[cm_stewart]

For backpack flyfishing in RMNP, at least consider a tenkara rod. Packs easily, weighs a couple ounces, no reel needed.

The fun/weight ratio is unbeatable!

[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.

[cm_stewart]

Just as a follow-up, I had sent a PM to Charles Rangely-Wilson on one of the UK boards to ask about the “giving the fly life” comment. It turns out that he and his guide were using dry flies.

[cm_stewart]

That’s a nice fly, too. Do you use a larger size, like maybe a 10?

I can’t help you with the old techniques from the Smokies, although I have seen forum comments that mention them in passing, without giving details.

Another comment for which I’d love to get more detail is from Charles Rangely-Wilson’s trip and BBC documentary on “Fish! A Japanese Obsession.” Unfortunately, the tenkara bits of the documentary were left on the cutting room floor, but he made this comment in his blog: “By the river he explained that there are three parts to tenkara fishing: giving the fly life; using the wrist to create a snappy cast; and keeping only the tippet on the water. In practice it is much like the way I’d fish any mountain torrent – the Lyn or La Cere, allowing the fly to dance across the surface, animating it, or pausing it over good lies.” http://www.hotasafish.com/2009/03/tenkara-great-escape.html

That “giving the fly life” part is what I want to learn more about. I’m absolutely sold on the whole idea of the long rod and short, light line, and am convinced that the improved presentation more than offsets the limitation on casting distance, but it is one thing to have read about a technique in passing and quite another to go out and put it to good use. The problem I run into is this: when fishing wet flies upstream or up and across, I keep a tight line because sometimes the only indication of a bite is a slight tick or hesitation of the line. When I do a “nervous handshake” to try to give the fly life, the line is not nearly still enough to see that momentary tick of a subtle take.  If the technique were used only with dries like a goddard caddis or CDC & Elk I would understand, but the illustrations I’ve seen on Japanese websites clearly show the manipulation of a single wet fly. Google translates it as “the invitation.” Perhaps the takes in that case are not at all subtle. (Reminds me of the first time I went out for bluefish. I asked how will I know when I get a bite. My friend said: “Trust me, you’ll know.”)

[cm_stewart]

Guilty as charged.

I have two of their rods, an Ebisu (5:5) and a Yamame. I’ve had the Ebisu long enough to fish with it a few times, and just got the Yamame last week. I fished with it one time, but it was more of an exploratory trip to a brookie stream I’d never fished. The fish were enthusiastic, but only 4-5 inches long, so they really didn’t give the Yamame a workout. They’re both very nice rods. I’ll have to fish them both more, and at least a couple times back to back, but I think I might prefer the Ebisu. My “other rod” is bamboo, and I do like a slower action. I think the Yamame may be able to cast a lighter line, though, which is very important to me, so I just don’t know yet. One other thing on the Yamame, he does say in the description that the grip is very comfortable for slightly larger hands. The flip side is it may not be so comfortable for smaller hands. I like the Ebisu grip better. If you didn’t see my post on their forum about lines, basically, some people prefer tapered lines and some prefer level lines. Daniel Galhardo, the owner of Tenkara USA is a tapered line guy and I’m a level line guy. That said, I do have one of his lines and it’s nice. It is very easy to cast and turns over a fly beautifully. The lines I play with are harder to cast and can’t be used in much of a breeze, but they are light enough that I can keep all the line off the water except for about a foot of tippet. If you decide to get one of his rods, by all means get one of his lines, too, as they are well matched. If anyone wants to play with some very light stuff (10# test fluorocarbon) I can send you some line. (It really is a shame to have to buy a whole spool of fluorocarbon when you only want 3 or 4 yards of the stuff!). And yes, the Yamame will cast a fly using 10# test fluorocarbon as a “fly line” (actually 9′ of 10# test shocking pink fluoro, 2′ of clear 3x fluoro and 2′ of 6x mono for a 12′ rod). I haven’t yet tried the 10# with the Ebisu, but 15# test felt heavier than necessary. Of course, if there is any wind you can’t cast that light a line, but then you turn around and it works as a dapping line.

In your original post, you said you use a telescopic crappie pole. Before I could get a real tenkara rod I tried a fiberglass Shakespeare Wonderrod and Cabela’s Graphite Panfish Poles. If you enjoy fishing with your crappie pole, you must get a real tenkara rod. I think you will be surprised at the difference. And if your crappie pole is one of the fiberglass ones, you will be absolutely shocked at the difference.

I think I may have commented too much already about tenkara on half the bulletin boards out there (and got into a fairly nasty exchange on one of them). I came here to learn from you, though. Could you post a picture of a bushy fly you use for an anchor? I know the concept from reading about manipulating a cast of wet flies, but I’d really like to see a picture and learn more about your technique.

There still aren’t that many of us out there, and almost nothing written (in English). We need to share tips and tactics.

[cm_stewart]

Will, nice flies! Is that a hair hackle?

I always fish with just one fly (I like simplicity) but the two-fly rig you described sounds interesting. Do you get most fish on dancing dropper on on the anchor fly?

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