No more Tenkara posts?

[P.A.W.]

Seems like a couple years ago there were all kinds of Tenkara reports. I even considered trying it myself. Haven't seen any posts this year though. Was it just a passing fad?

[GhettoBasster]

Maybe it's because dapping is out of style?

[P.A.W.]

Found this :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay7jaWIIF5o

[shinbob]

Found this :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay7jaWIIF5o

"Aw, **** it, I'm getting my 5wt!" LOL!

I looked into it, it seems like a technique that a lot of people love, but probably works best in very specialized circumstances, though. For me, I'd rather have my 9' 3wt with a furled leader -- I can still dap and fish close quarters, but can always cast more line if I want to get out to the head of a pool and don't want to spook every fish in it.

[DarkShadow]

1. I don't think many of our streams have the type of canopy that would make Tenkara'ing (is that the verb?) not sufferable.

2. I don't think many of our streams have any water left.

3. As someone said, I'd rather have my 7'6" 3 weight for our local streams. Or my 9' 4/5wt for the larger ones on the Eastside.

[seal]

It was a fad. Never made sense to me. What DarkShadow wrote, 3 weight much more logical.

[DarkShadow]

It was a fad. Never made sense to me.

I won't go as far as calling it a fad, it was just an outfit for a specific technique that never gained any foothold with me simply because I could approach the same scenario with a "Western" styled outfit and accomplish more with that when the situation changes, which in fly fishing, occurs all the time.

[Hotbite909]

I wouldnt call it a fad either. Just good for special circumstances. Canopy tree covered streams or slow moving water with the occasional pool it is great. Very stealthy technique. It is always good to carry both rigs. Tenkara rods are telescopic and shrink down to about 1 1/2 feet long. If you like to fish mountain streams it is hard to walk around brush with a 6 to 9 foot rod. Tenkara just fit in your pack or hand and go!

[seal]

I won't go as far as calling it a fad, it was just an outfit for a specific technique that never gained any foothold with me simply because I could approach the same scenario with a "Western" styled outfit and accomplish more with that when the situation changes, which in fly fishing, occurs all the time.

I think it was hype being touted by a few that some swallowed hook line and no sinker. Watching the videos told me all I needed to know, looked like a Chinese fire drill trying to coral the fish and land them. Tankara USA was trying to make as much money as possible, that is why I called it a fad it came out of nowhere and it lasted a short while kind of the definition of a fad.

No intentions of defaming another individuals fishing choice but it really just was a very small niche in which the technique had any advantages or even close to being equal to any other creek fishing technique.

[seal]

I wouldnt call it a fad either. Just good for special circumstances. Canopy tree covered streams or slow moving water with the occasional pool it is great. Very stealthy technique. It is always good to carry both rigs. Tenkara rods are telescopic and shrink down to about 1 1/2 feet long. If you like to fish mountain streams it is hard to walk around brush with a 6 to 9 foot rod. Tenkara just fit in your pack or hand and go!

Canopy trees - Extremely long rod, trees overhanging creek, tenkara a good technique for that?

Telescopic rods - Most fly rods come with multiple pieces that break down to the same size or close to it. Small spinning 2 piece rods shouldn't be a big deal to carry for anybody with a backpack.

Hard to carry 6 -9 foot rods - Ok I just don't know how this makes sense since Tenkara rods are huge, I guess your somehow saying that each time you move you simple break down the telescopic rod but I'm not sure if you've ever carried a 7.5 ft 3 weight with you on a mountain creek or short spinning rod, I really don't have a problem with it but whatever.

Definition of hype

[shinbob]

I guess your somehow saying that each time you move you simple break down the telescopic rod

That was the deal-breaker for me. And what do you do with all that line and leader? Put it on a separate spool. So if you've gotta carry a spool anyway, might as well mount it on the rod for convenience. And as long as you've got a spool mounted on the rod, might as well carry a little extra line for those special situations.

After all that, now you've got just a standard fly-fishing setup.

[fishinone]

I looked into them and thought that the idea was to reduce the part count and charge more for it.

[DarkShadow]

Canopy trees - Extremely long rod, trees overhanging creek, tenkara a good technique for that?

Telescopic rods - Most fly rods come with multiple pieces that break down to the same size or close to it. Small spinning 2 piece rods shouldn't be a big deal to carry for anybody with a backpack.

Hard to carry 6 -9 foot rods - Ok I just don't know how this makes sense since Tenkara rods are huge, I guess your somehow saying that each time you move you simple break down the telescopic rod but I'm not sure if you've ever carried a 7.5 ft 3 weight with you on a mountain creek or short spinning rod, I really don't have a problem with it but whatever.

Definition of hype

Yeah, it just doesn't fit the conditions I've encountered. And I think you left out the biggest challenge that our local streams presents, and that is that the fish can spot you from a mile away. Since Tenkara is a 'close combat' type of situation, kinda like pitchin' and flippin' on the conventional end, it requires you to be placed near your target. If you get any where NEAR your target in the streams I fish, your target hauls butt upstream. I find myself making 25 foot casts often in order to not spook these stream fish. I don't think something like that is possible with a Tenkara outfit.

To each his own. If someone wants to wrap up their monofilament around a soda can and use a spark plug as a sinker, then more power to them; as long as they respect the sport, the environment and those around them who also share the resource, I could care less what the presentation is. Tenkara is just not for me.

[Skyler]

They stopped posting Tenkara reports because all of their rod tips are now snapped off and hanging in trees at Lytle creek.

[castle]

They stopped posting Tenkara reports because all of their rod tips are now snapped off and hanging in trees at Lytle creek.

Thats funny. And probably with 20 lb. test line on them.