Good all-around rod - one now, another later?

[oarsnpaddle]

Erm, I have no clue about fly fishing, but I wonder if you could help me.

I live in Denmark where I have an Adirondack Guide Boat and I have plans to row up along the coast of Sweden, hopefully all the way to Oslo, and then back again.

My home waters are the forest-surrounded lakes north of Copenhagen where I can fish too if I so wish and get a permi, but I need to start with something, somewhere, somehow, and I thought I might as well try my luck when taking the "big" trip.


I intend to fish both from my boat, but of course also from the shoreline when I have made camp or my boat doesn't go any further.

In this context, I wonder if I should get the longest one of the poles on TenkaraUSAs website, should get an even longer Shimano (or something), or if I should get a bit shorter all-rounder (and if so, which one).

I won't say that money is no object, because it isa parameter, but if I "need" to buy one in the £200-300 region, so be it.

I know this is a somewhat idiotic post as I don't have that many specific questions, or rather; I know so little I don't know how to ask the questions properly.

I'm sort of looking for some feedback whether my idea is too stupid, or if you think it's okay.

Also, I'd like some recommendations on flies. I was thinking some of those attractants might be the way to go, and maybe have two different ones for saltwater, two different ones for freshwater and a couple of sizes of each. This thing about the flies is not based on any sort of knowledge, but more based on the fact that I want to bring as little as possible, yet have at least a couple of different ones to try when I take my first wet baby steps.

[oarsnpaddle]

Update:
I have bought a TenkaraUSA Amago rod, some lines, and 2x9 flies - also from TUSA.

P.S. I wonder if this site is abandoned? Are you people out there, or are you just out fishing and working?

[chriscreeler]

It sounds like an excellent adventure, the boat looks great.
I think that a Tenkara USA Amago is probably a good choice. I have a Shimano Mainstream 4/4.5m rod and it's very good, but it's expensive to buy tackle from Japan.I paid sales tax there,12% I think, then the carriage, then import duty and VAT here,and finally to add insult to injury,Parcel Force, the UK carrier, charge you £12 to collect the Black Gang's money for them. What kinds of fish do you hope to catch? I have never fly fished in the sea but have caught plenty of

[chriscreeler]

[sorry,I must have posted it by mistake],fish,coalfish, mackeral and some herring on hand-lined feather lures.All I can advise is white flies in the evening for herring, and that might be a personal fad.
Nobody replies to my posts either,perhaps you'll be the first?

[oarsnpaddle]

Aug 26, 2010 19:11:49 GMT chriscreeler said:

It sounds like an excellent adventure, the boat looks great.
I think that a Tenkara USA Amago is probably a good choice. I have a Shimano Mainstream 4/4.5m rod and it's very good, but it's expensive to buy tackle from Japan.I paid sales tax there,12% I think, then the carriage, then import duty and VAT here,and finally to add insult to injury,Parcel Force, the UK carrier, charge you £12 to collect the Black Gang's money for them.
What kinds of fish do you hope to catch? I have never fly fished in the sea but have caught plenty of fish,coalfish, mackeral and some herring on hand-lined feather lures.All I can advise is white flies in the evening for herring, and that might be a personal fad.
Nobody replies to my posts either,perhaps you'll be the first?

Heh, perhaps it's our own little forum until they close it down!?

I have never fished before, so I don't know which fish I'll be catching. I hope to be catching some fish while on my "big trip". That means some saltwater fishies of some kind. A small cod wouldn't be bad.
In the lakes here, and when I come home, I don't really know what sort of fish are in the water, as I don't know anyone who fishes, and have noone around to ask.
I want to eat my catch if big enough (or small enough, if that becomes a "problem").

With regards to sales taxes: We pay 25% here in Denmark.
I have ordered some other stuff from Japan before and one really has to buy expensive stuff in order to not being slammed by all the extra charges from the carriers and customs, plus duties and taxes.

Speaking of, TenkaraUSA now have some really nice leather "wallets". They have 8 left, and I have asked Daniel this morning whether they will have any to be shipped fromthe UK. When they wake up over there, I hope to get a positive response so I can order one without being slammed by customs.

The link to the wallets is here:
www.tenkarausa.com/product_info.php/products_id/73

[oarsnpaddle]

Update on the wallets:
As I guessed, it's shipping from the US solely, and since they use a thirdparty warehouse, well, it's taxes and duties ad nauseum if one wants one.

I'll prolong my wait and make a cheaper and not-so-nice version myself. Now, where to get that sort of "mouton fur"?

[chriscreeler]

Perhaps you could kill and skin a sheep off one of the islands as you voyage along.Although I have a decent fly box many of the accessories I use are improvised out of odds and ends. They look pretty junky but work OK.
If on your sea going trip, you are concerned as much with catching your supper as with fishing for sport, I would take some hand lines. Then you could tow a lure as you row along, jig with feather lures if you think the fish might be too deep for the tenkara gear, or fish with baited hooks on or near the sea bed for plaice, dabs, gurnards and other delights.
I think that herrings, mackeral and smelts would be the most likely prospects for the tenkara
tackle. Finding the shoals might be quite difficult and require some local knowledge.Get as much information as you can before you start, ask as you go along, and try to sort out the facts from the lies.

[oarsnpaddle]

Hehe, yeah, I think the farmer owning the sheep might balk at me skinning one to get a small stump of skin with fur ;D

I have thought briefly about handlining, and perhaps I should reconsider it. I mean, I dropped it, because I figured that it would mean more gear, and I don't want to depend on catching fish for food. It will be an "extra" on the menu if I catch any.
On the other hand, I might regret not taking a handline. Hmm, decisions, decisions.

Thank you for the sound advice, Chris.

Btw, Chris, please join TenkaraUSA's forum. It seems to be the most "lively" forum around, and it would be neat, since you and I are the only ones talking here. If you don't want to, I can understand that and I will of course check this forum too

[chriscreeler]

OK, I'll look out for your posts there.