Ultimate Guide to Tenkara Fishing

Fly fishing is a complex type of fishing with various gears and flies and tackle. One form of fly fishing has caught a lot of attention and that is tenkara fishing. In this article, you will learn about things related to tenkara fishing to help you get started. 

Ultimate Guide to Tenkara Fishing

Tenkara fishing is known for its simple yet effective method of fishing. It originated from the mountains of Japan where people fish in the freshwater mountain streams for trout and other fish. 

Because of globalization, tenkara fishing has made its way in the western fishing community and embraced it. Today, tenkara fishing is a hobby and some people even compete in it as a sport.   

What Is Tenkara Fishing?

As stated before, tenkara fishing is a method of fly fishing that originated from the mountains of Japan. After being rediscovered by the Japanese, it has now spread around the world and is embraced into a modern pastime for many people. 

Tenkara fishing uses very long rods with fixed lengths of casting lines attached to the rod-tip. The rods generally have simple yet remarkable wet fly patterns. Generally, tenkara anglers attach only one fly at a time to the tippet.    

Tenkara is a shortening of “tenkara-tsuri” which translates to “fly fishing” in the traditional mountain-dwelling communities of Japan’s Tohoku region. It was formally named tenkara in the  1980s with the effort of Yuzo Sebata. Tenkara was made famous through the Japanese Fishing magazine called “Tsuribito”.

Why Use Tenkara?

Most people that got drawn in and became tenkara anglers are fascinated by the unique method of fly fishing and its simplicity and effectiveness. Long tenkara rods allow you to cast accurately and to drift without drag. This simple method is great for fly fishing beginners. 

Compared to modern fly fishing, tenkara fishing rods don’t have a reel. The fishing line is tied directly to the tip of the rod. The rod has a flexible tip that can comfortably absorb the struggle of a fighting fish. 

Tenkara fishing also uses your intuitive nature allowing you to know more about your environment. Learning how to cast takes a long time in most fly fishing methods. However, it will only take you minutes to learn tenkara fishing. You also get to learn how to read streams for trout. 

Getting Fish With Tenkara Line

People often believe that it’s effective to use a line the same length as the rod. It is effective though for accuracy and control. You still want a long line to cover more distance and depth. It may seem difficult, however, once you try it’s easy. 

1. You need to be good at catching the line as you draw back the rod tip over your shoulder. 
2. Maintain your hold on the handle while pointing the rod behind you. 
3. Grab forward with your “non-rod” hand and sweep the rod sideways onto the line so your pinky finger makes contact with the line. Close your fingers onto the line.
4. Bring your rod hand towards your other hand holding the line while still holding the rod handle.
5. You can now draw the line using both your hands. Your non-rod hand drawing in the line while your rod hand catching the line while still holding the rod handle. 

If you want visual instructions, here’s a video from Tenkara USA to help you land fish.  

Tenkara Fishing Gear

You can’t fish without your fishing gear. While tenkara fishing is a traditional fishing method, it still requires some fishing gear. You can choose to use the traditional tenkara fishing rods or tenkara fishing rods with some improvements like ergonomics and durability. 

Tenkara Rod

Tenkara rods are well-appreciated by a lot of anglers because they only need minimal equipment. They don’t have a real and have better portability especially if you’re out hiking and backpacking in nature. 

Tenkara rods can come in different lengths and some are modified to be adjustable. Most anglers agree that the longer the rod, the better your chances of catching a fish in the river, streams, and ponds. Shorter rods can also be useful for smaller bodies of water.  

The rod also generally includes a progressive taper. This is usually lightweight and responsive so you get better feedback when you get a catch. 

What to Get?

Most tenkara anglers use rods with a bulky backbone so they can handle bigger fish. You can carry multiple tenkara rods if you can handle them. However, if you can only bring one, it’s recommended to get an all-around adjustable tenkara rod for any body of water. 

Tenkara Line

Tenkara lines are specifically designed so anglers can cast a lightweight fly effectively. Tenkara lines don’t have a leader and are instead replaced by a tippet. It’s a thin line between the fly and tenkara line. 

The features you should look for in a tenkara line are visibility and weight which also applies to the tenkara rod. The line should be visible so you can track it easily. The snippet should not be too visible so fish won’t detect it. 

For weight, you want it to be heavy enough for casting and at the same time light enough to not get into the water when the fly lands. Too heavy, and the line sinks. Too light, and it will be hard for you to cast.

What to Get?

The type of line depends on your preference in the end. Tenkara lines are usually fixed. However, you can change the fishing line into a shorter or longer one if needed. You have control over the weight. The visibility should be the most important one for you to consider. 

Tenkara Fly

When it comes to tenkara fly, you can choose one whatever you prefer. In tenkara, it’s more about technique so the fly doesn’t really matter. Instead, you should focus more on how you make use of the fly. 

Do take note that the larger the fly, the easier it is for fish to spot it. So you should choose a smaller one if you can. 

Tenkara Rod Maintenance

Once you get your own tenkara fishing rod, you should also learn how to take care of it so it can be used for a long time. Tenkara rods are easy to maintain. Here are some tips that you can follow for maintaining your tenkara fishing rod. 

• Never store your rod while it is still wet from the rain or stream. The water can make the finish on the surface bubble and spoil. Water also wears away some parts of the rod like the grit inside  the rod sections. 
• Handle the tenkara rod with care when you’re dealing with its fine sections. For example, using too much tissue could easily leave a piece of the tissue stuck and it might be hard to remove. You will do extra work in the end.
• Dry your tenkara fishing rod in a well ventilated place at your home. 
• You can wash the rod sections using a bathroom shower. After washing, you can lay it in an area where air is flowing to dry it off. 
• Make sure your tenkara fishing rod is completely dry so it won’t be wet when you store it when not in use.  

Tenkara Fishing Techniques

Tenkara fishing techniques usually follow the traditional Japanese method of fishing. Some anglers also incorporate and try new things with their tenkara rods. I’ll discuss some of the core basic techniques of tenkara fishing. 

Tenkara Casting

For first-time tenkara anglers, the casting is where they mostly stumble. Most beginners often use the same casting stroke as they would in a fly rod and fly line. However, tenkara rods are different. Some manufacturers did modify their tenkara rods to retain the “normal” of casting when fly fishing. 

However, it won’t be effective when you are tenkara fishing. The casting method of tenkara allows you to land the fly closely to your target spot and you can also hold the casting line off the water. These things are crucial for tenkara fishing. 

The Proper Way of Casting

You need the tenkara to be casted at an angle diagonally downwards towards the water. The casting stroke should be short and quick yet not too much power. Squeezing the rod handle midway in your casting stroke allows you to control the power. Relax the grip as you stop so it won’t rebound to you. 

Don’t use a wide arc and horizontal loops of good fly-casting. You also don’t need to correct the position of your line once it’s cast. You’ll just end up scaring the fish. 

Drifting With Your Fly

Basically, you want to entice your fly so the fish will take the bait. Developing your fly first cast is important. Allowing your fly, tippet, casting line to go downstream will make it look natural and hungry fish will highly take it. (only applicable to flowing bodies of water like streams)

Most streams, you should ideally have a drift time of only 3 to 5 seconds. The more time, the more the fish will notice your fly and get spooked.

Detecting Strikes During Tenkara Fishing

If you start fishing with an unweighted fly, it’s easier to spot since the fish have to move high in the water to grab it. Some anglers even use floatant to a stiff hackle wet fly and fishing “dry” for beginners to have an easier experience. 

In the end, as long as you are able to track the drift correctly with your rod tip and eyes, you can see the moment when a fish grabs your fly. Personally, I recommend this method if you want to immerse yourself in the traditional way of tenkara fishing. 

Japanese Tenkara Fishing

Let’s take a look at Japanese Tenkara Fishing and how modern Japanese make use of modern techniques to improve their traditional way of fishing. Since Japan is the birthplace of Tenkara fishing, people there should know a trick or two about it. 

In fact, Japanese anglers adopted methods around American bass fishing to improve their technique. Hence, different styles of fishing shouldn’t be frowned upon because you might find something useful in their method for your fishing style. 

Tenkara Fishing Rod vs Tenkara Fishing Method

A tenkara rod isn’t exclusively for tenkara fishing use. You can use it for other types of fishing as well. Hence, Japanese put more emphasis on Tenkara Fishing Technique instead of the rod used for catching. 

To Japanese anglers, tenkara is the culmination of your knowledge and technique poured into catching fish with artificial flies. People asked more often what technique a tenkara angler uses rather than what rod he uses. 

It’s all about the immersion and honing your raw skill of fishing while being in nature. Like how my ancestor used to fish for food and survival, I have inherited their skills and improved upon it.

Tenkara Fishing vs Fly Fishing

While it’s true that Tenkara fishing can be categorized as a form of fly fishing, it’s a common misconception that it evolved from traditional western fly fishing. There was no mutual connection between fly fishing and the development of Tenkara. 

Truth be told, a terrific approach to catching trout is to present a fly that either floats on the water’s surface or lies just below it. 

The history of human culture is littered with examples of comparable creations. While there is some evolutionary convergence between the two types of fishing, significant characteristics help to distinguish them from one another. Here are some of them. 

Comparison of Fly Fishing and Tenkara Fishing Qualities

Japanese anglers have long relied on the minimalist rod and reel technique known as tenkara. Tenkara fishing, which is typically done in mountainous areas for trout, remains uncommon even among seasoned anglers. So, what sets Tenkara Fishing apart from fly fishing?

Both Tenkara and fly fishing appear identical at first glance. They involve luring hungry fish with a small artificial fly presented at the end of a fishing rod of at least 7 feet in length. Both fishing styles place a premium on a well-cast fly. However, fundamental disparities between the two sports have existed for quite some time.

Line Casting

Casting a Tenkara is a breeze. If you don’t have a reel or extra line on hand to extend your cast, the length of the fishing line attached to your rod will remain constant. Because of this, the distance you may cast with a Tenkara rod is constrained by the length of your line. For newcomers, this simplifies the learning curve of Tenkara.

Casting using fly fishing is similar to casting with a Tenkara rod, however, you have far longer and more intricate casting possibilities.

Fly Selection

There is a great deal more room for expertise in fly fishing than in Tenkara fishing. Infinite personalization options exist in the sport of fly fishing. Each fisherman has their own go-to fishing rods, fishing lines, artificial flies, and methods. Fly fishermen often have thousands of flies at their disposal, each carefully selected for a particular circumstance. 

A fly that works in July may be completely inappropriate in November. When it comes to fly fishing, you can find a solution to every problem thanks to the vast toolkit at your disposal. However, Tenkara fishing puts less emphasis on convincing fly imitation and concentrates more on improvisation and mobility.

When fishing with Tenkara, it is common practice for anglers to use the same fly over and over again rather than focus on the presentation. 

The Tenkara method relies mainly on the angler’s motion to elicit a bite from trout, and the equipment required to practice this method is quite essential. In many Tenkara-related contexts, the idea of keeping things simple is emphasized.

Principles

Ultimately, the common ground between fly fishing and Tenkara lies in their shared principles. Zen, the philosophical foundation of Tenkara, promotes harmony with one’s surroundings and a heightened awareness of one’s own spirituality.

The same can be said about the theory behind fly fishing, with Izaak Walton’s book serving as a dissertation on the sport’s how and why. Fly anglers have enjoyed the sport’s meditative qualities for over 800 years as a way to reconnect with the environment and relieve stress. 

Fly anglers and tenkara anglers alike value the calming, reflective quality of their respective disciplines as a means to a deeper understanding of the natural world. Tenkara and Fly-fishing are two methods that can help anyone develop meaningful relationships with nature while also teaching them about themselves.

What Are the Benefits of Tenkara Fishing?

Tenkara is the first significant new technique since Spey casting thirty years ago among anglers. The excitement and fun of Tenkara fishing have attracted a lot of new enthusiasts because of this. What are the benefits?

Easily Comprehended Style

You can let your imagination run wild while Tenkara fishing. There is a straightforward style, however, how you utilize that framework is all up to you. Tenkara is based on two basic tenets: casting to a location where fish are likely to be and presenting the fly so that the fish can easily take it. Your method of choice is entirely up to you.

Easy Understanding

Tenkara is ideal for those just starting out as a form of fishing. Because of its ease of use, you may practice making casts without worrying about bringing along a lot of other gear. 

Using the straightforward method, you won’t have to put in much work to get up and running. Fly fishing becomes more enjoyable once you’ve mastered the basics of setting up your gear, attaching the line to the fishing rod, and learning your tippet, among others.

Portability

Backpacking and traveling with a Tenkara rod have both increased in popularity. It has grown in popularity among people who enjoy being outside and people who are constantly on the move because of its portability, ease of use, and the use of telescoping rods. It weighs next to nothing, so anglers don’t have to worry about lugging it everywhere.

Drawbacks to Tenkara Fishing

While Tenkara fishing is good and easy for beginners to pick up, it still has its own issues which have affected its popularity over the years. These drawbacks include:

Limited Scope

The limited scope of possible uses for Tenkara is a fundamental drawback of the technique. This method may be unsuitable for you if you prefer fishing in large bodies of water or you love to cast flies to great depths. 

The fishing line on a Tenkara rod and fly will break as soon as a giant fish, such as a bass or marlin, touches it. Casting distance also restricts fishing locations, making only smaller bodies of water feasible. Casting distance also limits fishing locations, making only smaller bodies of water feasible.

Difficulties 

The difficulty of mastering Tenkara is often underestimated. One of the benefits I highlighted is how accessible it is to newcomers. Things become a bit difficult when you get through the initial stages of learning. The technique’s foundational principles are indeed straightforward, however, it doesn’t make them any less challenging to implement. 

More so than in fly fishing, for example, it is often necessary to personally approach the trout. Trout can see quite clearly and are very attuned to any changes in their surrounding environment. Inadvertently frightening them away might be very annoying.

A Dearth of Available Guides

A further drawback to Tenkara is the shortage of available guides. While this is beginning to change as the method gains momentum, there are still relatively few coaches or experienced anglers in the United States who can help novices get started with fly fishing. 

Though several fly coaches are familiar with the term “Tenkara,” it may prove more challenging to locate an expert in the technique. This may make it difficult for newcomers to get started. There is a long road ahead of Tenkara before it reaches the same mainstream popularity as other types of fly fishing.

Advantages of Fly-Fishing

Fly fishing has many advantages, some of which are listed below, including its relative simplicity and adaptability to various fishing conditions. Others include:

Simple Access to Necessary Resources

Fly fishing has been practiced for thousands of years. Therefore, the many methods used are well-established and well-documented. It is not hard to locate professional instructional materials and other resources for whatever style of fly fishing you would be interested in.

You can easily find flies for sale in both brick-and-mortar and virtual stores. You won’t ever need to make yours if you don’t want to. 

Adaptability

Fly fishing has numerous potential uses. Compared to Tenkara, there is a wider variety of flies, methods, water, and fish to pursue, as well as a wider variety of fishes to learn about and master. Depending on what you hope to accomplish, this may be a drawback or an advantage.

Drawbacks to Fly Fishing

While both novice and experienced anglers can benefit from fly fishing, the sport does have a few negatives that could sway some people’s decision not to pursue it. Some of the drawbacks are as follows.

Fly-Fishing Is Expensive

Unfortunately, the widespread belief that fly fishing is prohibitively expensive is accurate. You don’t need much money or gear to enjoy fly fishing. However, inexperienced fishermen may be put off by the sport’s image of snobbery and the exorbitant price of some fly gear.

Too Many Options

Fly anglers often don’t know what to do because they’re overwhelmed with options. The sheer variety of available tools can make it challenging to decide on a course of action. Choosing the right fly or the right size of lure may be a real pain.

FAQ

Conclusion

Tenkara fishing is a no reel fishing method that originated from Japan. It’s one of the most immersive styles of fishing you can experience. You will rely more on your technique and instinct rather than your fishing gear.