Takeshi Yamamoto — Japan Tenkara Fly Fishing

About

Takeshi Yamamoto is a Japanese tenkara master and fly fishing guide who divides his time between the mountain streams of central Honshu and the spring-fed rivers of Kyushu, bringing over two decades of experience to a guiding practice that bridges the traditions of Japanese fixed-line fishing and the Western fly fishing world. Takeshi trained under a tenkara master in the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, learning the art of kebari (Japanese wet fly) tying, stream reading, and the subtle manipulations of a fixed-line presentation that distinguish expert tenkara from the casual practice that has become popular internationally.

Takeshi guides on the Nagara River and its mountain tributaries for native amago trout, as well as in the granite gorges of the Japanese Alps where iwana (Japanese char) hold in plunge pools beneath waterfalls and moss-covered boulders. His guided trips combine outstanding fishing with a cultural immersion that includes riverside lunches of onigiri and miso soup, discussions of Japanese river ecology, and visits to the remote mountain villages where tenkara has been practiced for centuries.

For Western fly fishers accustomed to reels and running line, Takeshi also offers guided trips using conventional fly tackle adapted to Japanese mountain streams, demonstrating how the two traditions complement each other. He is fluent in English, having spent several years guiding in Montana before returning to Japan, and his ability to translate between fishing cultures makes him an invaluable bridge for international anglers seeking an authentic Japanese fishing experience.

Specialties