Waiting for better weather...

Since the beginning of the month the weather has been really terrible with loads of rain that make fishing very hard, that is the reason why I did not post a lot lately. The few outings I did were shortened by rain and that is why I have started working on some plans I had for next fall: tamos.

I have already made one that I use when fishing but I want to improve some aspects of my production while respecting what is in my opinion the authentic aesthetic concept and the original process used by Japanese craftsmen. 

It is very pleasant to work these pieces of wood and it is a reward to feel the need to make your own tamo and I must say that I am positively surprised by the number of anglers (mainly French ones) who get in touch with me to obtain informations about the making of tamos, the wood species used, nets, etc. 

This shows that in this country a small community of really passionate tenkara anglers is growing thanks to people who want to push their tenkara experience further than buying gear. I understand this viewpoint because it is a real great satisfaction to have a trout caught on a home tied kebari in the tamo you did make by yourself. 

I will try before the end of the trout season to post a complete step by step article about making a tamo.

Just in time for the trout season opening

I had posted in last august about my plan to make my won tamo and after six months I finally finished it this morning. 

I am proud of the result, even if I am sure that the next ones will be better, because before I started this project I would have never thought of producing my own landing net. 

I am satisfied of this first result because I have followed the traditional Japanese process and it has allowed me to work with ease and efficiency. The Japanese process has probably been refined through decades, if not centuries, so my opinion is that I, as a learner, can not bring anything positive to this process. This would only lead to waste time and money. 

My tamo is made of Oregon pine (Pseudotsuga menziesii), called Douglas fir in France, a very light and durable wood; the net comes from the Shimizu range of products. I did finish the tamo with a light layer of Japanese lacquer. 

It will still take a few days to land the first trouts with it!

A NEW STEP

Tenkara fishing leads some of us to question and change our gear and also the accessories we carry with us when fishing.

For some time I have realized that I was not satisfied by my accessories and that I was more and more interested in having some of them made by myself like Tamos.

I am lucky enough to be offered one of these authentic Japanese nets by a friend who is a fine fisherman and I thank him because this copy allows me to have a model made in the rules of art. It is simple yet beautiful. It is soulful. This is not an industrial product.

I now enjoy my fishing trips to collect wood but not just any. I am only interested by species which I found mentioned on Japanese websites or those advised by Japanese anglers who make their Tamos themselves. Some species are very difficult or impossible to find in Europe so in that case I choose the local species which is the closer in the family. 

Holly, yew, fir. Light and supple wood. That is no surprise, why would one make the work difficult with heavy and hard wood? 

It also gives me another reason to spend my free time in the woods which is always a good thing!

I do not know yet if I will be able to produce any Tamo really worthwhile but I think that if I am able to make a good use of all the informations I have found on the internet combined with the advices of some Japanese friends I will reach honorable results. 

It is also important to me to create something that fits my Tenkara that I want to develop through the knowledge and respect of the Japanese fishing culture. 

Now I have to be patient because I have no intention to spoil these materials by working them before they are dry which will take at least nine months. My reward shall be to create Tamos worth of the name.