Glenn

Quick update: we played "tourist" yesterday and visited a couple of temples and toured a bamboo forest, then went to dinner where you had to catch your fish (yes, with a fishing pole), and then they prepared it for you however you wanted. Kind of a unique experience. I embellished a bit on the tempura and sake. I'm too tired and worn out to resize and post pics right now, but I'll catch up once I get home. Today is a travel day, arriving tomorrow.

New article! https://www.bassresource.com/fishing/buyers-guide-baitcasting-reels.html

That boat is a SportsPal. It comes in several lengths and ranges from about $1,500 to $2,000 https://www.meyersboat.com/#/sportspal/models/X-13 I found several other boats that would be perfect for pond and budget-conscious anglers. I also wandered around the show and found a few more interesting things. The we went to another tackle store where I dropped about $250 on random stuff that's not available in the U.S. I don't have time to post about it now because we're about to head out for dinner and karaoke. But I fill y'all in later. Cheers!

^^ This ^^

Well we hit the Tackle Show today, and boy howdy is it a big one! Lot's of things to see - tons of lures, brands, reels, rods, and more that we never see in the states. Here's a quick sample. BEWARE!! PIC HEAVY!! The Bait Monkey made me do it!!

Just a quick update (it's a packed schedule every day, so I don't have time to post a lot). We visited the Gamakatsu headquarters yesterday for a behind-the-scenes look at the operation. We met with Mr. Fuji again, and this time I gave him a BassResesource hat. I learned that Gamakatsu has been a family-owned and run operation all this time. It is not a corporation (owned by Mr. Fuji's family). However, that will soon change as that is the old-school way of running Japanese businesses. Mr. Fuji outlined his vision of transforming Gamakatsu into a corporation - a move designed to ignite growth while removing the inherited restrictions and vulnerabilities that plague small businesses. After the visit, we headed to a tackle store to check out Japanese tackle and.... wow. This place was literally stacked to the ceiling with tackle! I spent an hour and a half there and it wasn't nearly long enough! It's the Bait Monkey's dream! I managed to walk away with only $50 worth of damage. However, we're visiting an even bigger store tomorrow. My wallet is going to take a big hit. Oy! But today, we're off to the giant tackle show to get a preview of all the newest tackle hitting the market in the next few months; then it's off to a fantastic restaurant known for incredible Kobe beef steak! I believe Mr. Fuji will be joining us too. More to come!

Hey guys, just a quick check-in before we head out to Gamakatsu Headquarters. Visited Mr. Fuji's home yesterday for lunch. His sons, wife, and mother were there too (his mother and father started Gamakatsu). It was an amazing experience I can't wait to tell you about later. Then we toured a century's-old castle (another great experience), took bullet train (300mph!), had an amazing dinner, then capped the night off with karaoke. Good times! Here's a photo of the group at Mr. Fuji's home. Mr. Fuji is on the right side flanked by his mother and wife, his two sons are behind him. The rest of the crew is mostly East/Western executive teams from Gamakatsu and SPRO. More updates to come!

Ugh! That's my fault. I sent out a bad link in the newsletter. I'm in Japan right now, so I'll fix it when I return and resend it in a future newsletter. Sorry about that!

Yup, got my little microfiber towel already. After 14hrs of flying and a combined 3hr delay, I finally made it! Met up with the rest of the group from Gamakatsu/SPRO (12 total) and had Chinese dinner last night. Yes, raw fish (sushi) was part of what they brought out, but that was just a minor part of major feast! Good food and good friends! Finally made it to bed at roughly the equivalent of 6am back home (ugh!), now it's off to the races. We're going to visit the home of Gamakatsu's CEO for lunch, and then off to visit one of Japan's oldest castles, built in the 14th Century.

Bob Lusk is your guy. https://www.pondboss.com

Cliff Pirch dives deep into winter jig fishing, focusing on maximizing your catches during the chillier months. Whether you're in Arizona or the Ozarks, here's your guide to winter jig fishing success.

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Fixed it for you. I've never aspired to an influencer, nor do I want to be one. Besides, nobody wants to watch me dance on TikTok. LOL Got the last-minute packing finished. Now one restless night and 15hrs of flying away. Here we go boys!

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This reminds me of a conversation I had with Hank Parker while fishing with him. He said he did a show once about Paul Elias' kneel-and-reel technique. At the opening of the show, he explained what the technique was, and said - with his signature southern drawl - "Today I'm going to immolate what Paul was doin'" Hank said, "You know, my brother was the smart one of the family. If he brought home a B grade from school, he got in trouble for not getting an A. If I brought home a B, I got in trouble for cheating!" "Well, my brother called me up after the show aired. He said, 'Hank, do you know the difference between Emulate and immolate?' I said 'No'. 'Well, "Emulate" means to copy someone. "Immolate" means to set them on fire!!' "So I was telling everyone I was going to set Paul on fire!!"

That pretty much sums up every state. It's the #1 reason top fisheries biologists work in the private sector. They can't stand the way state organizations are run.

Here ya go!

Sorry for your loss.

Thanks for the tips guys! Keep 'em coming! Yes, I've learned about the toilets - actually watched a few Youtube videos to learn how to use them. LOL I'm not much of a whiskey fan, but I'll give it a try. I'm there, right? Hey if there's anything you want me to relay to the big guy at Gamakatsu, please let me know. I think he'd love to hear from you. Oh, and the tackle show? This thing is HUGE, spanning 6 buildings. Tons and tons of stuff! I'm beside myself trying to think of what to buy! Here's a look at the show a few years ago: Again, many, many thanks to Gamakatsu for inviting me on this incredible trip! I look forward to taking lots of videos and pictures to share with you guys!

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I got the gifts, now to wrap them. Wait, the color and the way it's wrapped has meaning, too? Oh...so many customs. It's kinda cool though. I love learning new things. I also got the itinerary. Not only am I meeting the CEO at the Gamakatsu headquarters one day and visiting him at his house another, but he's also joining us for a Waygu steak dinner on another night! Geeze, I must have won the lottery somewhere. Just a few more days....

New Video!

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Business card etiquette. Who knew?? It's a thing in Japan. Now I gotta get me a business card holder. The learning continues....