When My dad was a young kid, he hooked a carp on a tenkara pole. It was a strong fish, so he switched the rod over to his father, who landed the fish. I believe the tenkara rod originated during the time samuria were roming japan. The younger " soldiers" were not allowed to plactice fighting excesively because it was thought that they would overthrow hte emperor. Someone came up with the idea of fishing to practice sword fighting. The casting stroke of the long rods simulated the stroke of a real katana.