Tenkara Fly Fishing -- Anyone Try This?

[padisharcreel]

I have purchased a Tenkara rod - <Google search Iwana 11ft 6:4> from Tenkara USA. It is in the mail but when I get it I am going to try it out soonest. I'm interested in hooking up with anyone who has tried this minimalist approach to small stream fly fishing. Some of my favorite, after work fisheries, are the tiny streams around the PDX area. I usually use my 3wt, which works fine except when I am bushwacking to the next hole. I get tangled up big time every trip it seems. This appears to be a way to quickly reduce the pole and exposure to the puckerbrush.

Any experiences? ?

Padishar Creel

[clarkman23]

no experience, but I'm certainly interested in how it works out for you...


I'll probably be getting one of those myself at some point in the near future for those small streams. I think it would work great on a couple streams I fish up in the cascades where the "lunker" Brookies run 8-10" and are more spooky than a spring creek Brown...

[nookslayer]

Checked out the link you provided and I'm curious to hear how it works out as well. This would be a fin rod for EXACTLY what you are talking about.

[Lamplighter]

I get the telescoping action of the rod, but what line/leader/tippet do you use and what do you do with the line when you want to close the rod down.

One pic on the web site shows what appears to be a very small, (plastic ?) reel, but I don't see any way to attach a regular fly reel.

[padisharcreel]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

I get the telescoping action of the rod, but what line/leader/tippet do you use and what do you do with the line when you want to close the rod down.

One pic on the web site shows what appears to be a very small, (plastic ?) reel, but I don't see any way to attach a regular fly reel.

-------
No reel, just tie the leader (furled leader) to the top (the top has a short piece of flexible line) and then add your tippet. When you need to move holes, just collapse the rod and move. The little reel you saw was to store your furled leader, tippet and fly when you remove them from the rod.

Padishar Creel

[Pelhament]

Its not fly fishing, but it is cool. I have heard very good things about this method of fishing.

[steel_beaver]

I can't see the link, but it sounds like what I used as a kid to catch trout and other smal fish. A telescopic rod with no guides, and line tied to the tip. They used to be very popular in Europe about 10-15 yars ago. Now they probably have bigger and better things they use there. If the quality is good, you should be very happy with it

[clarkman23]

Originally Posted by steel_beaver

but it sounds like what I used as a kid to catch trout and other smal fish.

I think that's part of the draw...takes one back to when things weren't so 'complicated'...

[padisharcreel]

I rec'd my Tenkara Iwana rod two days ago. I took it out last night and I am VERY impressed. It is well made and easy to assembly and take down. The documentation on how to rig it is clear and easy to follow.

The line is a furled leader (10 ft) with an extra braided loop on the rod end of the leader to attach it to the braided line (cow hitch) that is attached to the end of the rod. I added 6 feet of tipped (6x) and a size 18 hare's ear. I had to shorten my normal stroke but I was able to master the rod within 20 minutes. It handled differently than my other rods but I enjoyed learning to use it. If I do my math right; with a 11 foot rod, 10 foot leader and 6 foot tippet means I can reach out about 25+ feet. Plenty for the small streams I love so much.

Padishar Creel

[Lamplighter]

Sounds like a lot of fun... take someone along so you can post pics of you fishing.

[padisharcreel]

Originally Posted by Lamplighter

Sounds like a lot of fun... take someone along so you can post pics of you fishing.

-----
Hmmm. I enjoy fishing alone so pics of me are hard to do, but I can snap a few of the fish I catch, perhaps.

Padishar Creel

[padisharcreel]

Originally Posted by Pelhament

Its not fly fishing, but it is cool. I have heard very good things about this method of fishing.

------------
It feels like fly fishing to me. Just don't have a reel, but otherwise it seems to be similar in most other ways. Fly rod, leader, tippet, fly...

The landing of the fish is appearing to be a bit of a challenge with this method. 11 feet of rod, 10 feet of leader and 4-6 feet of tippet to wrestle in with a fish on the end. Adds to the experience, I think

Padishar Creel

[Pelhament]

Originally Posted by padisharcreel

------------
It feels like fly fishing to me. Just don't have a reel, but otherwise it seems to be similar in most other ways. Fly rod, leader, tippet, fly...

Padishar Creel

You are right, I think I may have to retract that comment. The more I look at it the more fly fishingesque it seems. I was thinking it was intended for more of a dapping method that I have seen guys use those rods for with bludegill and such, rather than using the weight of the line to the load the rod and cast the fly.

[padisharcreel]

I am totally sold on this tenkara fly fishing method! I have been able to work brushy streams I would have passed up in the past. I mostly use a two fly rig (one floating and one bead head type) and boy howdy I have had a ball!

I purchased a 11' rod, but I think the 12' would be the better choice for my first tenkara rod. A foot makes a big difference in these brushy steams (IMHO).

There is a non-commercial tenkara bum website that has some great advice. I prefer my chest waders folded down to my waist and he likes hippers for this kind of fishing.

I have even tied some of the traditional Japanese flies, but I still think my old standards do a bit better (don't we all?)

Oh, do make room for a small stream net in your kit. Landing a trout with a tenkara rod ain't too easy without a net.

Padishar Creel

[NWFloridian]

I think I'd save $160 and just get this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Piece-12-Bambo...7167039&sr=8-3

Add a four foot length of mono and call it good.

[clarkman23]

or, if you're set on having something collapsible like that, try this:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...0031278115800a

or, if you're on a budget and don't want a cheaply made bamboo, try this:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...0031278115800a

[padisharcreel]

Originally Posted by NWFloridian

I think I'd save $160 and just get this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Piece-12-Bambo...7167039&sr=8-3

Add a four foot length of mono and call it good.

Hmmm...Perhaps looking at a video of Tenkara Fly Casting would change your view a bit. I love the tenkara rods cuz I can collapse them down quickly and pack them easily thru the bushy undergrowth. And as you said, "I'm not really sure why you'd ever need to cast more than 60 feet of line in Oregon? 99 percent of the fish I catch are within 30 feet of my rod tip. If you're not catching fish, it's likely because... " You are so right on the casting length and I can reach nearly 30 feet with my tenkara outfit. As to the price, I do like quality equipment and I love my high-end Sages, Winstons & Orvis rods too. I have never been sorry buying good quality fishing gear. These rods are very light (unbelievably light) and well made. If you break a tip you can order a replacement easily.

Padishar Creel - Not sure why I am trying to convince others to try this technique -- guess I am having too much fun not to share...

[mkwerx]

Originally Posted by padisharcreel

Hmmm...Perhaps looking at a video of Tenkara Fly Casting would change your view a bit. I love the tenkara rods cuz I can collapse them down quickly and pack them easily thru the bushy undergrowth. And as you said, "I'm not really sure why you'd ever need to cast more than 60 feet of line in Oregon? 99 percent of the fish I catch are within 30 feet of my rod tip. If you're not catching fish, it's likely because... " You are so right on the casting length and I can reach nearly 30 feet with my tenkara outfit. As to the price, I do like quality equipment and I love my high-end Sages, Winstons & Orvis rods too. I have never been sorry buying good quality fishing gear. These rods are very light (unbelievably light) and well made. If you break a tip you can order a replacement easily.

Padishar Creel - Not sure why I am trying to convince others to try this technique -- guess I am having too much fun not to share...

Some of us are always open to new methods of fishing, so don't worry about spreading the word man. I've caught myself a couple times now out fishing, at the stream, only to realize that I have all my gear except my reel. So instead of getting grumpy and quitting, I improvised and turned my fancy flyrod into a regular old pole by tying a leader to the tip top, and tying a fly to it. You can cast a rod length or more, it just makes you stalk closer, walk quieter, and it's fun as heck.

There was a poke-pole thread over on the Salty Dog forum, similar idea the bait fishers have to this Tenkara method.

[clarkman23]

I'm actually very curious as to how those cheapies from Cabelas, etc. work.

I would also think that utilizing this method, even if you don't do it all that often will help you in your other trout fishing since it will force you to slow down, which probably means you're catching more fish since you're also forced to be more quiet and get closer to the fish. It's kinda like when you decide to only fish dries over at the Deschutes, it just forces you to slow down and read the water better, as opposed to covering tons of water and just flogging the hell out of it.

[Ryan Pultz]

I had a cane rod as a child kinda the same concept!

[bigthackara]

I just don't get it dude. For me there is no way in Hell I would ever take an 11 or 12 ft rod on the small streams I fish especially without a reel. I mean how do you fish streamers?

As long as you like it that's all that matters...

[tumalt]

My fondest fishing memories are of making a homemade fishing pole with my grandpa out of a long tree branch with about 5 feet of leader attached to the tip. He would help me build the pole, dig some worms, and then send me on my way down to our creek that flowed through our families land. This was a tiny little creek, and I can remember crawling up to pools, peeking my head over a rock and spotting cutthroat trout cruising through the gin clear water. Dangling my worm down into the water was just as exciting as today seeing lunker trout sipping dries off the surface. On that creek a A 10 incher earned bragging rights, a 12 incher was a trophy and a 15 incher was the fish of a lifetime.

I learned a lot of lessons about sustainability and love of the land on that creek. Ocassionally I would catch and kill a fish, but it was apparent that allowing the anglers greed for a big stringer to take over would have a quick impact on this small population of fish. As a kid, I remember daydreaming that I was a the guardian of that piece of land, and I fiercely loved every square inch of it.

My grandfather grew up on this same piece of land, and although he couldn't follow me down into the creek, I remember him listening vividly to my adventures. He wanted to know where I caught fish, where I saw crawdads and salamanders and grouse and deer- I could see him relieving his youth through me. I remember one summer when the blackberries were out of control, he sprayed them with an herbicide, not knowing the effect they would have on the stream. The trout were decimated for 2 years, but thankfully they came back. To this day I refuse to use herbicides, and I know that if everyone was fortunate enough to have a little piece of wilderness of their own, they would think differently about their actions.

I can see the appeal of Tenkara. There are so many gadgets and gizmos in fishing that they can start to take on more importance than the simple pleasure of being out in the natural world and interacting with the amazing things that inhabit.

[Lamplighter]

Tumalt, nice posting.

[Newbs]

Originally Posted by tumalt

I can see the appeal of Tenkara. There are so many gadgets and gizmos in fishing that they can start to take on more importance than the simple pleasure of being out in the natural world and interacting with the amazing things that inhabit.

Sometimes you need to forget about all the fancy techno stuff and just grab a stick and get out there...

Well said T.

[dubl_t]

Tumalt,
Your story was very well written, that deserves a standing ovation!

[dubl_t]

Well PC,
your thread has got my attention. It's got me to re-thinking the 6' 2wt I bought a couple years ago for spring creeks/beaver ponds.
Unfortunately, I spent the last hour trying to watch videos on the Tenkara website, and now my computer's all jacked up! I don't think it's the 'site, my laptop's OLD.

[mkwerx]

Originally Posted by dubl_t

Well PC,
your thread has got my attention. It's got me to re-thinking the 6' 2wt I bought a couple years ago for spring creeks/beaver ponds.
Unfortunately, I spent the last hour trying to watch videos on the Tenkara website, and now my computer's all jacked up! I don't think it's the 'site, my laptop's OLD.

I miss my 6' 2wt (sold to an iFisher, I think) that I used on small creeks. That thing was sweet.

I do like the idea behind the tenkara - I'm not sold on the telescoping action though. I'd prefer a multi-piece ferruled type - I don't trust things that telescope in general, at least not things that I want to stay locked in place.

[padisharcreel]

Originally Posted by mkwerx

I miss my 6' 2wt (sold to an iFisher, I think) that I used on small creeks. That thing was sweet.

I do like the idea behind the tenkara - I'm not sold on the telescoping action though. I'd prefer a multi-piece ferruled type - I don't trust things that telescope in general, at least not things that I want to stay locked in place.

I was concerned about that as well. But I have telescoped my rod out & in 100's of times and never a hitch. Also, I tried the "break down my rod" version of brush fishing the small creeks, and I prefer the tenkara approach big time. It takes me seconds to break down my tenkara and then on to the next hole and I have never gotten anything stuck in the pucker bushes like I did almost everytime I walked thru the brush with my short 3wt.

Padishar Creel - An no I have no financial interest in Tenkara rods or accessories. I just love this simple no hassle technique.

[Seansquatch]

Ive always wanted to give it a try for bluegill i think that would be a blast.