The tenkara style of fly-fishing lets you get the most out of soft hackles. The superior ability to subtilely twitch the fly by gently moving the rod tip to pulse the hackle imparts an action to the fly that trout often find irresistible.
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Is tenkara easier than fly-fishing?
In fact, it could be argued that tenkara is more difficult than western fly fishing. Landing a fish is certainly different without the ability to reel it in. And not being able to cast long distances means you need to be better about spotting and getting close to trout.
Can you tenkara fish with a fly rod?
All of it can be done with either a fly rod or a Tenkara rod. To me, the extra length of a Tenkara rod is the only significant advantage for fishing a tightline method, and it’s not worth the trade off.
Can you catch big fish with tenkara?
Tenkara rods are capable of landing pretty large fish. We have seen 29-inch pike, 7-lb bass, salmon, carp, and everything in between being caught on our tenkara rods. And this is the tenkara gear we recommend if you’re often after large fish.
Can you roll cast a Tenkara Rod?

Why are tenkara rods so long?
A longer rod makes it easier to hold your line and leader off the water and stay in direct contact with your fly or flies. You can reach over currents, rather than laying your line across them and risking your fly being dragged off course.
Do tenkara flies float?
While there are many different types of tenkara flies, there are three styles that are the most popular and the most iconic of tenkara fishing. One is a dry fly (a fly that floats) one is a wet fly (a fly that sinks) and one is all purpose (a fly that can either sink or float depending on how you fish it.
How do you choose a tenkara fly?

What does tenkara mean in Japanese?
Tenkara fishing (Japanese: ใใณใซใฉ้ฃใ, literally: “fishing from heaven”, “sky fishing”, or “empty sky fishing” as ten = “sky” and kara = “empty”) is a type of simple rod angling traditionally practiced in Japan.
How do you land a fish with a Tenkara Rod?

What does tenkara mean in English?
Tenkara means the “traditional Japanese method of mountain stream fly-fishing where only a rod, line and fly are used”. Tenkara is a very narrowly defined word used exclusively to describe this exact method of fishing where only a rod, line and fly are used to catch trout in mountain streams.
Where is Tenkara USA located?
Founded in 2009 by Daniel W. Galhardo, Tenkara USA is a fully independent company, based in Boulder, Colorado.
What is tenkara fly fishing?
Tenkara is a method of fly fishing that originated in the mountains of Japan and has now developed into a modern pastime. It uses quite long rods, fixed lengths of casting line attached to the rod-tip and simple, impressionistic wet fly patterns. Most tenkara anglers attach just one fly at a time to the tippet.
What size Tenkara rod should I get?
Generally speaking, we always recommend using the longest rod you can get away with. This will give you more reach, help you keep more line off of the water and give you more control over your fly (one of the main benefits of tenkara). A 12ft (360cm) tenkara rod is a very standard length for tenkara.
How long does Tippet tenkara take?
In tenkara, we typically add 4 feet (1.2 meters) of tippet to the end of our main tenkara line. But, anywhere from 3 to 6 feet (1 to 2 meters) is acceptable. The shorter length tippet is handy in smaller and tighter streams.
Are tenkara rods good?
The rods are too powerful for the mightiest fish to break it. However, tenkara rods can break by the fishermen themselves if they do not take good care of it. To the contrary, carbon Tenkara rods are surprisingly very strong and steadfast when it comes to catching and landing fish.
How long does it take to level a line in tenkara?
Line length will be between 8 feet and 25 feet, and tippet length will be between 3 and 5 feet long. The main qualities we look for in tenkara lines are the right weight and visibility. The tenkara line must be heavy enough to cast yet light enough that the line will stay entirely off the water once the fly lands.
What can you catch on tenkara rod?
- All tenkara rods are made for the average trout and other smaller species of fish: 8โณ โ 18โณ (20 โ 45cm).
- All tenkara rods will handle the occasional 20+ incher (50cm +).
- If you’re constantly catching fish that are over 17 inches (43cm), then look at the Ito and Amago more seriously.
What is a 7 3 tenkara rod?
What is a 7:3? The definition given most often is a rod in which the 7 bottom parts are stiffer and the three tip parts bend more easily. Even aside from the fact that most tenkara rods don’t have 10 parts, you still have a system that is of little use to tenkara rod buyers.
What is Keiryu fishing?
“Keiryu” is the Japanese word for “mountain stream.” Keiryu fishing, then, is mountain stream fishing in Japan. In the broadest sense, “keiryu fishing” encompasses several popular fishing methods in Japan, including lure fishing, fly fishing, tenkara and bait fishing.
How do you store tenkara line?

What weight are tenkara rods?
Specs: 12ft (360 cm) Closed Size: 20 inches Segments: 9 Handle Length: 11.25 inches Weight: 3.2 oz Our line: Tenkara Rod Co. Lines are hand-crafted with single strand construction and a 3mm nickel alloy tippet ring.
Can you fly fish in the ocean?
Eventually, you may even find yourself asking the question, can you fly fish anywhere? Yes, you can fly fish any body of water that contains fish, provided you are legally allowed to do so. This includes everything from small streams and big rivers to ponds, lakes, and even the ocean.
How old is Tenkara fishing?
Tenkara history can be traced back more than 400 years, when Japanese anglers caught cherry trout with unsplit bamboo rods tipped with horsehair lines tied to simple fly patterns.
When was tenkara invented?
Tenkara originated in 17th century Japan, and was used by sustenance fishermen to feed themselves, their families, and as a source of income. Fishing for pleasure was not a consideration, because if they didn’t catch fish โ and lots of them โ they went to bed hungry.