Tenkara anyone?

[WoolyBugger]

Anyone else on the forum fish Tenkara? With all of the gear we pack along to catch a fish, it sometimes can actually deter you from getting up and going fishing. I experienced this many times. I was introduced to Tenkara fishing awhile ago, and let me tell you, my catch rate went up tenfold!! I LOVE hiking, and the ability to just throw a collapsible 10' rod in my pack that collapses to 14" was beyond appealing to me. Line is attached, even the fly in some instances, and I am in the water fishing in under a minute. I can reach out with the long line and get to places no one can with traditional gear. No line drag, and the ability to fish pocket water extremely efficiently. Impossible to fish pockets with traditional gear or a fly line. What is not to like!? I think Tenkara is about to blow up in the USA as soon as people start to become more familiar with it. The rods are very inexpensive, and no need for a reel. I think all the gear manufacturers should be very scared, as they brainwash us into believing we need the latest and greatest gear that looks pretty but does nothing to catch more fish. So, is there anyone else out there who has tried Tenkara? I added a couple of pics of my two collapsed rods: one is a 10' Tenkara rod, and the other is a 23' (Yes, 23' Keiyru rod). It can handle larger fish including carp, and can fish across small rivers and hit every spot imaginable very effectively. Super fun!!

 

[maxwyatt]

I'm intrigued, but I wouldn't call those poles inexpensive.

 

[WoolyBugger]

$180 is cheap compared to a flyrod, reel, and line.

 

[maxwyatt]

Maybe it's been too long since I bought mine, but my setup didn't cost anything near that.

 

[WoolyBugger]

Lines are almost $100 now!!

 

[Chromatose]

$180 is cheap compared to a flyrod, reel, and line.

But then so is a long Cane pole with some Mono, which is what I used a minute ago.....................The collapsible ability would have been nice when I was driving around in a VW with my Cane pole on the roof..............Good topic.

 

[WoolyBugger]

That's cool! Can you post a pic of the cane pole?

 

[Chromatose]

Did not mean to lead you astray. My "just a minute ago" was sarcasm about how really long ago it was. Also, the Bamboo Cane pole was just that. A long piece of bamboo cut to what ever length was needed. Mono tied to the tip top, a hook and a piece of lead, a worm or shiner if I had the net.

Easy Peasy

The Tenkara is high tech.........................................

 

[WoolyBugger]

Aaahh...
And I bet you caught a ton of fish too!

 

[Chromatose]

Maybe it's been too long since I bought mine, but my setup didn't cost anything near that.

Maybe that is because you got into Tenkara style before it became popular. I have noticed a big jump in price to get started for sure.

 

[Snopro]

$180 is cheap compared to a flyrod, reel, and line.

There are many serviceable low end package deals coming in well under $180.

For high and mid priced fly gear I'd agree.

 

[MartinH523]

Fly fishing doesn't have to be expensive.
A cheap fly fishing outfit will catch the same fish that expensive outfits cost.
It really depends on who wants to pay what.
I have caught many fish on my old eagle claw setups as well as my Orvis setups.

There are many serviceable low end package deals coming in well under $180.

For high and mid priced fly gear I'd agree.

 

[rev_rend]

I have a handful of tenkara rods. They're super fun. They ended up getting me into traditional fly fishing, which I find more versatile and rewarding. But I still carry and use the tenkara rods. I used them to euro nymph before I even knew what euro nymphing was, and think they're so good for that kind of fishing that I've repeatedly talked myself out of buying a euro rod. I used my Kokoro 320 today to drift some deep pools in a high gradient, tight stream in the Cascade foothills today.