Love this way of fishing. When I was a young lad, I used to fish a similar method with just a bamboo blank, harvested on the way to the fishing site from my grandpa's orchard, with a few yards of line (leader). Now, I own a Tenkara but I haven't used it for a long time because I fish mainly for steelhead and salmon. This Tenkara I have will not handle the action of these fish. Are there ones rated for such game fish? Thanks for posting.
just read a book at my local library on tenkara, looking to get my hands on one of those collapsible rods should be about perfect for upcoming trip hiking into the smokey mountains and getting on some mountain streams
@099A1 Actually, you are right! There may be customs for products going to Switzerland, forgot it is not part of the EU. No customs for shipping within the EU countries, there may be customs charges to Switzerland.
@099A1 We sell the rod through our website tenkarausa . com and it ships directly from our warehouse in the UK so there is no customs for shipping to Switzerland.
The concept is interesting for smaller waters and smaller trout - small being relative I guess! but I'm a big trout pursuer, big meaning 18" - 22" on small dry flies and I just don't see how I could control browns and rainbows that big that can easily run all my fly line out with a rod that has only line and no reel. I should mention I fish large western tailwaters with flows in the 3500 cfs - 5000 cfs range.
Tenkara flyfishing in New Zealand, so if your a competent angler this rods will hold up. Youtube won't allow me to upload the link, just go to Google and place Tenkara in the search engine and get your search results through Video's. Its with the application program VIMEO
i looked up this video thanks to feild and stream magazine, now grant it i dont fish streams but i perfer to fish for bluegill on lakes and rivers, how does this hold up compared to my 5wt fly pole?
@VAxHUNTER94 Tenkara holds up wel to bluegill and smallmouth bass. I'd invite you to take a look at our forum and perhaps ask other tenkara anglers about their experience, but it's a great replacement for a 5wt rod being used for bluegills, particularly on rivers.
Wow. What a great method for catching bait to catch real fish....gotta try in the salt (hint to marketing...)...pinfish and mullet will love this!! Please don't flame...just kidding...can't wait to try it!
@masktxcom Indeed not a huge difference in that both are "fixed-line" methods of fishing. However, you can not cast a weightless fly very well with a cane pole normally used for bait fishing. The original tenkara rods were cane rods, but with a taper designed for casting a weightless fly similarly to how western fly-fishing. All fishing has been done for centuries, the difference today in sport fishing is the fancy equipment.
Awesome Video! i have a few small streams like that near my home and the tenkara would be perfect to fish them. one questin tho were u using wet flies or dry flies i couldn't tell or just an assortment of the two?
@MrWutsgoodhomie In this video I was still mostly using a dry elk-hair caddis. I have since switched to using more traditional "sakasa" style tenkara flies, which can be fished dry or wet, but are generally fished wet under the surface. I find them more versatile and effective now. - Daniel
That type of rod is called Furidashizou. Widely available in Japan. I picked mine up at Joshuya. Lots of fun to use. I keep mine in my vest, and break it out on narrow tricky sections of stream.
Awesome video Daniel! The location is beautiful and the style is extremely interesting. I'm definitely looking into this! What is the name of the creek/stream/river you are fishing at?
@jonnyw82 Hi Jonny, thanks for the comment. The exact stream location is a bit of a secret, but it is off the Feather River off HWY 70 in the Sierras.
@wxyztu Directly through our site. you can click on the product categories to see the products. Or, under "Tenkara Gear" you'll see a "Product List" and you can also add products to your cart from there.
@onbradley...You've obviously never fished with a Tenkara. It may look simple and like they are hauling these small wild fish across the water, but I assure you...its not that simple. I have the Iwana and caught a 22 inch rainbow on a local stream here in WV. The fight was fun, but took a lot more patience and technique than a normal western fly rod. Using the Tenkara rod I doubled my catch from the day before. Its top notch...give it a shot before you criticize.
@onbradley The line itself is irrelevant to the size of the fish. The thicker line is simply used for casting purposes and is made for casting the weightless fly. At the end of it thin tippet is used.
@tenkarausa I get that, it's not the first time I've fished....and I do fish UL in similar situations. It's just that I am used to catching much bigger fish with much lighter line. I mean you could have just ripped those minnows out of the water with the gear you are using. I am not debating the style, but simply I cannot understand why anyone would be gunning for 1/4 lb fish and holding them up to the camera. This does little to showcase the sport, you guys need some new streams I guess.
@onbradley I guess for me it's not all about the biggest fish. I have caught plenty of very large fish - growing up in Brazil - and have caught some pretty good ones (to me, a few 16 and 17" and one 19") with tenkara. But, it is also very hard to catch the larger fish for the camera, all our videos were shot over 1 day, or 2 days max. And, again, it's not about the biggest fish.
About the line, again, we use 6X tippet, no reason to go lighter, and the main line is only there to cast the fly.
@tenkarausa These fish are so small that they are sub-sub-ultralight. You don't even need a rod, just a 1lb handline is enough. It's a fine sport for sure, and of course, it isn't just about the biggest fish, but quite frankly, I don't know anywhere where one could fish for critters that small, so it makes it look as if it is a fringe angling tactic best reserved for the most fished out, lowest yielding streams in the USA. Take the show on the road to some real streams with 2-3 bows and cuts!
@kunyitkg Maybe we need to better show the casting, a weightless fly is being cast with the same motion and the tight loops of western flyfishing. It is indeed pole fishing, pole fly-fishing to be exact. the only difference is that we can cast a very light line, and a reel is not necessary.
In the south we use brim busters. Or a cane pole.They come in all sizes and some are 12ft long. They pack up small and you leave the line on.People have been fishing with cane poles for as long as there have been people.
This is a cool vid and I like the idea of the fly line.
I bet half these commenters have never tried fly fishing. sounds like they just watch bass fishing shows on tv.
I think this product looks very nice and would be perfect for hiking. The streams I fish do not harbor large fish. 11 inches is a good size for my stream.
@94myaccount The main advantages in tenkara, especially for stream fishing, are (1) Simplicity - it is simple to do, one only uses the necessary components for fishing, and does not get encumbered by unecessary things.
(2) The biggest advantage, in regards to the actual fishing and techniques, is the fact that one can cast a very light line, which allows one to keep the line completely off the water with the fly in the desired location. And one may also manipulate the fly accurately this way.
lol the Japanese may have invented that type of rod they are using but they sure didnt
invent fishing with only fly a line and a rod, they have been fishing this method of fishing for over 2000yrs with only a slender branch of a tree, a piece of line and a fly. i my self do the same thing on many of my own small stream adventures in newfoundlnd canada where over grown brush make it near impossible to fish with an 8 or 6ft fly rod and real for small native trouts.
@FisherManStan88 Indeed the Japanese may have not invented fly-fishing, or the concept of using a rod, line and fly. Many other cultures are known to have used it, and some parts of the world, like Italy, Norther France, and parts of Spain, still have methods somewhat similar to tenkara. But, tenkara has survived the years and continued to be practiced as simply as it has always been.
In 1990, I developed a modified type of tenkara fishing, utilizine a much longer 渓流rod, from 18 to feet long, and no flyline at all. It feel much lighter than a tenkara rod, and is perfect for "Chech-Nymphing" , or dry fly fishing using my "dipstick" technique.
when i first saw this i thought it was kinda stupid. but now that i've thought about it, its very useful and more convenient for certain situations. last summer i went backpacking for 12 days up in new mexico and carried my fly fishing rod around the whole time. when i finally got to the streams, they were tiny and held hand sized trout. if i had known about tenkara rods back then, i would've definatley taken the tenkara rod rather than a fly fishing rod.
To understand Tenkara, you must understand where it comes from. In Japan the fish and the rivers generally don't get big like ours, so they specialized in a light weight technique for those environments. I probably wouldn't use Tenkara if I was in a place I would run into larger fish, but its perfectly fine for brookies in small creeks.
in the video I am seeing very small fish caught, you mention steelhead what is the ability to go after 5 lb and up fish on such a flexible rod without stressing the fish?
@metamurph Though not designed and not ideal for the very large fish, a fixed-line method of fishing is very good at quickly tiring large fish, there is no line for the fish to take and run far, they are quickly brought to hand. I invite you to visit our forum for a discussion on that and for some good examples.
@christhemartin I think the comment a couple of weeks ago is a good reply to yours.
A short rod would mean your line is falling on the water in front of you and consequently being dragged. Plus, why a reel if you don't need it? Limitations can be part of the appeal, otherwise anglers would continue using nets or treble hooks, or snagging....
I don't see how this contributes to a fly fisherman's arsenal... all of the casting that is being done with the tenkara rod can be accomplished more effectively using spey casting technique on a light, short rod. The Tenkara rod limits your ability, rather than adds to it.
What makes Tenkara work so well is the length of the rod...In Japan anglers use rods that would scare N.American anglers. There are even some Tenkara salmon and steelhead anglers who do it for the sport. I love this kind of fishing because it's simple and effective!
If you're using a long line (say 1.5X length of rod, then yes, pull the line using your hands) otherwise it's like western fly fishing, just lift the rod and reach for the fish or net it- you never reel the fish all the way in do you?
What pack are you using? Great Vid thnx!
CDOutdoors 1 week ago
Will Tenkara be at the Fred Hall Show in Long Beach this year?? I
arsdag81 3 weeks ago
Love this way of fishing. When I was a young lad, I used to fish a similar method with just a bamboo blank, harvested on the way to the fishing site from my grandpa's orchard, with a few yards of line (leader). Now, I own a Tenkara but I haven't used it for a long time because I fish mainly for steelhead and salmon. This Tenkara I have will not handle the action of these fish. Are there ones rated for such game fish? Thanks for posting.
paleozon 3 weeks ago
Your videos would be so much better if there was no music. It ruins your videos. I would much rather listen to the sound of the streams than music.
upmaine 3 weeks ago
my goodness, the best i look for to dooo self one!!!! lOl
099A1 3 weeks ago
just read a book at my local library on tenkara, looking to get my hands on one of those collapsible rods should be about perfect for upcoming trip hiking into the smokey mountains and getting on some mountain streams
rdaines1 1 month ago
you should try this in nz the trout in our streams will laugh at you, you may hook them but without a reel, you will struggle to land them!!
rainbowtrout10 1 month ago
shure, and this is realy bad!!!!!! you now a person that life near switzerland????
099A1 2 months ago
no customs for shipping??? i dont believe, are you sure?
099A1 2 months ago
@099A1 Actually, you are right! There may be customs for products going to Switzerland, forgot it is not part of the EU. No customs for shipping within the EU countries, there may be customs charges to Switzerland.
tenkarausa 2 months ago
hey,
greetings from switzerland! this is a verry intresting video.
from where y have the rod?
099A1 2 months ago
@099A1 We sell the rod through our website tenkarausa . com and it ships directly from our warehouse in the UK so there is no customs for shipping to Switzerland.
tenkarausa 2 months ago
Ma è la pesca che tradizionalmente facevano i valsesiani da secoli!!!! I giapponesi non hanno inventato nulla!!!! Vergogna!!!!
marmodefender 2 months ago
The concept is interesting for smaller waters and smaller trout - small being relative I guess! but I'm a big trout pursuer, big meaning 18" - 22" on small dry flies and I just don't see how I could control browns and rainbows that big that can easily run all my fly line out with a rod that has only line and no reel. I should mention I fish large western tailwaters with flows in the 3500 cfs - 5000 cfs range.
flyman451 3 months ago
Tenkara flyfishing in New Zealand, so if your a competent angler this rods will hold up. Youtube won't allow me to upload the link, just go to Google and place Tenkara in the search engine and get your search results through Video's. Its with the application program VIMEO
onroidz 6 months ago
i looked up this video thanks to feild and stream magazine, now grant it i dont fish streams but i perfer to fish for bluegill on lakes and rivers, how does this hold up compared to my 5wt fly pole?
VAxHUNTER94 6 months ago
@VAxHUNTER94 Tenkara holds up wel to bluegill and smallmouth bass. I'd invite you to take a look at our forum and perhaps ask other tenkara anglers about their experience, but it's a great replacement for a 5wt rod being used for bluegills, particularly on rivers.
tenkarausa 6 months ago
@tenkarausa Thanks thats good news! Im sure ill look into it, it looks like a fun way to fish.
VAxHUNTER94 5 months ago
Wow. What a great method for catching bait to catch real fish....gotta try in the salt (hint to marketing...)...pinfish and mullet will love this!! Please don't flame...just kidding...can't wait to try it!
bebadbubba 6 months ago
for some reason i always find my self shooting my line the same distance on smaller rivers/creeks.
mountaintroutslayer 6 months ago
how would this differ to one of the collapsable bream poles you can get at walmart? (besides price)
MrTalldude91 6 months ago
We've been fishing with a cane pole for centuries, don't see much difference other than the fancy equipment.
masktxcom 7 months ago
@masktxcom Indeed not a huge difference in that both are "fixed-line" methods of fishing. However, you can not cast a weightless fly very well with a cane pole normally used for bait fishing. The original tenkara rods were cane rods, but with a taper designed for casting a weightless fly similarly to how western fly-fishing. All fishing has been done for centuries, the difference today in sport fishing is the fancy equipment.
tenkarausa 7 months ago
Awesome Video! i have a few small streams like that near my home and the tenkara would be perfect to fish them. one questin tho were u using wet flies or dry flies i couldn't tell or just an assortment of the two?
MrWutsgoodhomie 8 months ago
@MrWutsgoodhomie In this video I was still mostly using a dry elk-hair caddis. I have since switched to using more traditional "sakasa" style tenkara flies, which can be fished dry or wet, but are generally fished wet under the surface. I find them more versatile and effective now. - Daniel
tenkarausa 8 months ago
This looks fun and very challenging, thanks for the comments that explain this sport
FlyfishandGolf 10 months ago
That type of rod is called Furidashizou. Widely available in Japan. I picked mine up at Joshuya. Lots of fun to use. I keep mine in my vest, and break it out on narrow tricky sections of stream.
flairball 11 months ago
Awesome video Daniel! The location is beautiful and the style is extremely interesting. I'm definitely looking into this! What is the name of the creek/stream/river you are fishing at?
jonnyw82 11 months ago
@jonnyw82 Hi Jonny, thanks for the comment. The exact stream location is a bit of a secret, but it is off the Feather River off HWY 70 in the Sierras.
tenkarausa 11 months ago
What is that rod called?
wxyztu 1 year ago
@wxyztu The one Daniel used is the Ayu, Masaki had the Iwana
tenkarausa 1 year ago
@tenkarausa thank you very much!!
wxyztu 1 year ago
@tenkarausa where can i buy those rods?
wxyztu 11 months ago
@wxyztu Directly through our site. you can click on the product categories to see the products. Or, under "Tenkara Gear" you'll see a "Product List" and you can also add products to your cart from there.
tenkarausa 11 months ago
@tenkarausa ok. thanks
wxyztu 11 months ago
@wxyztu btw, are those regular fishing strings that they use or is it fly fishing string?
wxyztu 11 months ago
@onbradley...You've obviously never fished with a Tenkara. It may look simple and like they are hauling these small wild fish across the water, but I assure you...its not that simple. I have the Iwana and caught a 22 inch rainbow on a local stream here in WV. The fight was fun, but took a lot more patience and technique than a normal western fly rod. Using the Tenkara rod I doubled my catch from the day before. Its top notch...give it a shot before you criticize.
Mikeneer87 1 year ago
@Mikeneer87 no, i've just never caught any fish that small. I consider these fish baitfish not game fish.
onbradley 11 months ago
Interesting concept but I just can't believe they are shocasing 1/3 of lb fish that they horse in with 2 lb line.
onbradley 1 year ago
@onbradley The line itself is irrelevant to the size of the fish. The thicker line is simply used for casting purposes and is made for casting the weightless fly. At the end of it thin tippet is used.
tenkarausa 1 year ago
@tenkarausa I get that, it's not the first time I've fished....and I do fish UL in similar situations. It's just that I am used to catching much bigger fish with much lighter line. I mean you could have just ripped those minnows out of the water with the gear you are using. I am not debating the style, but simply I cannot understand why anyone would be gunning for 1/4 lb fish and holding them up to the camera. This does little to showcase the sport, you guys need some new streams I guess.
onbradley 1 year ago
@onbradley I guess for me it's not all about the biggest fish. I have caught plenty of very large fish - growing up in Brazil - and have caught some pretty good ones (to me, a few 16 and 17" and one 19") with tenkara. But, it is also very hard to catch the larger fish for the camera, all our videos were shot over 1 day, or 2 days max. And, again, it's not about the biggest fish.
About the line, again, we use 6X tippet, no reason to go lighter, and the main line is only there to cast the fly.
tenkarausa 1 year ago
@tenkarausa These fish are so small that they are sub-sub-ultralight. You don't even need a rod, just a 1lb handline is enough. It's a fine sport for sure, and of course, it isn't just about the biggest fish, but quite frankly, I don't know anywhere where one could fish for critters that small, so it makes it look as if it is a fringe angling tactic best reserved for the most fished out, lowest yielding streams in the USA. Take the show on the road to some real streams with 2-3 bows and cuts!
onbradley 1 year ago
this is pole fishing not fly fishing huhuhu
kunyitkg 1 year ago
@kunyitkg Maybe we need to better show the casting, a weightless fly is being cast with the same motion and the tight loops of western flyfishing. It is indeed pole fishing, pole fly-fishing to be exact. the only difference is that we can cast a very light line, and a reel is not necessary.
tenkarausa 1 year ago
Very Cool! No need for $300 reel.
909beats 1 year ago
caddis hatch going on at 3:32
Dryfly00 1 year ago
In the south we use brim busters. Or a cane pole.They come in all sizes and some are 12ft long. They pack up small and you leave the line on.People have been fishing with cane poles for as long as there have been people.
This is a cool vid and I like the idea of the fly line.
zofoblues 1 year ago
I bet half these commenters have never tried fly fishing. sounds like they just watch bass fishing shows on tv.
I think this product looks very nice and would be perfect for hiking. The streams I fish do not harbor large fish. 11 inches is a good size for my stream.
tainterlakeisgreen 1 year ago
im not being a hater but
whats the advantage of this the only difference is less line capacity isnt it?
94myaccount 1 year ago
@94myaccount The main advantages in tenkara, especially for stream fishing, are (1) Simplicity - it is simple to do, one only uses the necessary components for fishing, and does not get encumbered by unecessary things.
(2) The biggest advantage, in regards to the actual fishing and techniques, is the fact that one can cast a very light line, which allows one to keep the line completely off the water with the fly in the desired location. And one may also manipulate the fly accurately this way.
tenkarausa 1 year ago
lol the Japanese may have invented that type of rod they are using but they sure didnt
invent fishing with only fly a line and a rod, they have been fishing this method of fishing for over 2000yrs with only a slender branch of a tree, a piece of line and a fly. i my self do the same thing on many of my own small stream adventures in newfoundlnd canada where over grown brush make it near impossible to fish with an 8 or 6ft fly rod and real for small native trouts.
FisherManStan88 1 year ago
@FisherManStan88 Indeed the Japanese may have not invented fly-fishing, or the concept of using a rod, line and fly. Many other cultures are known to have used it, and some parts of the world, like Italy, Norther France, and parts of Spain, still have methods somewhat similar to tenkara. But, tenkara has survived the years and continued to be practiced as simply as it has always been.
tenkarausa 1 year ago
of all the fads in fly fishing this one is the lamest. enjoy looking stupid. nuff said
solamisandwich05 1 year ago
In 1990, I developed a modified type of tenkara fishing, utilizine a much longer 渓流rod, from 18 to feet long, and no flyline at all. It feel much lighter than a tenkara rod, and is perfect for "Chech-Nymphing" , or dry fly fishing using my "dipstick" technique.
CaptainG23 1 year ago
do they sell these in stores or do u have to order them?
MrVang96 1 year ago
Put a reel on your stick and you might catch an American size fish, not sushi.
cisneroa 1 year ago
@cisneroa i think as long as u catch a fish its a great thing...
MrVang96 1 year ago
The simplicity is beautiful, it's more about the fish than it is about the rod. This is a great introduction to Tenkara fishing. Great video!
humblefisherman 1 year ago
@humblefisherman Thanks for the comment! Glad you like the video and the idea of tenkara.
tenkarausa 1 year ago
when i first saw this i thought it was kinda stupid. but now that i've thought about it, its very useful and more convenient for certain situations. last summer i went backpacking for 12 days up in new mexico and carried my fly fishing rod around the whole time. when i finally got to the streams, they were tiny and held hand sized trout. if i had known about tenkara rods back then, i would've definatley taken the tenkara rod rather than a fly fishing rod.
erkod 1 year ago
To understand Tenkara, you must understand where it comes from. In Japan the fish and the rivers generally don't get big like ours, so they specialized in a light weight technique for those environments. I probably wouldn't use Tenkara if I was in a place I would run into larger fish, but its perfectly fine for brookies in small creeks.
LordDigz12 1 year ago
i fly fish but this seems like it would be great in the right situation. perfect for backpacking or hiking.
OregonBackpacker 1 year ago
Over the years the fly fishing industry has seen so many fads come and go. This may be the lamest.
HilaryB30 1 year ago
@HilaryB30 hard to be lame when it is the very first type of pole fishing fishing ever invented, hook , line, rod, so simple what more do u need????
tayshrenmage 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@HilaryB30 hard to be lame when it is the very first type of pole fishing ever invented, hook , line, rod, so simple what more do u need????
tayshrenmage 1 year ago
in the video I am seeing very small fish caught, you mention steelhead what is the ability to go after 5 lb and up fish on such a flexible rod without stressing the fish?
metamurph 1 year ago
@metamurph Though not designed and not ideal for the very large fish, a fixed-line method of fishing is very good at quickly tiring large fish, there is no line for the fish to take and run far, they are quickly brought to hand. I invite you to visit our forum for a discussion on that and for some good examples.
tenkarausa 1 year ago
I am going backpacking in wyoming and i am buying one for the trip. they look great.
sumomomomomomofan100 1 year ago
@christhemartin I think the comment a couple of weeks ago is a good reply to yours.
A short rod would mean your line is falling on the water in front of you and consequently being dragged. Plus, why a reel if you don't need it? Limitations can be part of the appeal, otherwise anglers would continue using nets or treble hooks, or snagging....
tenkarausa 1 year ago
I don't see how this contributes to a fly fisherman's arsenal... all of the casting that is being done with the tenkara rod can be accomplished more effectively using spey casting technique on a light, short rod. The Tenkara rod limits your ability, rather than adds to it.
christhemartin 1 year ago
@christhemartin
Its packs into a backpack... That is the major advantage.
hoshnasi 1 year ago
What makes Tenkara work so well is the length of the rod...In Japan anglers use rods that would scare N.American anglers. There are even some Tenkara salmon and steelhead anglers who do it for the sport. I love this kind of fishing because it's simple and effective!
Fisherkingnigel 2 years ago
so what happens when you want to land the fish? you just pull in the line with your hands?
wutangclaninthefront 2 years ago
If you're using a long line (say 1.5X length of rod, then yes, pull the line using your hands) otherwise it's like western fly fishing, just lift the rod and reach for the fish or net it- you never reel the fish all the way in do you?
tenkarausa 2 years ago
is that Darrell "Flykuni?- the racist from LA?
monkeycrapification 2 years ago