The West Is Calling

Written by Amanda Hoffner

I am not sure how much of me you know, but I am a cardiac cath lab travel nurse by trade. I have been traveling for a few years now. This career has allowed me to explore the East coast of the country and have adequate time off between assignments to explore and fish 25 states so far!

Recently, for Heritage Tenkara Project, I wrote about how I finished my goal of catching a wild, native brook trout with a tenkara rod in their native range in every state on the East Coast of the United States. It took me a few years, but I was able to explore these eastern, coastal states, meet many acquaintances who have become friends, and expand my experiences of the Appalachian mountain range beyond the Pocono Mountains where I was raised.

Soon, I will be coming out with blogs on my website, ladytenkarabum.com, that I have written that discuss the different states that I have fished on my brook trout journey. These writings will consist of my experience in each state in a specific area and my thoughts on the terrain and fish. Each creek within each state has its own story and although I only got to visit a minuscule of the water that hold brook trout in each state, I hope these mini stories and writings will inspire you to pick up a tenkara rod and take a walk in the woods.

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The West

I did not travel much growing up. I was raised by my favorite person in the whole world; my grandma.  She is the reason for my being and I do everything to make her proud. She still doesn’t understand why I don’t keep every fish I catch, but she sure does enjoy the pictures from my trips that I send to her.

My grandma was raised in Kansas. Her mother’s family moved around and I have seen pictures, saw 8mm movies, and read journals from Wyoming, Colorado, California, Oregon, and Washington. These two women, my grandma and my great grandma, have shaped who I am and have really been an inspiration to me. I always remember stories about riding buses, trains, or planes to get to these places and, although I wish I had been around to travel with them, I feel like I am carrying them and their spirit with me as I create my own path on this earth.

Recently, after having finished my brook trout journey on the East coast in the state of West Virginia, I got to thinking about where I was going next with my tenkara lifestyle. I truly consider myself a tenkara angler and I want to see where else it can take me. Namely, these states that I mention above that make me feel like I am closer to “home” with these people I carry with me.

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The Calling

There really have not been many times in my life that I have felt “called” to something. As much as nursing calls to me, the West truly has been calling me since I completed this East coast based goal of mine. Who knows what else will be next, but I do know there are tons more wild and native fish to be caught on the left coast and I am here for it!

My next home base will be Oregon. My fiancé, Racheal, has acquired a job in her field and I am relieved to find out that she will be also be fulfilling something she is passionate about with another local nonprofit water-based organization. I am glad to not be the only one where I am feeling fulfilled by a career and passion project.

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The Future

I don’t know where I will be 10 years from now, but I know I will be in Oregon for the foreseeable future. These next few years will be based around the PNW and the native trout that inhabit them. I cannot wait to explore the dry deserts, the mountain ranges, and the valleys of these states.  

As for fishing, I will be targeting the fish in the Western Native Trout Challenge. These fish are native and wild for these areas and states and I am looking forward to learning about their habitats and little lifestyles in each area they live in. 

What fish do you think I will enjoy fishing for the most??

Are there any areas I need to have at the top of my list to explore first??