Author Topic: Tenkara Rods??? (Read 1278 times)

Jay Looper · « **on:** June 26, 2009, 05:53:25 PM »

I read about these tenkara rods in NY outdoor news- they appear pretty easy as far as portability and use are concerned, but have very limited line length. Seem like a good tool for smaller streams. Here is a link to the information about them
http://www.tenkarausa.com/

I was wondering if anyone had any experience with them and/or what their thoughts or comments are about them.
AA

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #1 on:** June 26, 2009, 07:32:22 PM »

Looks like an interesting olde world tradition. Like Spey fishing though, to some extent, I'm sure it's more about the "experience" rather than the effectiveness.

Jeremy Allan · « **Reply #2 on:** June 26, 2009, 08:55:00 PM »

Looks gimmicky and kind of lame.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #3 on:** June 27, 2009, 09:26:20 AM »

As a gimmick yes it certainly looks gimmicy to me too

But I kind of like the idea from a challenge point of view. Could be a great learning/teaching tool. Imagine just giving someone a 13' rod, one leader, and a couple wet flies and say: "go catch some trout!" It would certainly force the student to concentrate on approach, delivery, drift, feeding zones, levels, and with no extra line nor drag certainly playing and pursuing larger fish!

Murray Buck · « **Reply #4 on:** August 28, 2009, 12:59:59 PM »

If you look it up on line it is pretty interesting. There is a big following in Japan and the tradition may be older than flyfishing. I read somewhere it was actually developed by feudal samurai and is considered by many as an art, like kendo or one of the martial arts. To me it looks like a really long wimpy cane pole with the line running up the inside... just my .02

Jay Looper · « **Reply #5 on:** August 28, 2009, 08:46:03 PM »

Lykos33 - I appreciate the bigger font especially since my daughter just broke my glasses. But the blue on the black background is a tough contrast - will you consider another color? Thanks and also thanks for your contributions. It is nice to see how the newest members have really stepped up to the plate and brought some older topics back into the mix of things.

Dejon Hamann · « **Reply #6 on:** August 28, 2009, 10:39:13 PM »

I have a friend who exclusively fishes the Tenkara Rod method... he also likes to hunt pheasant with rocks and kill deer by rear naked choke hold $:-\$

Jay Looper · « **Reply #7 on:** August 29, 2009, 06:01:30 AM »

You must be talking about either Chuck Norris or Bill Brasky.

Mike Norton · « **Reply #8 on:** August 29, 2009, 06:20:22 AM »

Dejon..the rear naked choke hold..does this work if so I need ot learn it LOL

Now back to our subject , I ahve heard about this form of fishing but never paid any attn to it til now..pretty neat i must say kinda reminds of watching Laura Ingall's from little house on the prairie when she would go down to the fishin hole with her long stick and can o worms.

Jay Looper · « **Reply #9 on:** February 12, 2011, 06:46:31 AM »

Sorry to bring this up again for those who aren't interested in it, but I just came across another article Tenkara rods and they peaked my intereset once again. Is there currently anyone on TL playing around with these? Can this be used a Czech numphing rod?

Robbie Bell · « **Reply #10 on:** February 12, 2011, 10:34:01 AM »

Hi There,

I bought one of these rods last year but have not got round to using it yet.

Obviously Tenkara is a Japanese tradition but a similar style was practised in the UK many hundreds of years ago.

In those days there were no rods save perhaps for the very rich. Most anglers cut a very long stick of around 16 feet and lashed a horse hair cast to the end and had a fly on the end of that.

I believe that if they hooked a large fish they just threw the lot into the pool and let the fish tire itself out!

I am no historian but the information will be out there somewhere.

It is likely that similar methods were developed on opposite sides of the world more or less simultaneously.

Some short videos came with the rod and were shot in the USA so may be on you tube etc.

Best Regards

robbie

Jay Looper · « **Reply #11 on:** February 12, 2011, 11:02:18 AM »

Quote from: Jay Looper on February 12, 2011, 06:46:31 AM

Sorry to bring this up again for those who aren't interested in it, but I just came across another article Tenkara rods and they peaked my intereset once again. Is there currently anyone on TL playing around with these? Can this be used a Czech numphing rod?

Let me rephrase my question - do you think that this rod can employ a czech nymphing technique?

Thanks for your response Robbie.

John Dunn · « **Reply #12 on:** February 12, 2011, 11:22:52 AM »

Jay your answer is no. I have one and use it for small nymphs and drys ,on a 5 or 6 X 5 ft leader, They are simple ,lite and great for back packing small stream fishing.

John Dunn