Was reading about this traditional style of Fly Fishing called Tenkara. Really interesting and innovative way of fly fishing in small streams, requiring only a long telescopic rod of some 11-13 feet, a braided line (leader), tippet and fly.(look ma, no reel)
I remember some discussion on it in S’pore’s Fishing kaki forum sometime ago. Seems like its catching up very fast in the States, with Tenkara USA leading the march.
I think it’ll be ideal for our smaller Sikangs and smaller Tengas, and maybe even for Archer fish and small Tarpons among the mangroves.
I have no doubt it’ll work as I remember it was really easy to catch the baby PB’s in Subang lake just using a telescopic rod, line and beadhead nymph … much to the chagrin of our Ron Looi.[:D]
This one must try lah. Just log on to www.tenkarausa.com and be poisoned kau kau.[:D]
Tenkara has been tried and tested on the Skeena system in BC, Canada in recent years for steelhead. Friend of mine showed me the video… think it may be on shimano’s website but please don’t quote me on this. takes the fun out of line stripping, long running, cartwheeling fish i think… it is like <tai diao> in China.
I once tried to use dapping flies in Scotland when a friend invites me for joining him. You using the wind to get these big dry flies away. Perhaps it was so popular in the past because there is always wind on the lakes in Scotland hihihi (At least when i was there lol) It is used on lakes or real big waters for Salmon & Sea Trout. Rods are very long, even over 16ft. Traditionally they use a centre pin reel and floss line or blow line. You do it from a drifting boat because it’s done without casting. It was fun and widen my skills but my preferences still goes to river fishing in wild places hihihi.
With real big palmers you can do this dapping indeed.
It is always interesting to try something new or totally different and that’s why you never stop learning. Thanks for sharing, never heard of it before!!
Thanks for the links trouty. Trying to order a Tenkara set, but experiancing some problems [:(]
…Tenkara USA will not ship to Malaysia … and Paypal says they will not ship to London on my Malaysian registered account…very susah situation, as I’m booked to fish on a river next week…so looks like I’ll have to try Tenkara some other time.
However, I’m still convinced that Tenkara is the way to go for small streams anywhere.
I have never dapped but I have seen the tackle. It seems a very simple and exciting way to fish. On Scottish lochs there is often one person dapping to ring the fish up and they often then take the traditional wet flies on the other rods. It is a very sneaky way of fishing because only the fly is on the water and there is no splashing or line to frighten fish.
I have heard of someone using a soft float rod, a cheap centre pin reel and dental floss with some good effect.
Welcome. Hope to meet up with you when you are in Malaysia. This Tenkara thingy is not really dappling, iianm. You can do dry fly, nymphing or any type of “western” fly fishing using the Tenkara method. Its only restriction is perhaps the distance one can “cast” the fly … thus its normally used only for small rivers. Methinks it’ll be great for our hill streams for the likes of Tengas and Sikang with czech nymphs… maybe even small Kelah and Sebarau.[:)].
Read the links in a bit more detail. always a good idea !
In the UK coarse anglers use a “whip” in a very similar way but with a float and baited hook. Just a flip and fish. It is for very small fish and for getting weight for competitions. Not my thing I hasten to add.
I noticed that the Tenkara line is furled rather than floss. You can furl your own lines from mono. I will try to find a link for that as many UK flyfishers use furled leaders for better turnover.
i think the tenkara method can be used to present a fly above the water’s surface like a hovering dragonfly.when fish like the sikangs see this they may leap out of the water to eat it.it’s like shadow casting where the fly skims just above the surface .i have actually caught small fish this way but it’s very difficult to do with a fly rod because it is not long enough and good fly casting skill is needed.cheers…!
quote:Originally posted by hfyong i think the tenkara method can be used to present a fly above the water's surface like a hovering dragonfly.when fish like the sikangs see this they may leap out of the water to eat it.it's like shadow casting where the fly skims just above the surface .i have actually caught small fish this way but it's very difficult to do with a fly rod because it is not long enough and good fly casting skill is needed.cheers...!
subang
Hi Yong,
What you describe is like dappling, referred to by Zeolite above. I guess this is one of the advantages of the long Tenkara rod. I’m sure it’ll be a deadly method for Tengas and Sikangs … but I guess a bit susah for the bigger fishes due to the light rod and tippets used.
i dont know about leaping tengas and sikangs but i think our local archer fish will appreciate a hovering tenkara fly the most! easier to shoot at!! [:D]
quote:Originally posted by Steelhead i dont know about leaping tengas and sikangs but i think our local archer fish will appreciate a hovering tenkara fly the most! easier to shoot at!! [:D]
Totally agree with you there Steelhead … the smaller ones are particularly aggressive. Its fun to watch them rushing up to and spitting at the fly.[:)] The bigger fellows are more vary and harder to fool.
..or go to www.ryanjordan.com/weblog/page/3/ …apart from the 2 entries on Tenkara, Doc Syed (if he visits here) and the MFN shooters should see the 20 oz .22LR Pak-Rifle…would love to have one.
Check out Dr. Hisao Ishigaki at TenkaraUSA
visited the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum USA.
It turns out that he only fishes one pattern for almost 10 years, a “sakasa” fly pattern (reversed hackle).
Yes Merlin, apparently Dr. Ishigaki uses only one fly for his Tenkara fishing…his “sakasa” fly is somewhat like the French one with the reverse hackle (can’t recall the name[:I])
Anyway, like Mykel_flyer says, Tenkara is one of my projects for the new year … no trouble catching Archers with the method, but the real thrill will be the Sikangs and Tengas…just waiting for the weather to clear up a bit. To start with, good areas will be the Lentang/Bentong streams, as well as as the Ulu Yam and Sg. Pinang areas … oso the Ulu Langat stream out of Pangsoon.[:)].. but the best would be the jungle streams of Taman Negara and Endau Rompin.[:D]
Just for info., there is a good article on Tenkara (from the American Angler) in www.thefiberglassmanifesto.com website. This site is already familiar to many of the flyrodders here.[:D]
