After seeing the success of such tenkara e-magazines as Tenkara Angler and Tenkara magazine, I felt it was time to fill in yet another niche within a niche in the tenkaraverse with new rag–one that appeals to those of us who have a passion for the most direct link between us and our quarry–the fly.
What is it?
Tenkara Fly Tyer will be a new online magazine I will publish (with your help) hopefully this fall. The concept is as simple as tenkara itself. I just want people to share their fly tying ideas, experiments, and even failures with our kindred spirits. And I need your content. The guidelines are pretty loose as this will be the first issue. But if it takes off, they might become a little more refined. Here are some examples of the types of articles I’m looking for:
- Favorite fly patterns and why, when, and where they work
- Step-by-step tutorials on how to tie specific patterns including the recipe
- How to organize your tying desk
- Tying on-stream
- Your favorite hooks, tools, materials
- A tour of your personal fly tying space
- A glimpse into your tenkara fly box and your confidence patterns
- Tips for tying in hand (without a vise)
- Philosophical articles on matching the hatch vs. impressionism
- A guide on how to use certain tools
- A DIY on how to make your own tools/materials
- An expose on a unique material and various ways you can use it
- The history or evolution of a tenkara fly from Japan
- A personal evolution of the flies you use for tenkara
- How you translated a Western pattern into a tenkara-style fly
- Also, if you don’t want to submit a full article, I’ll accept creative photography to use as cover art or just art throughout the issue to break up the text and I’ll give you photo credit and a backlink. I’d love to see some more artistic, whimsical shots of flies–especially closeups. Get creative!
I’m sure you get the idea. It just has to relate to good flies that work well with tenkara.
Guidelines
- There is no text limit length for articles. But it must be “substantial”. You can’t just send in a picture with the recipe and no supporting text.
- All submissions must include at least one photo (except in the case of strictly artistic photos for the layout). The more, the better and they must be high quality. I’ll reformat them to be optimized for the mag. Step-by-step instructions are encouraged and should include photos of every stage of tying the fly as well as a group shot of all the materials required.
- Include a 2-3 sentence biography and headshot of yourself and link to your website if you have one.
- The fly doesn’t necessarily have to be a traditional tenkara fly (sakasa kebari), but the article should at least address why and how it’s good for the tenkara method. I would prefer innovative variations of sakasa kebari, but will also accept other flies if you can somehow tie them back to tenkara.
- All text should be submitted in a Microsoft Word Document and the image formats should be .Jpeg, .PNG, .AI, or .EPS.
How to Submit
All you have to do is send me your article, bio, headshot, and images to jmklass@gmail.com. Bios should be no longer than three sentences. If there are any issues, I’ll email you back.
When’s the Deadline?
Please submit your content no later than August 15th, 2016. I’m planning to have the issue out in September so the earlier you send it to me, the sooner it will be published.
Sponsors?
If you’re a tenkara gear company or guide service and would like your logo and a short description to appear in the magazine, email me at jmklass@gmail.com to arrange something. I’ll also have options for full-page ads, half-page ads, etc. and am willing to negotiate price. Since this will be the inaugural issue, prices will be very low. I just want to cover some basic costs if possible. I’m not intending this endeavor to be a money maker. I’ll be happy if I just break even, and if I come out ahead, I’ll put that toward the next issue.
Brilliant.
Very good idea – good luck !
This will be “Great”
Good idea Jason!
This is a most excellent idea! I look forward to the first issue being published.
Looking forward to another niche’s niche being filled! Glad you’re back and doing well in the Tenkaraverse.
Excited to participate and promote.
Interesting idea Jason. I take inspiration from what others do, but I am also a bit of a kebari experimenter. I’m definitely not on the “it must be a sakasa kebari” band wagon. A good many of my kebari are neutral hackled, or normal hackled. I find other people’s kebari interesting. However, to keep from being overwhelmed by too many kebari, that I will never have time to fish with. I find it essential to have a sharp knife, and tie something new on the same hook. When the catching isn’t plentiful I tell people fishing isn’t primarily about catching, as long as you have food to eat. You can always just have fun with the Joy of Casting, improving your skill while enjoying being on the stream. It’s the same with kebari. Fun to try new ideas, improve your tying skill, but no way to use all I tie.
Another thing I enjoy reading about (perhaps another niche e-adventure for you) is people’s tackle and rigging. Most articles in the Headwater editions of (Keiryū) Mountain stream magazine (渓流 ・雑誌) will have a side bar labeled – author’sname-san タックル&仕掛け (tackle & rigging(shikake)).
If you look at Kazumi “Ajari” Saigo-san’s blog at the end of many entries he will list – 【当日のテンカラ道具】Tenkara Tools of the Day. Listing brand name and size of :rod, line, tippet, and kebari . So it’s interesting to read the list of gear being used by someone who knows what they are doing.
So, how did this all work out?
Hi Jonathan, unfortunately, it didn’t. I just didn’t get enough submissions for a full magazine.