. At the beginning of the show, you saw Kura-san use his C&R tool to remove the hook without handling the little wild Yamame that he caught from a river close to another wonderful angler’s house (Kazumi Saigo or “Ajari”) in the Toyama region.

Kura-san’s Tenkara and Woodworking Skills

The way that Kura-san moves around each fishing spot – and the sequence of his “offerings” or presentations to the fish are big keys to his success. Of course, the e-book and video bundle breaks that down in great detail.

Kura-san’s use of #3 Nylon Level Line during windless conditions allows him to deliver flies incredibly gently – as well as achieving very “true” drifts and allowing extra subtle manipulations.

Casting across stream super-gently with #3 nylon level line

The level of care and artistry that is evident in his fishing is also immediately obvious in his woodworking skills (we are fortunate to own a flybox hand made by Kura-san). His road-trip Fly Tying Cabinet that he turns to when he returns from the stream and wants to solve a particular presentation and fly-design problem is truly a work of art.

Transferable Tenkara Skills

As well as being extremely accomplished as an angler, Kura-san and Go were able to give new tactics, insights and successes to Alan. We are also in the fortunate position to have been able to closely analyse and “translate” Kura-san’s skills and approach by studying him in person, talking at length, fishing alongside and also have the chance to apply biological and competition angling understanding. The end result is a combination of faithful recording of the coaching delivered personally to Alan – as well as detailed analysis and extra details not covered or available within the on-stream demonstration.

The overall result of that is we’ve been able to create a simple, digestible bundle of material that easily transfers Kura-san’s key tactics to you. Just Click below to enrol and start using those tactics right away:

Paul

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