FLYMPH FORUM

First post here glad to find the forum.

I spent the past 1.5 year focusing on north country spiders upstream. I love bamboo rods and had pretty good success with them for both upstream and downstream presentations. However this summer I finally gave in and tried Tenkara. Instead of a 120+ grain silk fly line I’m using a 10 grain “fly line” that throws a laser-tight loop only with 5 m of fluorocarbon. No comparison in my ability to manipulate the fly compared to typical western gear. I can also blind fish more effectively & detect strikes much better. It’s hard to imagine a more effective tool for small to mid sized streams and trout under 18” than a 4 m Oni Type 1 Tenkara rod. For big rivers & fish Nissin Zerosum Oni Honryu 450 (4.5 m). These rods completely change the wet fly fishing experience, and with a bit of practice, will give an edge in wet fly fishing not possible with western gear.

I'm lucky enough to have two CW Jenkins 8 footers. Great bamboo rods and fine for fishing softies. I also own a Scott fiberglass, a 7'2" 3wt that does a wonderful job on smaller waters.

It can be very simple.

In the early 60's when I was headed home from grade school, I walked down to the Powder River and pulled out about a 10" piece of mono leader with a fly. It would be attached to the tip of a willow branch I selected to cut at streamside for my custom rod. I usually brought along extra flies in my custom tobacco tin fly box.

I guess I was practicing tenkara casting over a half century before I knew it existed.