Fly Fishing for the Motorcycle Traveler

What I taught at Horizons Unlimited Virginia

I recently attended Horizons Unlimited Virginia to see friends, but also to teach Fly Fishing for the Motorcycle Traveler. HU Virginia is one of many rallies around the world for long-distance adventure motorcyclists. three full days of presentations sharing info on just about everything a motorcyclist needs to know about riding in other countries.

I teach and give tips about equipment and minimalist needs for fly fishing.

I have taught this class four or five times before and it’s always fun to introduce fly fishing to motorcyclists, especially when they learn about the minimalist approach of Tenkara, the Japanese art of fly fishing.

Tenkara is simply a rod, a line and a fly. The rods compact nicely–some models so compact, they fit into a pannier bag rather than strapping it to the bike.

The beauty of my class is the ability to give hands-on instruction and help to participants, like how to set up a first-time user of a Tenkara rod.

Then, there is the casting demonstration if a pond or lake is available. In past classes, we have caught fish. That really “sells” the Tenkara method.

Everytime I teach this class, I hear from one or two of the participants that they have bought a Tenkara rod. That feels pretty good. I did a good job of teaching.

I’ll be teaching this again at Horizons Unllimited New York in October. 

See you on the highway.

Brent

 

Ride, Fish, Ride

I wanted to go fishing, and I wanted to take a motorcycle. So, I loaded my minimalist Tenkara gear on the Moto Guzzi V7 Sport and headed to Stonelick State Park.

After catching four or five blue gills, I packed it in and took the long way home.

See you on the highway.

Brent

 

Quick Update from Brent

It’s been too long since posting, and quite a bit has happened. So, I thought I’d give a quick update.

I scheduled and taught four Tenkara classes before I submitted to the robotic arms. Classes went very well. The students said they enjoyed the time and learned quite a bit about Tenkara, the art of Japanese fly fishing. One student was practicing his Tenkara casting and managed to catch a nice bass. We are not sure who hooked who, but Joe is hooked on Tenkara. 

The prostate surgery went well, and I am pretty much healed from that, but post surgery is going to be a long recovery. I am making progress. It also appears I am cancer free. My next bloodwork will confirm.

2026 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport

My 2026 Moto Guzzi V7 Sport is still in Italy, I think. I am anxiously awaiting its arrival. The bikes are already sporting about through Europe. I blame tariffs for the delay to the USA. Both my 2023 KLR and 2021 Guzzi V85tt have been sold. I am down to one motorcycle, the 2020 Guzzi V7 Rough, while I await the new V7 Sport.

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My web site, this web site, was long overdue for an update. Updating the database has been a pain in the butt, but it looks like I managed to get it done,, although there are some errors that need attention. I have been playing with returning to my favorite photography–B&W images. Expect to see more in the future. 

Lin and I are still happily married and in love. We celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary in May, about a week after my surgery. Celebration was very low key. 

More to come.
See you on the highway.
Brent 

A Ride Before the Rain

I wanted to get a ride in before the rains came. I will be fishing here with the Veterans soon. 

See you on the highway.

Brent

A Discussion about AI

I don’t think of myself as anti-AI, but I have not been fond of it. I have always considered myself as a photojournalist and documentary photographer. Many of my projects were photographed as I saw them. No photoshopping to remove or change the image; just the standard exposure elements, and rarely cropping an image. I shoot for reality. 

But then, my son came to visit us from Utah, where he dabbles in media. He was explaining AI to me and how it can be useful. He also listened to what I have been doing in my leisurely time, especially with the recent Cincinnati Fly fishing Show. He tucked himself away in his room and returned later with these images created with ChatGPT. 

These are just beautiful. They represent Tenkara, the Japanese art of fly fishing. I added the watermark to make sure he gets credit for his art.

Wow. Just wow! Thanks, Stu. 

See you on the highway.

Brent