From The Editor

From The Editor:

Winter is here...

Winter isn't typically kind on the tenkara angler.

I mean, sure, it's an opportunity to take stock of your gear, tie up some flies, (like the kebari tied by Paul Pigeon in the header image above), read some books, or do some planning for the year ahead, but let's be honest, not a ton of fishing gets done.

There are definitely those that brave the cold temperatures (or are perhaps blessed with slightly milder climates) that are able to get out this time of year, but for the most part many of us are just daydreaming of warmer days; including the Spring and Summer adventures that lie ahead, the long hikes in, campfire camaraderie, and all the tight lines and frisky trout that will likely be caught and released.

So until then, I hope this issue makes the time go slightly faster. I think it's a pretty good read, and I'm sure you will too.

Now I'm not going to lie, I did put out a "call to action" to prospective authors that I was trying to make the co-themes of this issue "traditional tenkara" and "tenkara art," you'll likely notice that isn't exactly what came back in large quantities. But that's okay, as a crowdsourced magazine, the community dictates the content --- and what did come in is quite stellar.

Between Adam Trahan's feature interview with Jason Sparks, a thought provoking opinion piece by Jay Johnson, six solid essays from Dennis Vander Houwen, Mike Hepner, Adam Klagsbrun, Melissa Alcorn, Paul Vertrees, and Michael Richardson, some great points of view on fly tying from Robb Chunco and Mark White, conservation shorts by Craig Springer and Brad Trumbo, some gorgeous art from Anthony Naples, Jim Tignor... and the uncategorizable (is that a word?) "Brookies & Beer" from John-Paul Povilaitis, there's just a ton to consume in the next hundred or so pages.

So let's get your tenkara fishing flame stoked for 2019, it's going to be a great year, but only if you make it that way. Please enjoy the Winter 2018-2019 issue!

Michael Agneta, Editor In Chief