FS Digest

Would anyone care to educate a newcomer?

Hey guys, all my life I've lived near some great waterways for fly fishing and I figured it's about time to get my feet wet. Now I'm trying to learn as much as I can but I keep coming across a negative response whenever Tenkara is brought up, Could anyone explain to a layman why? I just genuinely want to understand freshwater fishing and its community. All opinions welcome! Thanks in advance.

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by HarrimanHiker

FS Digest

I fish both. Negativity on tenkara is likely due to it being a fad. Each have their place though. Tenkara just limits you quite a bit on where and what you can fish. However, if I'm in a stream or want to take something lightweight while backpacking, tenkara is my go to. I'd definitely recommend starting with a normal/western fly rod though.

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by rmfrazi

FS Digest

Soooo different than euro nymphing but it is technically the same thing with different equipment. It's considered hipster fishing. I think it is a great way to fish if you are looking to get into the sport. There are limitations to it and advantages just like with anything. Advantages being that it is simplistic and less gear intensive, really fun on smaller creeks. Disadvantages being mainly landing bigger fish in a manner that won't harm the fish is tougher, but also reach, and being limited to just nymph fishing where as with a traditional rod it is much easier to switch between dries nymphs and streamers. I have one and use it, but it isn't my only rod.

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by danthebiker1981

FS Digest

Tenkara's cool - anyone giving you a hard time about it just spouting out personal opinions. You do you, man. As long as you're having fun and being ethical towards fish and wildlife, you're doing it right.

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by gc4life

FS Digest

I think a lot of people view tenkara as not really having a defined niche it fills exceptionally well. Everything a tenkara rod does, a traditional rig can do also. For me personally, I can't think of any scenario where I'd actually prefer a tenkara rod over a traditional rod and reel.

I guess the only advantage of a tenkara is that a traditional setup is a little heavier due to the reel? Maybe it makes a difference to some when hiking, but I couldn't care less about a few extra ounces, and I very much prefer the versatility of the reel.

As a newcomer, I'd definitely start with a traditional rod and reel. If you see some appeal later on, tenkara rods can be had for fairly cheap.

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by DGFlyGuy

FS Digest

I think the main advantage for hiking is that they're telescopic and pack down smaller, and as such fit into backpacks better. As well, they don't take as long to set up, I imagine, without having to string line and can (maybe? correct me if I'm wrong) be carried around with the line and fly attached already.

I could see myself wanting a tenkara rod if I did a lot of hiking near small creeks where the fishing wasn't the main reason I was leaving the house. Throw the tenkara rod and a couple flies in the backpack and get the line wet when you stop for lunch kind of thing. Little blue line creeks where you're not really sure there'll be fish or not. Given where I live now, that's not really something that's going to happen enough. If I still lived back home in the mountains, though...

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by rexallconventioneers

FS Digest

The packability thing illustrates my point a little. A tenkara is good for that, but it's not a night and day difference compared to traditional rigs. Normal fly rods already pack down small. A standard 9' 4 piece rod breaks down to a little over 2 feet in the tube. That's already super packable, and a lot of rods are shorter than that or come in more pieces, especially when fishing small streams. A tenkara rod in my opinion, doesn't offer so much more packability that it's worth purchasing and sacrificing some versatility. You're just going from something that's already really packable, to something's that's really really packable. But that's just my viewpoint. Maybe it's worth it to others.

I didn't consider the aspect of keeping a rod rigged up and ready, that would be kinda nice. But I usually hike with my rod already fully assembled anyway, at least for day trips.

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by DGFlyGuy

FS Digest

Roller blades, scooters, etc.

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by Huge_Fly_Fisherman

FS Digest

May Tom be with you

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by HarrimanHiker

FS Digest

I would love to try Tenkara, so nothing negative to say. I do have a second hand story to share though. I live in SW Montana. My buddy had a friend come visit from back east who had recently gotten into fly fishing and only had a Tenkara rod. He took him over to the Maddison and they had a great day of fishing, and the Tenkara did alright with some smaller fish (10-14”). Then out of nowhere the friend hooks a beast (20”+). He keeps in hooked just long enough to scream “what to I do???” Then he fish was gone. My buddy’s deadpan reply- “I dunno, maybe get a reel?!?”

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by gringorasta

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

I find it very interesting that we (most of us probably) got into this sport of fishing using what is basically a tenkera rod - a cane pole, and now that we've spent our lives chasing the elusive lunker with ever and ever more complex and expensive equipment, we want to return to a simple technique with extremely simple equipment and pursue relatively tiny little fish. Oh, the zen of fishing. Don't let anyone talk you out of your tenkara, as someone said up there, you be you.