Check cast. Tuck Cast. There is much overlap between good nymphing technique and tenkara - I would recommend any tenkara anglers to look into the euro-nymphing techniques.

The biggest mistake I se with my kids and others new to tenkara and nymphing in general is the failure to tuck the fly.

In my opinion the most important casting lesson is to tuck that fly, and lift your line. It is paramount. Learn to do that effectively and you are good to go. Sure you'll catch fish without it but...

_________________
my blog CastingAround
Ebisu, Iwana 11'ft (with additional short handle), Amago, Ito, Ayu II

I would like to get this Tuck Cast right but am struggling. Where can I find some help?

Tom

_________________
Wilderness Tarpon 120
and a Tenkara USA Amago
Good Combo!!!

I've been working on my tuck cast, and it does seem to go very well with tenkara. Check this video:

http://midcurrent.com/videos/how-to-make-a-tuck-cast/

I also liked this page, another way to illustrate the same: http://stevenojai.tripod.com/tuck.htm

I first read about this cast in George Daniel's book, "Dynamic Nymphing: Tactics, Techniques, and Flies from Around the World". It's a great book and I learn a lot every time I read through it. I've been curious about tight-line nymphing, the book covers that and a lot more.

How far can I cast when using long lines? Or fun with trigonometry.

How far can I theoretically cast using the 3 lengths of line Daniel listed in his Tenkara Long Lines article.

Trigonometry used to be as familiar to me as doing simple addition but I found it took me a while to re-awaken those skills. But, once stirred up a bit with the first couple of calculations all the rest rolled along quickly.

I wondered what casting distances I could expect if using lines with total lengths, including tippet of 19’, 24’ & 29’ (5.77m, 7.29m & 8.81m). The distances calculated are idea distances. That is no compensation for curl in the line, or for the catenary sag. I just ignored the presence of gravity. These are laser straight casting distances. Not real on the stream distances that will be a bit shorter.

The assumptions were height of the butt end of the rod were at 1.25 m or at 1.5m (49.375” and 59.35”). The rod length used was 3.9 m, = the length of the Ayu or Ito at its shorter length. The rod angle was at the 2 O’clock (30 degrees) or at the 1 O’clock (60 degrees) angle. The TCD, total casting distance, is the horizontal distance from a point directly below the butt end of the rod to the location of the kebari, as if the rod and line were laser line straight. You have to imagine you are standing on a stone in the middle of the stream and the top of the stone is at the water’s surface. The kebari is just at the water surface level.

I thought the results rather interesting.

Rods at 30-degree angle, 2 O’clock, handle height at 1.25 m. (49 3/8 “)

Line length -- > ..... 19’ (5.77m)...... 24 ‘(7.29m)..........29’(8.81m)
TCD .........................8.18m................9.93m.................11.59m
TCD ......................... 26’ 11”...............32’ 8”.................38’ 1.65”

Rods at 60-degree angle, 1 O’clock, handle height at 1.25m. (49 3/8 ”)

Line length -->..... 19’ (5.77m)..........24 ‘(7.29m)..........29’(8.81m)
TCD .........................5.40m................7.58m.................9.44m
TCD ........................ 17' 9.2”..............24’ 11.5”...............31’ 1”
Note; raising the angle shortens the distance about 2.42m, (8’)

Rods at 30-degree angle, 2 O’clock, handle height at 1.5m (59 11/32”)
(25 cm or about 9 7/8” higher handle height)

Line length -- >..... 19’ (5.77m)........24 ‘(7.29m)..........29’(8.81m)
TCD .........................8.00m................9.79m.................11.48m
TCD ....................... 26' 4”................ 32’ 3.0” ............... 37’ 9.4”


Edited : to correct mistake in last TCD numbers. The correct base number to be added is 3.3775m. By mistake the base number used previously to determine the TCD of the lines with the rod held at a height of 1.5m was 3.770m . A difference of .3925 m ( 15.5") .
Due to that error the previously entered distances were 8.395m (27' 7.6") , 10.3m ( 33' 6.5") , and 11.88m ( 39' 1" ). All incorrect and too long. And a mystery since I knew the distances should have been shorter not longer if the rod where held higher.

With the TCD now corrected for a rod held at a height of 1.5 m and at a 60-degree angle. The TCD distances for the rod held 25 cm higher now makes sense. The distances are shorter than before by 15.5", 16.2" and 15.9".

New Conclusion: Shorter people cast farther than taller people.

I did not do the calculations for the rod at the 1 O’clock , 60-degree angle and with the handle height at 1.5m. This was enough to satisfy my curiosity.

Last – line length vs. Rod Length, RL

Line length -- >..... 19’ (5.77m)...... 24 ‘(7.29m)..........29’(8.81m)
RL ........................ x 1.48............... x 1.87................... x 2.26



For those who don't like numbers. Well I guess just ignore this. I have worked in engineering for 40 years, numbers on mechanical things mean stuff to me. If you have been casting a 4.0m line which is approximately equal to the length of Ayu/Ito then the farthest you have been able to cast the kebari is about 5.78m ( 19ft) at most. Which as you can see is several feet shorter than could be cast using any of Danie's suggested longer lines. Just trying to create a sense of reach. I know my family room is 30' x 16'. When I image casting from the door to the kitchen to the wood stove 30 feet way. I'm impressed.

Edited 2/15 to correct 60-degree TCD, they were to long by about 17' on average.

_________________
テンカラ釣りは楽しいのです。

uh.......

_________________
Hanapa'a
BC
www.tenkaraelevated.com
http://www.youtube.com/user/TenkaraElev ... ture=guide

The use of long lines for Tenkara is nothing new.

From 1997/4/1
"Newsletter 遊会 Utsunomiya River"

http://www.ukeikai.com/a_others/col_koike/oth_koike.html




He is using a tapered level line. That is made in the following taper ( from the translation :

Using a line of seven meters if the normal river,

Following steps are dropped
Tapers as a percentage.

From the sketch
Length = 5 meters =
2.5 m (No. 7): 1.5 m (No. 5): 1.0 m (No. 4)

length = 10 m ( I think there is a typo on the web page since is says 5, but the lengths add up to 10m.
5m (No. 7) : 3m (No. 5): 2 m (No. 3):

If the line of 7 meters,
7 m =
3.5 m (No. 7): 2.1m (No. 5): 1.4m (No. 3).

And the Harris ( tippet ) No. 1 to 1.5 . Add 1.5 m.

The joints,
The Fisherman's knot
Instant adhesive
Reinforcement is,
Specific gravity of heavier thread is fluorocarbon
Skip better.

Making a lines, including tippet of : 6.5m ( 21' 4.75") and 8.5 m ( 27' 11.75" ~ 28' ) and 11.5m ( 37' 10.25" )

No. 7 line must have been available in 1997. I can't say I have ever seen it available anywhere. At least not level line. However, he does say he is using level line.

I think TB has level line from No.5 to 1.5. Perhaps newer materials have made No. 7 line no longer desirable.

I don't know where anyone could use an 11.5m line. The longest line on Daniels list is 8.81m. If you watch the video. Tenkara in The Land of Little Rivers ( part 2) at about 3:00 minutes Dr Ishigaki shows a diagram of the lines he uses and the longest he has is 9.5m. ( ~ 31' 3" ). His list of lines are; 4.0m. 5.5m. 7.0m and 9.5m.

_________________
テンカラ釣りは楽しいのです。

I can get you size 7 line. I just didn't think anyone would want it.

Well, I can't say I want any size 7 line. I just found some things interesting about the formula used for making a tapered level line from a 15 year old article that the home page still considers relevant and good advice today.

a) first that they used size 7. Since I have never seen size 7 listed for sale anywhere it seems few people do want it now days. However, it might be interesting to try a line made with this taper using those sizes of level line.
The article was written by 小池　卓　Takashi　Koike. Who is listed as executive secretary of the club at the home page that hosted the article. Where, under the members list, it says he - fancies "(Dry Fly Tenkara) Dorakara" recently. And is also a virtuoso of Tenkara line level. - So I thought his ideas on making a tapered level line might have some merit worth sharing.

b) if you look at each line length, minus the 1 m tippet. Each line length ; 5m, 7m, or 10m. Each was made with the same ratio of the different sized line that was tied together.
50% of length size 7 + 30% of length size 5 + 20% of length size 3.

c) in the text the 7m and 10m lines were each made from a combination of sizes 7,5,3. There was a typo in the text that said length 5m but , the separate lengths added up to 10m. Only the diagram showed sizes 7,5,4. So I suspect the diagram has a typo also and the smallest size should have been size 3 too. But, maybe not, maybe for the 5m line he did intend the smaller size to be size 4.

_________________
テンカラ釣りは楽しいのです。

Is there an advantage to the choice of rod action ratio, 5:5, 6:4, 7:3, etc. when casting a longer level line ?
Asked another way. Would a 5:5 action cast a 29' line easier than a 7:3 action rod?
iow- is there a rule of thumb for the best balance of rod action vs line length/line weight ?

If one owns a rod that is not the best choice of action ratio for casting a longer level line, say the 29" line listed in the tenkara long line article, 25' line + 4" tippet. Could this be compensated for by making your longer line a tapered level line ? Or would it be more a question of choosing a level line of a different weight ?

If wanting to cast a furled line of the same length would the choice of rod action change because it is a different type of line?

I am trying to determine if there is a best balance of rod action vs length of line and type of line to be cast.

_________________
テンカラ釣りは楽しいのです。

d, as always your research, questions and now your math impresses me. I'm not so much a numbers guy when it comes to tweaking my gear, but your trigonometry looks right on. Every now and then I use this site to get an idea for reach: http://ostermiller.org/calc/triangle.html



Yes, I strongly believe a softer rod makes casting easier (i.e. more effortless), period. Essentially if the rod flexes more, the rod is working more for you. Thus my preference for the softer Ayu and Ito, especially for the longer lines.

But, as we are talking about limited casting ranges anyways a lot of it, I believe, comes down to getting used to the equipment and acquiring the technique. A 5:5 will cast 30ft of a light level line easily. A stiffer rod will certainly cast a heavier line more easily than it would a lighter line.

_________________
__________________________________________
Tenkara USA, founder
打仁得流, テンカラ大使
About me and Tenkara USA