August Speaker Meeting – Bob Long The Tankara Guy

Ever dream about catching a Smallmouth on a Tankara rod?  It can be done! August welcomes Bob Long, who knows all the tricks to using the portable, easy to pack Tankara rod. Join us!

In 1962, at age 12, Bob Long received a Shakespeare Model 810, HDH, Fiberglass
Wonder fly rod for his birthday. That was the start of his fly-fishing passion, one
that continues to this day. He has fly fished for bluegill, crappie, largemouth and
smallmouth bass, trout, steelhead, salmon, and carp. It has taken him from
fiberglass to graphite to bamboo and back to fiberglass fly rods and now, to
Tenkara fly rods – where his passion rests today.

He has fished 35 of the 48 Continental U.S. states, and since 1980 has

concentrated mainly on Rivers, Creeks and Streams. Over the course of these

years Bob has written about fly fishing techniques, as well as creating and tying
flies for S.T.S. (Salmon Trout and Steelheader), Fly Fishing, American Angler,

Warm Water Fly Fishing, Fly Tyer, Midwest Outdoors, Outdoor Notebook, and
Tenkara Angler. He also produced segments on fly fishing for carp and
smallmouth bass for Midwest Outdoors TV, and Fishing Chicago. He was inducted
into the Illinois DNR Outdoor Hall of Fame in 2012.

Since 1996 he has written and given AV Slide shows on his fly-fishing techniques
for smallmouth bass in rivers, creeks and streams at fly fishing shows, shops and
expos around the U.S. including for Trout Unlimited, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, the
Fly Fishing Expo, The Early Fly Fishing Show, Illinois Smallmouth Alliance,
Bassmasters, and the Chicagoland Fishing, Travel and Outdoor Expo.
Bob has been fishing with Tenkara rods since 2011 (they arrived in the U.S. in
2009). Today he fishes almost exclusively with Tenkara rods for smallmouth bass

in Wisconsin, Illinois and Michigan. Since 2015 he has conducted 9-hour (3-hours
at a time) On-The-Water Fly Fishing Workshops using Tenkara Rods for
Smallmouth bass in Rivers, Creeks and Streams.

Final Note: In Chicago, for 18 years (1999 – 2018), Bob ran a Fishing Program
(Chicago’s Fish’N Kids) for Kids (age 8 – 12), Teens, Adults, Seniors and People
with Special Needs of all types. He had a staff of 12 Fishing Instructors, and the
program supplied rods, reels, bait, and instruction at a choice of 22 Chicago
fishing locations with an average of 10,000 participants each May through
September. There was never a charge, and 95 out of 100 participants caught at
least one fish.

His presentation will be about: Tenkara Rods – New, Different, Worth a Look.

Here’s an article about Tenkara Rods & Smallmouth Bass to get you started.

Here’s an article about Bob called I Like Stockers by Tenkara Angler.

*MFFC business meeting starts at 7:30 p.m. EST, learn about upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, hear fishing reports, and general Club information. The speaker will take the floor around 8:00 p.m. EST.*

Can’t make it in-person? Get a front row seat to the tying demonstration by joining us via Zoom.

MFFC Meeting Zoom Meeting:
https://zoom.us/j/94894893998?pwd=TGYrWnJyd0dCelVxbXdYU1lVVmd5dz09

Meeting ID: 948 9489 3998
Passcode: Jvq0q6