Tenkara from a Tube

[cycler68]

Today I decided to try fishing with my Yamame tenkara rod out on the tube. I was very happy with the results. I used a small size 12 bluegill popper most of the time and found this fly easy to cast and control. I caught several bass in the 8 - 11 inch range as well as some bluegills. My hit to fish landed ratio while using the popper was much better than is usual for me and I liked only making one backcast all the time. Fishing this way was much less stressful and relaxing as well as effective. I'll be doing this again.

[Gig]

Sounds like you had a great time. Thanks for sharing

[cycler68]

Thanks Gig. I always thought tenkara fishing from a tube or kayak would be a great way to catch bluegills, crappies or other tenkara sized fishies. When bluegills or crappies are bedding the simplicity of the tenkara system should let me really rake 'em in.

[deathb4disco]

I'll have to give this a try. What length rod were you using?

[cycler68]

I was using my 12 ft. rod. I have used my 15 ft. rod from the kayak but it seemed a little clumsy especially when launching and landing....might have been just because I'm not used to it.

[CM_Stewart]

Which 15' rod do you have?

I would think that the ones that only collapse to 40"+ would be a bit cumbersome in a kayak or tube.

[cycler68]

CM Stewart,
My 15 ft. tenkara rod is the kasugo-4509 from allfishingbuy.com. It's a decent rod but the Yamame I have from Tenkara USA is a lot nicer.

[cycler68]

Last Sunday I decided to try using the 15 ft. Tenkara rod and see how that would work from a tube. The verdict? It worked great! I got around the clumsy launch while managing a 15 ft. rod by leaving it collapsed with the line attached until I got out on the water. I did the reverse when landing.
I really, really liked the way it fished. I could probe little pockets and corners in weeds, fish in and around tree branches and cast with far more precision and control than I ever could with conventional fly tackle. I even trolled. The net result was 17 bluegills and two crappies brought to hand out of a pond whose water was about the color of pea soup but thinner.