Who am I?
I am Amanda Hoffner also know as LadyTenkaraBum on social media. I am a critical care and cath lab nurse. This travel nurse lifestyle has allowed me to chase after my passion and increase my love for the native brook trout. Not only do brook trout entice me with their colorations and patterns, but where you have to hike to get to these little fish is just as spectacular. I have caught native brook trout in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Most recently, I visited the driftless region of Wisconsin and was able to catch some native brook trout there as well! All-in-all, one could say I am slightly obsessed with them, but I am not done. My goal is to catch them in every state of their native
range that they still exist. So, I have a few more states to visit for these magnificent creatures.
If you follow me, then you are already aware of my passion for brook trout and also how passionate I am about tenkara and fixed line fishing. I enjoy tying my own flies and catching fish on them. Even more so, I enjoy discussing how tenkara has brought contentment and peace to my life. Tenkara is more than just a hobby to me but is an artform and I’d love for it to be a part of everyone’s lives. When Martin brought the idea of Heritage and inclusivity to me, I was a little confused. The tenkara community has already been so welcoming to me and I have increased my knowledge of fixed line fishing so much in the past couple of years. However, as I kept brainstorming the idea, I realized there were some holes in the tenkara universe that could be filled. So, to me, the Heritage Tenkara Project is very much embracing the art of tenkara but also inspiring and being open to others to learn the art itself. I love how open and willing the tenkara community is to everyone, but I would personally like to
see more women, people of color, and the LGBTQA+ people involved in the outdoors more. I believe tenkara and fixed line fishing is a great way to expose these groups to nature and the outdoors! With that being said, of course this project is so much more than inclusivity. My hope is that the resources provided by this project will be used by all to enjoy the outdoors and the art of tenkara.
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