Tenkara Fishing, really?

I believe the year was 1949 when with the help of my dad I discovered Tenkara fishing. Really. I had a nice, thin bamboo pole, a long piece of string (level line) with a hook tied on the end with an impaled "wormfly". Little did I know that 67 years later major fishing manufactures would validate my little country-boy outfit, modernize it, and with a bunch of accessories sell it for around $250.00. Add to that, guides who specialize in Tenkara fishing, and you can see where all of this is going. I am all for simplicity and glad that some of my fellow fishermen enjoy it by getting back to basics; and of course those ancient villagers who had very limited resources had to make due with what was around them in order to fish. But to be true and honor what the tradition of Tenkara really is, shouldn't it be practiced in its most purest form? To me that means how you do it and what you do you do it with. Modern equipment, telescoping rods, 5X tippets and fluorocarbon lines seem to be getting away from what those ancients really had to use. I don't have my original bamboo outfit up in the attic somewhere. And if I did, I surely wouldn't use it as it took me way too long to to save up from my paper route and get one of those newfangled fly fishing outfits from the Sears & Roebuck catalog.

I'm sorry, is there a point to this?

Indeed, riverdep, you arrived early at the tenkara party. 1949. I'm curious as to what flies you used with your thin o bamboo pole and piece of string. But, aw, c'mon. There is no need to mock something that others enjoy. How's about a little live and let live? ~Paul

Down South, many people still use cane poles for fishing, albeit most of the time with a bobber and bait. I also know that the Native Americans employed a similar method of using a long thin branch with twine of some sort tied to the end of it, with a hook tied with a bunch of feathers dabbled along weed and brush lines for LM bass. I believe that Tenkara fishing as we know it, originated in Japan over 200 years ago. My two points are, 1. There are not a lot of actual "new" ideas as much as old ones reinvented. -and- 2 People can enjoy this type of fishing anyway they want to. If you prefer the way you learned it from your dad come on down South, you'll have plenty of company. Just bring along your five-gallon bucket to sit on and keep your fish and enjoy the company.

Jim Smith

I never got the point of tenkara, seems like having a reel just make sense, to each there own

The REEL problem (pun intended) is that good, straight, thin, flexible sticks are rather hard to find these days. :rolleyes: Especially so for city folk. So we buy 'em. ;o) We pay good money, because somebody had to research and manufacture a good product for us to enjoy.
I don't currently own a Tenkara Rod, but I've certainly had fun many times fishing the same way Tenkara rods are used. I can appreciate the allure.

Italians used tenkara style rods in mountainous regions too. They were market fisherman. That also goes back a couple of hundred years (who knows, maybe more). Adios Philip

So did the British, the Germans, the French, the Spaniards... basically, anywhere anyone fished before reels were invented, and perhaps more importantly, before knotless fishing lines that would slide through rod guides were invented.

Strange that the original post didn't suggest that fly fishermen should honor the tradition of fly fishing by going back to greenheart rods and gut leaders. Same difference.

What most people who have not tried tenkara do not grasp is that the long rod and light line allow you to keep your line off the water's surface, so you get much less drag and you never "line" a fish. You really will catch more fish. For smaller streams, where you don't cast to your backing, and where fish don't run to your backing, not only do you not need backing, you don't need the reel to hold the backing you aren't going to use.

Fortunately, we don't get as many ridiculing posts as we used to, but there will always be people who put down things for which they are unable to see the benefits. Maybe they don't fish moving water. If they do, it's their loss.

Also it is good to use when there is no room to back cast.
The voice of experience.

Rick

cm Stewart, is it just the benefit of the longer rod? I wonder why they don't make regular fly rods long too, it seems like most don't go beyond 9ft

What do you do with your line when hiking in back country mountain streams?

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Originally Posted by 1hook

cm Stewart, is it just the benefit of the longer rod? I wonder why they don't make regular fly rods long too, it seems like most don't go beyond 9ft

What do you do with your line when hiking in back country mountain streams?

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Collapse the rod and wind the line around a spool that slips over the rod. It's actually much easier to carry a tenkara rod along mountain streams and in thick brush then it is to is a rod with a reel and guides. Another advantage.

I will add that 10 foot (non-tenkara) rods are fairly common, and 11 footers are available. They're popular with Euro-nymphers, and I like them for upstream wet fly fishing. I seldom fish tenkara, but I can see the advantages for some streams.

"What most people who have not tried tenkara do not grasp is that the long rod and light line allow you to keep your line off the water's surface, so you get much less drag and you never "line" a fish. You really will catch more fish. For smaller streams, where you don't cast to your backing, and where fish don't run to your backing, not only do you not need backing, you don't need the reel to hold the backing you aren't going to use."

Can you please explain how you keep a 20 foot line and 6-7 feet if tippet of the water with a 12 foot rod? I know you guys use long line bcause I have made a ton of them for the Tenkara guys. I am not bad mouthing the style. I have a Tenkara rod and have tried it several times. Just not my cup of tea.

Brad

My interest is peaked, I kind of like the idea of a telescoping rod for packing in my back pack for hiking. Not sure I would use it a ton but like the idea of being able to easily take a fly rod anywhere with me.. kaboom what outfit did you get? Let me now if your interested in maybe getting rid of it for a few bucks

Kaboom.   Length of line is about the same as rod. Most of the leader is underwater, so very easy to keep line off water. My experience is very good for hooking fish, but tougher than western in fighting and landing larger fish and in fast water. Easy to pack. All in all an enjoyable way to fish. Oh yeah,. Have to be careful as top sections can be vulnerable to breakage, at least for this clumsy fella.

It is really a combination of the long rod and the light line. With a long rod and a heavy line, the line would still hang straight down from the rod tip. With a short rod and light line, you couldn't keep much line off the surface (still OK for very small streams). Rod companies are starting to make long rods for European Nymphing, but they are still mostly just 10 or 11 feet. The most common length for a tenkara rod is probably 12 feet and many are 14 feet.

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Originally Posted by 8wt

Kaboom. * Length of line is about the same as rod. Most of the leader is underwater, so very easy to keep line off water. My experience is very good for hooking fish, but tougher than western in fighting and landing larger fish and in fast water. Easy to pack. All in all an enjoyable way to fish. Oh yeah,. Have to be careful as top sections can be vulnerable to breakage, at least for this clumsy fella.

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I am telling you that I have made 20 foot Tenkara lines more than once. 15 foot lines are the normal thing that I sell at the shows. Unless common core has changed things, 15 plus 5 equals 20. With a 12 foot rod, it is impossible to keep all the line off the water.
Once had a fella ask for a 30 foot line and I told him to buy a 1 wt dt line and cut it in half. He would like it better.

Brad

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Originally Posted by Kaboom1

I am telling you that I have made 20 foot Tenkara lines more than once. 15 foot lines are the normal thing that I sell at the shows. Unless common core has changed things, 15 plus 5 equals 20. With a 12 foot rod, it is impossible to keep all the line off the water.
Once had a fella ask for a 30 foot line and I told him to buy a 1 wt dt line and cut it in half. He would like it better.

Brad

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I don't doubt you. There are a lot of tenkara anglers who want to cast a long line. I think casting a long line eliminates the primary benefit tenkara offers (keeping your line off the water), but some guys value the portability or simplicity and don't care about the better presentations.

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Originally Posted by CM_Stewart

I don't doubt you. There are a lot of tenkara anglers who want to cast a long line. I think casting a long line eliminates the primary benefit tenkara offers (keeping your line off the water), but some guys value the portability or simplicity and don't care about the better presentations.

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Thank you C M for the response. Fairly typical for some folks to take a simple concept and turn it into something it isn't. Happens all the time.

Brad

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Originally Posted by Kaboom1

Thank you C M for the response. Fairly typical for some folks to take a simple concept and turn it into something it isn't. Happens all the time.

Brad

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Too true, Kaboom. And I think fly fishermen especially have a hard time leaving simple things simple. My vest is proof.

I mostly use a rod length line for small stream Tenkara, but I often carry a longer line and use it for fishing lakes. I don't need to hold the line off the water in lakes, and the extra length helps. An extra Tenkara line weighs nothing and costs little. It's handy when I'm hiking into a high country lake and fish creeks along the way.

Actually, you can hold more than a rod length out of the water, even on an upstream cast. The line must be light, and you need some type of "anchor". A sunken fly and some tippet in the water provides enough resistance which allows you to hold some extra line up. This is somewhat like Euro nymphing where you lead the fly downstream with your line at an angle to the water. With a light fly, you can't do this very long, so the Tenkara gurus often use very short drifts.

Slow runs or low water with spooky fish are another good spot for long lines. Although you can't hold much line off the water, light Tenkara lines fall very gently to the surface for a stealthy presentation. An alternative to a 3 weight western with a very long leader.

No doubt some use a longer than rod length line as Mr. KaBoom, etal have indicated for various situations. For me, a rod length for smaller streams has worked best for me plus that was the way I was shown by very experienced trout guides at the local shop. Didn't seem to foul nearly as much either as when using a longer length of level line. At least for me. Now that I've relocated to the panhandle of FL, I will no doubt try some longer lengths for bream. Will help me fit in with the cane polers as well as the collapsible bream poles used around here. Not sure if I will find a use in the salt for it though.

Davy Wotton teaches a method I believe he calls "A Cast of Flies" in his DVD 'Wet Fly Ways'. He uses a long fly rod but fishes with line that equals only the length of the fly rod, more or less. He uses a three fly system with the top fly mainly being held right at the surface and he has the rod held high to keep the line above that fly out of the water. He fishes in short casts, working the seams then moves a couple of feet and casts again. Kind of sounds like what a Tenkara fly rod fisherman would be doing doesn't it? Naturally since it is a standard but long fly rod he also covers casting farther out, but his main emphasis is on fishing with a long rod held high and on a short line. I guess what I am trying to say is that you don't need a Tenkara rod to fish a Tenkara style. But, I must admit, since the Tenkara fly rods are so light you can really feel and appreciate the fish that has taken the fly. Also, as pointed out, when moving up a brushy stream, it sure would be a lot easier with a telescoping rod that is only a foot or so long and that quickly pulls out to fish the next set of soft pockets on the stream.

Larry ---sagefisher---

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Originally Posted by sagefisher

Davy Wotton teaches a method I believe he calls "A Cast of Flies" in his DVD 'Wet Fly Ways'. He uses a long fly rod but fishes with line that equals only the length of the fly rod, more or less. He uses a three fly system with the top fly mainly being held right at the surface and he has the rod held high to keep the line above that fly out of the water. He fishes in short casts, working the seams then moves a couple of feet and casts again. Kind of sounds like what a Tenkara fly rod fisherman would be doing doesn't it?

Larry ---sagefisher---

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That is exactly how the British and Scots fished before reels became common. It is really very similar not only to tenkara, but also to the Pesca Mosca Valsesiana style of fishing in northern Italy (which like tenkara never died out). The tenkara anglers in Japan use only one fly at a time, while the Valsesiana style uses three for smaller streams and four for larger streams and rivers.

Bruce Norikane's comment about the need for an anchor to allow you to hold line off the water is absolutely correct, and I should have mentioned it myself. Interestingly, the Valsesiana flies have a forward slanting hackle, very similar to the shape of the "sakasa kebari" style of tenkara flies. That forward slanting hackle acts just like a parachute under water, resisting the pull of the line and allowing you to hold the line off the water. Since the Valsesian anglers to this day use lines made from twisted and knotted horsehair (which casts wonderfully but is heavier than a light fluorocarbon tenkara line), they may need the three or four reverse hackled flies acting as little parachutes to keep their heaver line off the water.

One other reason for the tenkara gurus Bruce mentioned to fish short drifts when fishing upstream is that they start the drift with their rod tip high (to keep the line off the water) and raise it further as the fly and line drifts downstream. It does not take long at all for the rod to be about vertical, which is about as far as you can take it and still be able to strike effectively to set the hook. A longer drift might produce a hit, but if you can't set the hook it doesn't matter.

It has been a long time since I have watched Davy Wotten's video (which is very good, by the way) but it would not surprise me if he mentioned the anchor effect of his second and third fly, and that their resistance to being pulled through the water is what allows him to keep the top fly on the surface and even bounce it on the surface. I believe the Yorkshiremen who fished with long rods, no reels and horsehair lines (some of whom Davy may have learned from) used a heavy fly on point specifically to act as an anchor so the other two flies could be manipulated properly (although it would draw some strikes also).

I will weigh in on this thread about Tenkara Fishing. Last November, I won a Tenkara rod setup in raffle at a local fly fishing show. I used it a couple of times in November and I caught a few bluegill in ponds, but that was not a real test, since the weather and water were pretty cold in northern Illinois at that time of year.

Once the warm weather started up in the spring, I used the Tenkara rod several times for pond bluegill fishing in local pond and for fishing on canals for panfish in southern Florida. I also used it a bit in the spring creeks of the Driftless region of Wisconsin and I used it for fishing in some canyon creeks for trout near Salt Lake city. I caught fish in all of locations.

My impression of using a Tenkara rod is that it is a good tool for in the right situation, but those situations are limited. A big advantage of a Tenkara rod is that it is light and portable. My Tenkara rod fits into a carry on suitcase, so it was easy to take on trip where I am packing light. The trip to Utah was a business trip and it was nice to not have to check bags just to take some fishing gear for a few hours of fishing. The portability of a Tenkara rod makes it easy to take along on any trip as a backup rod.

The Tenkara rod is fun to use in open areas where you do not have to cast far. It is great for bluegill fishing when the fish are close to shore. It is also good in meadow streams where the long length of rod makes is easy to keep the line above tall grass a vegetation. The biggest downside to using a Tenkara rod is that you are limited to where you can use it. In both the Wisconsin Driftless area and in the small creeks that I fished in Utah, many of the streams on are in pretty tight cover, where it is pretty much impossible to use an 11 foot long rod. That means that if you either have to fish on only in wide open areas with the Tenkara rod or you need to also carry a regular fly rod to fish the tight spots.

The biggest down side that I have found in using a Tenkara rod is that if you need to cast the fly a few feet farther you can't do it unless you move. If you are fishing for trout in slow water, you don't want to step in water just to get the fly a few feet farther, because stepping in the water will spook the fish. Pretty much any time that I have used the Tenkara rod, I have felt that the limitation of the distance that I can cast was somewhat frustrating.

I will continue using my Tenkara rod in the right situations and I will pack it on trips as a backup rod. I will never be a Tenkara "enthusiast" because it is just too limiting of a tool. I would never take it again on a trip to a stream that I have not fished before because there it too much productive water that I have to pass over without fishing due to the limitations.

BigA,

Sounds like you gave the Tenkara rod a good workout in a variety of waters. Yes, there are limitations with that style of fishing as there are with any style of fishing.

I had to chuckle to myself regarding your paragraph "The biggest down side that I have found in using a Tenkara rod is that if you need to cast the fly a few feet farther you can't do it unless you move. If you are fishing for trout in slow water, you don't want to step in water just to get the fly a few feet farther, because stepping in the water will spook the fish. Pretty much any time that I have used the Tenkara rod, I have felt that the limitation of the distance that I can cast was somewhat frustrating."

It seems that no matter what fly rod we use there will always be some fish just a few feet farther than our ability to cast. I guarantee that even the big spey casters have times when they would like to be able to cast just a few more feet.

Anyway, you did a good write-up on the rod and I trust you will find many more places where the Tenkara style fishing will simply 'fit the bill'.

Larry ---sagefisher---

Larry, I fully agree that there are always fish that are beyond the distance that you can test no matter what kind of rod that you are using. In the context of fishing for trout in a small stream, being able to shoot an extra three or four feet beyond the 25 foot reach that a Tenkara rod and line has seemed make a big difference to me.

After fishing with the Tenkara rod small streams, I think that my 7 foot 3 weight fiberglass rod has fewer compromises than my Tenkara rod on small streams in most cases where I am limited to one rod. The Tenkara rod, by the way, is fantastic for fishing small terrestrial flies in skinny Wisconsin Driftless meadow streams in late summer and early fall. Some of those streams are a just a few feet wide and have grass growing over the bank. With the Tenkara rod, I can guide small hopper flies into just the right spot while on my knees.

I too was skeptical about the application of a tenkara rod to western streams. I also thought is was little different (other than in price!) from the simple cane pole I started with at 5 years old. I was wrong.

I recently purchased a cheap tenkara blank, intending to cut it up for parts to build an experimental backpacking rod. Before cutting it into pieces I decided to try it out just for kicks. To my surprise it has opened up a whole new avenue of fly fishing for me. Casting the 12' tenkara rod is nothing like my old cane pole, it is also not just dabbing and dunking like you may have done with a long western style rod. While it is not the right tool for some rivers it is ideal for the local pocket water nearby. When I doubled my normal catch rate on a favorite stream I started to rethink earlier prejudice. I'm not going to get rid of any of my western style rods just yet, but the tenkara has earned a place in the quiver. Here are some of the things I have discovered...

1. Tenkara rods are much more supple than western rigs, especially in the tip. When casting the entire rod flexes deeply like the whole system, rod-line-tippet are one long buggy whip. It feels nothing like a cane pole or a telescoping crappie rod. Hard to compare to western line wt ratings. My 7'-6" 3wt feels like a broom stick compared to the 12' tenkara rod. On the Western scale Tenkara rods would start well below 0wt, maybe around 4/0wt. They cast so different is is hard to compare.

2. It can be much more stealthy that I am capable of with my western fly rig. Reaching out with 12' of rod and 15'-20' of line gives me a huge target area where I can keep most of the line and leader out of the water. I catch more fish AND bigger fish out of the same pools than I do with my 4wt. In most cases I can reach all the way across and fish the far bank without any line touching the water, completely eliminating the drag associated with 'up and across' or 'down and across' casting. This is a game changer.

3. I can reach pockets with the tenkara rig where I could not get a good drift with a western rig. I can dance a fly into a 6" diameter eddy and keep it there indefinitely with out any drag, something well beyond my skill set with a western rod. In fairness there are also western style castes that I could not duplicated with tenkara, such as a double haul for shooting into the wind.

4. Not so good in the wind. Even light breezes will move the line all over the place, heavy gusts will actually flex the light tip sections to the point I had no control over the rod at all. In a rare occasion the wind blows the right direction and you can use it to dance flies over the surface inducing some some viscous leaps.

5. Surprisingly the 12' tenkara rod is much easier in thick brush than my 4wt. Just collapse the tenkara rod down to 22" and wrap the line around your hand. It is far easier than threading the 8'-6" 4wt through the willows. I can collapse the sections just a bit faster and with a bit less effort than it takes to reel in 40' of line.

6. Tenkara rods are much more delicate than western style rods. It is very easy to break the tip, so don't invest in a rod company that does not provide spare parts.

7. Going without the reel. At first I really missed the reel and the line manipulation possible with an active stripping hand. Eventually I figured it out that if I need to add 2 feet to the cast I just take two steps forward. Landing fish without the reel is definitely more challenging, but I expect it will improve with practice. I normally don't use a net on local water but find I really want one with the 12' rod.

8. Not the right tool for really big trout. I think my 12' triple zoom rod is ideal for trout in the 6-12 inch range. I have caught the occasional 20" brown but I felt I had to overplay the fish and it took way too long to land him. I also didn't have the rod stiffness to apply enough pressure to control the run like I could with a western rod.
If I was heading to some big trophy water I would take a western rod, but I might throw in the tenkara for side streams.

9. The simplicity and minimal gear makes it a great tool for day hikes and casual fishing. It's really easy to toss a small fly box in your shirt pocket and slip the 22" rod into your day pack. I think my lunch takes up more room.

10. Even 6" trout put up a fun fight on the ultra light tenkara rod, the 18 inchers are epic. Makes fishing the high pressured local water fun again!

Well said. If you have an open mind, actually using a tenkara rod will make you realize most negative comments are written by people who haven't used one.

You will probably discover that if you use a shorter line (and a net!) the 20" browns come to hand quickly - often more quickly than with a fly rod and reel since you never have to regain line. Also, just as with fly rods, there is tremendous variation in the from one tenkara rod model to another. Some are quite a bit more capable of landing larger fish than others. A shorter line in relation to the rod will also give you better presentations.

I think I will eventually figure out how to deal with big fish on the tenkara. I only started tenkara in October of this year and have less than 2 month of experience. I tend to get over exited with the big fish and start reaching for the reel handle out of instinct. The net helps. The upside is I keep finding big fish to practice on, the added stealth has not only increased my catch rate but brought up some of the wary big ones.

I have been experimenting with different rods (I now own 3 of them, long story) and different lines of various lengths, taper and material. My favorite right now is a home made 3 strand tapered furl leader with a spar varnish finish, 12' long with an add on 10' butt extender for some bigger water. I started making furled and braided leaders about 10 years ago and can use the same equipment to make tenkara lines.

While I am intrigued by the Eastern simplicity of the system my Western mind set means I leave the reel at home but take 10 fly boxes and 4 types of line, just in case!
The 'one fly' concept will be very hard to adapt. As an avid tier I don't feel prepared without a gazillion bugs in my vest.

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Originally Posted by kengore

The 'one fly' concept will be very hard to adapt. As an avid tier I don't feel prepared without a gazillion bugs in my vest.

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Then don't worry about it. I think it's mostly marketing hype because it sounds exotic. Sure, there are some tenkara experts in Japan who use only one fly (in different sizes and colors) and one in particular who uses only one color in only one size, but that is the exception, not the rule. Do what you enjoy.