Showing posts with label Tamo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tamo. Show all posts
Mini Nets
I always look to the Japanese for inspiration.
But I am not Japanese, I am an American.
I practice the simple method of Japanese style fly fishing, tenkara. I don't try to be Japanese, but I do enjoy and respect what they do and I enjoy their style of fishing. That being said, I am fishing tenkara, Japanese style, influenced from my own background of western fly fishing.
I see that the west also has influence on the east, many Japanese tenkara experts also practice western fly fishing. I think it is a good thing to do both. I don't do western fly fishing much, I quit to learn tenkara, I will do it again one day, today is not that day.
My non-tamo tenkara nets are Japanese influenced however they are made by a western craftsman with my direction.
My favorite tenkara net is Japanese yet I use western nets that are Japanese influenced.
Confused?
It doesn’t matter.
If you want to learn Japanese tenkara, learn from the Japanese.
There are many tenkara and fly fishing enthusiasts in Japan that size their nets to the size of fish they are catching. They also have many styles of nets. For my version of the mini net, I have taken inspiration from them and have had built, small nets which I have also modified for my own use.
I enjoy a small net because they are easy to pack and carry. They also work well to capture a fish while it is hot (not exhausted) and subdue to remove the hook and immediately release. The nets I use in this form are from Sam Lacina.
Here are a couple I use, the small one I sometimes carry in a front pocket. It is amazing, I have used it on much larger fish than it was designed for.
Making a Tamo
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Always in my pack, gloves and my pocket saw |
Since finding out about tenkara, I’ve always been interested in the round nets that the anglers in Japan used. For me, they are iconic much like the sakasa kebari. Many of the nets or tamo are made out of a tree branch. They are made by selecting, bending, curing, splicing and finishing. I own two that are from a shop in Japan. I like the fine monofilament net bag that are color blend on the Mankyu Net makers shop.
The traditional nets are not perfect, the flaws, whether they be knots or bends in the branch are accepted and worked with. I really enjoy this aesthetic, it is one of my favorite aspects of the tamo.
Notes
Tamo Making Links
Japanese Tamo Construction: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13
Japanese Tamo Google Resource Search 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
Tamo Shop
Mankyu
Mercari search
YouTube Videos
Recently, I’ve decided to make my own.
I will detail my study and progress at this thread.
I will detail my study and progress at this thread.
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August 29, 2019 Ordered a 35cm akane (red to yellow fade) net bag and thread mounting kit
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Supply List
Curating: Silky Boy Saw 130cm fine teeth, gloves
Curing: Parafin Wax, Zip Ties, Twine
Splicing: Fine Pull Saw, bamboo toothpicks
Miscellaneous: Mineral Spirits
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Tamo Making Links
Japanese Tamo Construction: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13
Japanese Tamo Google Resource Search 1 - 2 - 3 - 4
Tamo Shop
Mankyu
Mercari search
YouTube Videos
Simple Utility Belt for Tenkara
As with all my tenkara gear, my utility belt is well thought out. I use compact equipment to facilitate ease of travel and use on stream. I work with a pack maker (Zimmerbuilt) to custom make the products I want that are not readily available. I've used this simple belt for two trips to Japan and travel all over America and it's about 10 years old now. It has been everywhere with me and it just works really well. I use it to carry my tamo, I always have a Gerber LST (knife) in a Rainbow pouch on it.
It has become a part of my kit just as much as my net.
Nets by Sam Lacina
I use Sam's nets for a great portion of my Tenkara. He does a really nice job at creating your net. He is a craftsman and makes the net for you. I have worked with him on Tenkara designs as you see above. I recommend you contact him if you have an idea for a custom net. Sam Lacina Nets can be found here: www.flyfishingnets.net
Tamo ~ Net
The following pictures are of the Tamo of a few Tenkara fishers in America. These Tamo are made in Japan and are truly works of art. Made of various tree limbs, the hoop is actually a splice of two limbs. The net bags are soft and are attached with two methods, eyed pins that the circumference top of the net is threaded a length of nylon through the pins and net. The other method is to lash the net to the hoop.
Instead of going on about who made some of these nets, I'll let the pictures stand on their own...
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