Tenkara

[littlejuniata]

Looks like it should work, does it?

 

[CM_Stewart]

There's a thread on tenkara in the Gear section: http://www.paflyfish.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=7828&forum=3

Whether tenkara would work for you depends on what you want to do. It is very good for presentation, whether drag free drifts for dries, skating a caddis, or guiding a lightly weighted nymph or wet fly down current seams. Personally, I think the improved presentation you can get from a long rod and a fairly short, very light line more than makes up for the restricted casting distance. Because casting distance is limited, it's not going to work for you if where you fish requires 30-50 foot casts. Also, the tips on tenkara rods are soft enough that you will miss some hooksets if you are fishing deep runs with tungsten bead head nymphs. And if you routinely catch 20+" fish, it probably won't work for you because you can't let the fish run.

Other than those limitations, though, I think it works wonderfully. The equipment is simple, the fishing is simple, and although I can't promise you'll catch a lot of fish, I truly believe you will. I know I do (more than when I was using my traditional fly rod). Although there are more and more guys using it for warm water fishing, to my mind tenkara's biggest advantage is in fishing streams, where the long rod allows you to easily fish across tricky currents without worrying about drag.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N40BOFYKR38
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=11TH3i-CXdk

 

[gentleshepherd]

There is also a thread on Tenkara in the gear section.