Blogger Etiquette at Trade/Sportmans Shows

Chris Hunt, the Director of Communications for Trout Unlimited and the owner of www.EatMoreBrookTrout.com, brought up a very interesting question recently on a Google+ fly fishing group. And having thought about it for a little while I think it is something that ALL bloggers need to think about when attending a Trade/Sportsman’s Show.

Here is what Chris had to say verbatim:

“I had a few conversations with some industry folks recently about the blogosphere, and I am hearing a lot of the same concerns, and I think rightly so. At shows and expos, it seems that a few bloggers are becoming nuisances, particularly when vendors are trying to line up purchases, book clients and otherwise conduct business.

The biggest irritation? “I’m trying to work and make a living, and here comes a blogger asking for free gear.”

Many of us, myself included; review gear and many of us (myself included) have accepted freebies to review. The question: Do we ask for free stuff or do we wait until we’re approached by those in the industry? Or is there a hybrid answer? Thoughts?”

This question spawned a number of very interesting responses from a number of people within the fly fishing blogosphere. One theme that seems to be a common thread is the fact that there are a number of bloggers who attend Trade/Sportman’s shows and do constantly ask for free stuff just because they are bloggers. There is a common agreement that the individuals who do this end up giving the outdoor industries involved, not just fly fishing, but backpacking, water sports, and hunting a way of painting all bloggers into a common category of individuals that they want to avoid like the plague.

One of the biggest complaints that I heard from a number of the companies was the fact that bloggers are coming to the booths and monopolizing the vendors time. Vendors are at the shows to make sales and get bookings to pay their bills. It appears to some vendors that "some" bloggers try and continue talking to the vendor for a long period of time in hopes that if they keep them away from their other clients long enough that the vendor will give them a free item or discount just to get rid of the blogger.

One vendor I spoke to stated that they do not give or send out free gear unless they have a past relationship  with the individual blogger. And even then the vendor makes a decision on whether to send items to bloggers dependent on how that blogger has helped or not helped the sales of the vendor. Another vendor stated that if someone wants to do a review, the vendor would prefer that the reviewer purchase the item and use the item as their own. The vendor might offer a discount on the item but it is not necessary that they do.(Note A)

Because many vendors do not typically give free gear to bloggers, you might ask in as diplomatic a manner whether they might have a loaner model that you could review and return to them. Some vendors I spoke with stated that they have done that in the past and it has worked for them.

Another comment that I heard from a few people was the fact that when brand new bloggers contact a vendor and request free stuff it is extremely irritating. You need to prove yourself to the industry first, not have the vendor prove themselves to you!

If you do receive free gear or a discount on an item, please make sure that you state in your review of that item that you have received one or the other. I say this because there are legal ramifications to this statement and it will also allow your readers to read and respect your writing. Honesty is key when it comes to reviews, both after you have written a post and when you are speaking with a vendor.

This is not say that you cannot approach a gear manufacturer and request freebies. But if you do, most, if not all manufacturers appreciate a sense of decorum and humility from those requesting free or even loaner items.

That being said there are some standards that need to be followed by bloggers.

1. Vendors are at the shows to make sales and get bookings to pay their bills. Do not monopolize a vendors time. All it does is make them lose potential business and the vendor will do their best to stay far away from you and other bloggers.

2. Purchase the item and review the item as a consumer not as a blogger. The vendor might offer a discount but do not force the issue if they do not.

3. If you are a brand new blogger do not start requesting free stuff right away! Prove yourself first!

4. If free items or discounts received let your readers know this.

5. Honesty is #1!!!!!

6. Be smart if requesting freebies and be humble. It is all about the vendor not you!!!!!!

I hope that this post will help those who are new to blogging or those with some time and experience blogging. The biggest thing I think that we all, as bloggers, need to remember is that requesting freebies can be OK if the situation warrants it. But if you do request freebies and get a negative response from a vendor you also need to remember that "One bad egg ruins the whole basket!" Don't be that "bad egg" by following these simple guidelines and you will succeed as a blogger and won't paint the "good" bloggers into a corner that they cannot get out of because of your poor behavior at sportsmans shows and expos.

Notes:
(A) This vendor does offer a full money back guarantee. But do not abuse a full money back guarantee either.

Tenkara Radically Simple, Ultralight Fly Fishing by Kevin Kelleher, MD with Misako Ishimura

I just finished reading what might be considered the seminal introduction to Tenkara in the United States. Published in 2011, a short time after Tenkara was brought to the US the author Dr. Kevin Kelleher and his consultant Misako Ishimura wrote a wonderful little tome about Tenkara.

This is not just a book for the beginner but also the seasoned Tenkara angler. Upon first reading the book cover to cover I learned many interesting little tidbits of information that spawned an ever growing need for more data on Tenkara.

For the beginning angler the book gives a few chapters to start understanding a bit more about Tenkara and its history. The first chapter gives a very nice overview of what Tenkara is and how it developed in Japan. The author gives a few brief allusions to the traditional Japanese Tenkara fly; the kebari. We move on to the simplicity of the equipment needed to start out as a Tenkara angler. Dr. Kelleher describes the basics of what is needed along with a few notes on stuff that might be nice to have yet always focuses on the aspect of simplicity which is central to traditional Tenkara. Interestingly, he also includes a brief description of how to remove an embedded hook from your flesh if you have the unfortunate experience of sinking a hook firmly into a finger. (I know at least a few of us may have or will do this at some point in our fishing careers!)

Once Dr. Kelleher finishes letting you know the necessary accoutrements to get started, he goes into a wonderful little discourse on rigging your Tenkara rod to set up for your first casting foray or tromp to the river. All the common knots are covered in detail with very clear drawings to look at if you are not really sure what to do. I advise you to follow his suggestion to practice a few of the knots so that when you do get out there you are confident in your knots.

Dr. Kelleher gives you a neat little introduction into fishing a dry fly using a Tenkara rod. From there, he goes into the theory of Wabi-Sabi that even a newbie such as me can understand. You will find a few chapters on types of water and what to look for when you get to the river or even a large body of water such as a lake. These chapters come in handy for the new angler but may help the more experienced angler to sharpen his eyes when out on whatever size body of water that may be chosen-- be it a small stream, a large river, or a lake.

The reader will find concise writing on the casts common to Tenkara as well as a brief lesson in how to land a fish either by hand or using a net. The description of how to land a fish with as little damage to the fish is refreshing to see in any fly fishing book. The respect that the author has for the fish is something all anglers need to remember.

Once you have read the book up to this point, I can guarantee that you will be chomping at the bit to get out on the water and try everything you have read, but I suggest you just go a little bit further.

The author goes into the bugs commonly found in many rivers and lakes that every fish will eat if it has access to the form of bug life in its environment. There are pictures of both the nymphal stages as well as the bug as a grown adult. It is not an exhaustive education in entomology, but well drawn pictures should give you a basic understanding of what you will see on or in the water.

Interestingly, the next chapter is about the flies that an angler might use. After a quick description of how to tie your first fly, the book goes into flies that are commonly used in different parts of the United States. Those flies are what would be considered Western flies such as the Royal Wulff, or Elk Hair Caddis. There is a bow to traditional Tenkara when the book details the Tenkara kebari and the “One Fly” theory that Dr. Ishigaki, (who is considered by many to be a true Tenkara master,) uses when he is fishing. The biggest thing to take from this chapter, as well as the other chapters in the book is to keep it simple! Don’t confuse yourself with extraneous stuff that only bogs you down.

Deeper into the book the author gets into more detailed aspects of Tenkara that may seem overwhelming for a beginner but at the same time lets the readers see that there are aspects that will last a lifetime when it comes to learning. The book teaches how to build a furled line as well as a few tapered level lines. If you like to be an experimenter, this is a great chapter to read.

And lest we forget, there is some great information on how Tenkara is inherently designed for the new ultralight backpacking movement that is sweeping the nation. Ideas are given on how to carry a Tenkara rod while hiking into the backcountry. There are some great hints on gear that will allow you to fish, yet keep your load light. One thing I did find that maybe didn’t make me feel totally comfortable, but might be viable in some environments was the author’s suggestions on how to cook a trout using different recipes. The author does state that he only cooks a trout if the environment would support this but also makes sure to gently push the “catch and release” ethic commonly found throughout fly fishing.

To close out the book, there is a wonderful description of how Tenkara seems to fit women so well. The ease of casting, a woman’s innate sense of rhythm, and her gentle mind set (at least in some women-LOL!). The book does not forget about introducing children to Tenkara as a gateway into fly fishing. The reader is reminded that this is supposed to be fun and a learning experience for all involved. So take what you can and play with it and enjoy.

The book then closes with, what in my opinion is an almost poetic description of what Tenkara is and what it can become for the reader and Tenkara practitioner.

 In my humble opinion, if you are just coming to Tenkara or are a seasoned angler who wants to learn what Tenkara is all about this is a great read. Even if you have been a Tenkara angler for sometime you will still glean tidbits of useful information from this little tome. I know I have and will continue to do so every time I read this book or re-read select chapters. Who knows, I might even try to make my own furled line one of these days.

I hope that this will help you to explore Tenkara a little more and I hope you find even more than maybe I did.

I want to close by thanking both Dr. Kelleher and Misako Ishimura for putting time and effort into creating this volume so that those who are just coming to Tenkara have a handy resource on their bookshelves.

 Offered below is the link to the Barnes and Noble Booksellers website or by clicking the photo of the book at the top of the post if you are interested in this wonderful and informative book to the Tenkara style of angling.

Health Scares and Tenkara

Recently I had a very scary health scare which landed me in the hospital. After multiple tests the doctors at Parker Adventist Hospital were able to to rule out heart issues or any possible lung dysfunction. Sadly, it took three long days in the hospital to find this out. After much hemming and hawwing, it was finally decided that I have a case of Pleuritis.

Pleurisy is inflammation of the lining of the lungs and chest (the pleura) that leads to chest pain (usually sharp) when you take a breath or cough. (Pub Med Health)

Pleurisy makes it very hard to breathe as well as lay down. Unfortunately, it is also almost impossible to sleep laying down. Since this happened I have been sleeping sitting up. And because of this it is virtually impossible to get any sleep lately. Thus this post since I have had lots of time to think.

With the first day of Spring having occurred yesterday and with the rash (in a good way) of first fish of the new season for many I really started thinking about a few things. My love for the rivers and the fish that you can find has sparked a raging need to get out on the water. I was trying to figure out what it was that I missed so much. And now I know.

One of the biggest things I miss currently is the sound of the river and getting away from the hustle and bustle of life. I also miss the interesting conversations with friends. And yes I do really miss the feeling of a fish on the end of my line.

The simple focus of Tenkara is truly one of the best benefits that I enjoy and after everything that has happened recently I desperately need this. I need to clear my mind of the fear of being so unhealthy. It also makes me want to make sure that I am fully up to par so that I can spend a complete day on the water with nature and my awesome friends and stalk a few fish.

I am sorry that this post is not my usual flowing style of writing but my mind is still a little clouded right now and hopefully I will be returning to my former self very soon. Thank you for continuing to read TenkaraGrasshopper.com and bearing with me with my gaps in writing. With hope I will be increasing my post volume here very soon.

Tight lines to you all!