This is the year that I am trying to commit all of my fishing to Tenkara. I have two loves: Pocket Water streams and creeks, and what I call my Trophy River. My Trophy River finally came down in level enough to wade, so I tried to fish it Tenkara Style. Needless to say, it was my first experience needing to use a line length longer than my rod. I was able to cast line length of up to 25', but my challenges started immediately after that.

I am hoping for some pointer for:
1) Dead drift after a long cast without changing the seam the fly is in.
2) Techniques of keeping small flies in the top of the water column.
3) Suggestions of how to make a Traditional line longer than 13' (so far I prefer the casting and mending control of a traditional line over level line, since level line sinks faster. I prefer top water when I can.).

Thank you all for any and all input.

ok let me preface this by saying I fish mostly level lines, the wind in my neck of the woods is prohibitive to me for furled lines.

but to help with what I can, I also like fishing on the surface when I can in slower water, here is how I create a dead drift with more line on the water than I would like. generally speaking I try and keep as much line off the water as possible (after all thats the big advantage of tenkara) but sometimes the wind makes that not possible, or maybe Im just going for that little extra reach.. Since Mending is pretty tough with a soft tenkara rod I will cast slightly quartering downstream then take a large quick step or two downstream which in effect will make a small upstream mend it works well for the short presentations used in tenkara.

as far as keeping your flies on top well.....I use foam I use foam more than I would care to admit. which is probably not the answer you were looking for haha but its true.

and finally for longer furled lines, if you do a little google foo you can find instructions on how to make a furled line. I have never done it myself but have seen it in a couple youtube videos. hope this helped some

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RODS: Ito&
Iwana I/II 12ft & 9ft
Amago

Foam? Foam! Foam!!!!!

You can't get that in Imperial Japan.

I am trying to work my way up to being ready for trying to fish CDC Kabari in the fall. My goal is to catch some trophies on size 18 to 20 hooks. I see Tenkara giving me no line on the water, and dead drift, but am pushing my learning curve. I hope to give all a great triumph, or hilarious comedic story.

If I can learn how to. I am hoping that I can sell my western rods before Tenkara USA puts Sage out of business.

Thanks for the tips.

good luck it will be a challenge

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RODS: Ito&
Iwana I/II 12ft & 9ft
Amago

Keep in mind, that furling is simply twisting legs (usually two) seperately and then untwisting them together to form a "rope."

Here's an example: 1. Anchor a cup hook (in a wall, picnic table, deck rail, anything your wife will let you get away with) around which you drape two legs of say 10 lb. test spiderwire (Spectra). Make each side the length you want to obtain. 2. Put a bulldog clip on the cup hook as the line crosses to keep windings seperate. 3. Form a loop in each free end and wind with a drill (using another chucked cup hook instead of a bit) in the same direction for about the same amount of time. 4. Combine the legs on the chucked cup hook and undwind in the opposite direction. TA DA. You just made a furled level line, that floats well, has little stretch, and as long as you want.

To taper it you just add interim pegs around which you form joined loops; the more loops the heavier the segment. Look in the Tenkara book or on my web page. You could use dowels staked in the ground to do these wraps. Another way to taper is just make shorter level sections and knot them together, which cast fine, though personally I don't like knots at all if I am going to go to the trouble of furling.

Finish the pivot point with a Clinched piece of mono for attaching you tippet, and the end with the two loops with a knuckle of Dacron backing for a lilian loop.

It's easier to do than to explain. Hope that helps.

Kevin

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Kevin Kelleher
Tenkara Tippets
http://www.tenkaratippets.com/Tenkara_Tippets/Welcome.html

1. Keep your rod tip over the seam you're fishing.
2. Don't use a level line. Fluoro sinks, spectra sinks, thread sinks, but mono floats. Use a furled line made of monofilament and treat it with Mucilin.
Also you can try doing a double dry setup with a large fly for floating with the small fly tied to the back.
3. Buy a longer tenkara leader.

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Tenkara Guides