“Tenkara: Radically Simple, Ultralight Fly Fishing” ($19.95, Lyons Press)
What is the sound of one hand fly-fishing? It might be tenkara, a very simple form of the sport that has its roots in the mountains of Japan. Not surprisingly, this book is very simple and straightforward, as well, with easy-to- understand instructions offered in a gentle tone, so as not to alarm the learner. And that’s exactly the point, according to author Kevin C. Kelleher, who confesses that over the past decade, Western-style fly-fishing had left him tangled up in technique and cumbersome gear. Tenkara, on the other hand, involves a line hitched to a collapsible rod, which makes it more portable and easier to use. Written wih Misako Ishimura, a fly-fishing competitor who lives in Osaka, Japan, the slender but tip-packed book is fascinating and makes a good case for this unique version. Kyle Wagner
