Tenkara

The fly fishing industry must be in bad shape.  Patagonia is serious about marketing their Tenkara fishing poles to fly fishermen, for around $100.  It’s the Big Bertha of fishing, a promise of great performance for high-handicap fly casters.  If you’re having trouble getting your wooly bugger out beyond forty feet, get yourself a Tenkara.  The idea is to be comfortable with casts of under thirty feet…the length of the pole and line. If you want to practice Tenkara casting, head down to any local fishing store and buy a cane pole, or, if you can’t find a cane pole, get a fiberglass telescoping pole.  They come in a variety of lengths, but around 10-12 feet will get you in Tenkara performance range.  Buy a couple.  They’re cheap. Then, tie on some mono.  One piece about as long as the pole will do fine.  Say, fifteen pound mono.  Tie on your secret, best fly and go fishing.  You’re ready.  Stand and sling out your fly, or your worm under a bobber, and you’ll be doing the Tenkara.

Yves Chouinard, Patagonia’s leader, a fine fly tier and mountain man, has been producing wonderful clothing and climbing gear for years.  He fishes all over the world.  He’s getting older and obviously bored, or he’s out to win a bet with a pal, that his brand can sell anything.  Tenkara is cane pole fishing.  Next Patagonia will be selling black rubber boots and a skirt to  wear over your jeans, and a bucket to sit on while you fish off canal banks and dip snuff.

Anyone who’s waded and nymph-fished in a fast, rocky river will see the attraction—a slightly longer, stiffer pole from which to dangle a fly behind rocks and along current edges.  This has been called nymphing for eons, this dangling thing.  It is not fly fishing, but the equivalent of a bass fisherman’s “flipping.”  Florida fishermen, don’t be fooled.  Go back to your wind knots, managing your haul.  Learn to cast.