In Episode 3 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast, Matt & Mike have the pleasure of spending time with tenkara enthusiast, philosopher, and magician (not an exaggeration), Dennis Vander Houwen.

While Dennis has previously written articles for Tenkara Angler, including “The Three Paths” and “Finding Happiness with Less,” those that have been around the tenkara scene are surely more familiar with Dennis from his always interesting blog, Tenkara Path, or perhaps the popular wooden line spools available in his Etsy shop. In this interview, we talk to Dennis about his fishing background, his favorite type of water, how the simplicity of tenkara sets the standard for his everyday life, his blogging background, experiences fishing with friends, woodworking, brook trout, art, bread baking, and bigfoot!

Show Notes & Links:

01:14 – Intro to Dennis Vander Houwen, Tenkara Path

04:44 – Meditative aspects of tenkara

09:07 – Purpose for Tenkara Path blog

10:20 – Connecting simplicity to everyday life

11:30 – Finding Happiness with Less

14:21 – Unnecessary gear, line spools, & “One Fly”

17:09 – Favorite type of water, Trip to Wyoming

21:45 – Fishing with friends… and Graham too

24:55 – Woodworking / Tenkara Path Etsy shop

31:30 – “Master of the Illusionary Arts”

35:40 – COVID opening doors

37:44 – The tenkara community

39:19 – Dennis’ favorite fish species

40:39 – Hobbies – Art, bread baking, foraging, and a patient wife

43:29 – Most impressive natural sight while fishing

44:46 – Bigfoot!… and Dennis’ son as our next guest

47:49 – Advice for new tenkara anglers

50:19 – Ways to find Dennis – Blog, Instagram, Facebook, Etsy

Want to see more?

Tenkara Path

Tenkara Angler