Tenkara Headcount

[Joe Angelucci]

Just curious, did anyone fish this season with a Tenkara Rod. I used a Fountainhead Caddis rod twice and had a blast. 

[Mark Sleeper]

I looked the other year at the fly show in Mass, at tenkara rods, I checked out a few the flies look killer, I had one of the rods in my hand it felt great he wanted me to try it out, I said if I did I would have to get one, I thanked him now I'm looking at them for X mass

[Joe Angelucci]

Mark

Many US companies are now making and importing rods at all different price points. Bluegill love most of the tenkara flies but in truth any fly will work both wet and dry. The Japanese used Tenkara hundreds of years ago  to put meat on the table so it's a very efficient method of angling. End of the day, it's just another tool and lots of fun. 

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

I caught a number of fish on sekasa kebari this year passed.
One of the biggest bass Ive caught in the neighboring pond took one. It was early in the year - one cold, drizzly day. The fly was a tiny grey and yellow reverse hackle. A #12 or #14, I believe.

Bluegill also took them. On still waters, the sekasa kebari will float if tied on a light, dry-fly hook. The gills will nail it then. After a bit, the fly sinks for round two and becomes a wet fly.

Keep in mind, i didn't use a tenkara rod - I don't own one. I cast the flies as you would any traditional English or American pattern.

[Steve Wilson]

   Video on setting up a Tenkara rod.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMwNLB6DOoQ

[Slip Sinker]

very informative!

[Mark Sleeper]

Thanks for the post Steve

[dick tabbert]

Thanks Joe. Its something I seen a long time ago and for some reason you guys talking about the Tenkara rod made me think about it.

[Joe Angelucci]

Dick 

Was it something like this

[jim cosgrove]

good discussion,what i have in mind is for getting at those gills that are under over hanging brush or other situations where i just cant cast a fly line.i think these would also work with a small jig or plain hook tipped with a redworm or a gulp cricket etc.breaking the tip off does seem like a possibility tho trying to leverage a fish out of cover.i wont buy anything i cant hold in my hand prior to buying.got 4 months to research this.wish ugly stik made these

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

You have pretty much described the niche I place tenkara itself in. Add small creek fishing and you've covered the bases to my mind.
I have a neat little 10' 'panfish pole' that works nice for this, but I won't muddy the waters with it here (it's not a tenkara rod).
Considering that I've had large-ish bass take a tenkara fly, tip strength is worth considering.

[jim cosgrove]

before i buy one i must establish weather or not the tip will survive a bass or carp taking the fly.i have a couple tele panfish rods i picked up at a garage sale.a buck a piece and had fun in mid summer dropping baits in the weed pockets.too unruly for me to manipulate a fly with.i have a 4 piece modern glass 3 weight that is super light yet will almost double over before breaking .lowend.carbon fiber rods will just explode if overstressed so i think quality of the blank matters and 75 bucks gone just like that.so they will have to convince me their rod can take some stress.i use some pretty light fenwick and berkley bionic spinning rods for bass ,catfish and carp.they are thin and light but rigid and i,ve pulled some good sized fish out of the weeds with them on braid so no stretch to absorb the stress.no problems but these are well made rods with top quality blanks.down another rabbit hole.

[David, aka, "McScruff"]

Rabbit hole, yes. LOL
I'm thinking you may have already hit on it, although it may be forbidden to mention using a fly rod for the purpose. If I was going to mention it, I would say leave off the reel and rig a 0-3 wt. 9' fly rod tenkara fashion.
But, since I'm not mentioning it, I won't say anything about that.