Sooooo Very Cool

[Steve K.]

I keep saying I’m gonna photograph the Yallarhammer I purchased from Clampett’s Hardware in Bryson City in the late 70’s. I still have it stashed in an old flybox.

Zach…you are right…the version I have….which I would assume is a close interpretation of the original has a thicker hackle than the one you’ve tied (although I like your version as well). My guess is the pattern is effective because of the abundance of yellow stoneflies and sulphurs.

I think the woodpecker you’ve mentioned is the Yellow Flicker:

from Merriam-Webster:

yellow-shafted flicker

: a flicker of eastern North America that is golden yellow on the underside of the tail and wings, has a red mark on the nape, and in the male has a black streak on each cheek.

[zach smith]

The main issue I see is that most Tenkara rods are a bit long for the Smokies (at 12′). Do they have like a 7 or 8 foot model, or would that defeat the purpose, do you think?

I’ve been looking at the Tenkara system as well and wondered the same thing.  I was wondering about trying to use one on one of the small streams around here, but am not real sure about the manueverability.  That being said, I cannot imagine this system being used on larger sized water, so there has got to be a way to figure it out. Of course I’ve never seen it done or done much research on the original applications, so I could be completely wrong about what kind of water it was originally designed for.

But, I do think it would be a lot of fun on the smaller trout streams as well as maybe being used for things like bluegill…

[cm_stewart]

Tenkara was developed for small, high gradient, freestone mountain streams in Japan.

A 7 or 8′ tenkara rod would have all the disadvantages and none of the advantages of a longer rod. The main advantage of a long rod is that it allows you to fish with a relatively short line, giving exquisite control and presentation, and still fish far enough away that you haven’t spooked the fish if you are stealthy enough. Before I could get a tenkara rod I tried tying a furled leader to the tip of my 9′ flyrod. I caught fish, but the limitation on casting distance was pretty severe. I then tried a 10′ panfish pole, and that was a lot better. I now have 11′ and 12′ tenkara rods, and have gotten so used to the length that I occasonally wish my 11 footer was also 12′. Where I usually fish, most of the other fishermen I see use 7 or 7 1/2′ rods. I see a lot of their flies dangling from trees, too, so I’m not sure the shorter rod and longer line is any better for casting, and I am convinced it is worse for catching.

Here is a shot of my favorite stream. Most of the stream is more open than this, but this is not too tight to fish with a 12′ rod, and I caught two fish from this spot before taking the shot.

[zach smith]

Ok, that makes more sense now…
I figured that the Japanese were using this kind of rod on small water, but could not figure out how.  Makes a lot more sense now that I’ve had it explained a little better

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