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First Year Tenkara: 2018 Year in Review By Mike Hepner
January, February and March were spent behind a vice, tying fly after fly with thoughts of how it would work once the snow melted and the temperatures rose above freezing. The occasional trip to the headwaters that may hold a native or two that are hungry enough to break out of the winter slump and grab a passing bead head kebari, while Belgians and high percentage Porters fill the Zimmerbuilt hiking bags with for each trip. Cabin fever begins to set in. April, May, and June start to see less time on the vice. The fly-tying get-
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togethers come to an end and we increase trips to the mountains and can fish productively. Hatches begin, and water temperatures hit the money spots. Come May the beads are off, and the top water kebari begin. This is what we all have waited all winter for. Pilsners and strong IPAs are carried and consumed throughout the trips. July, August, and September, temperatures rise to the point of keeping us from fishing. We wait for the cooler mornings and go out with large, bright colored kebari and anything else we can float on the top of the water. Dry fly season makes it hard to watch the gradual color change in the leaves giving us warning that the cold winter is approaching. During these sweat filled hikes, we turn to the Session IPAs, and
