r/Tenkara

Hello, I recently bought what I think is a Tenkara Rod from a second hand store, but it measured 6m long! Is it usual for Tenkara to be that long?

Hello everyone! I would like to get into to tenkara fishing but I don't really know where to start. What kind of rod should i be looking for? Like what length is good what brand? Should I look for anything specific?

Any pointers are appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

I have a Dragontail Shadowfire 12ft rod and use Nissin 2.5 level line and 5x tippet. I'm mainly fishing headwaters in Western NC, predominantly the East Fork and West Fork of the Pigeon and their tributaries.

I want to get a shorter rod, less because of the tree cover (although that is still a factor) and more because of reach; I find that on these high grade boulder-strewn headwaters with a 12ft rod I'm not able to cast effectively to many of the pools because in order to get a casting lane to the pool and be able to land a fish I need to get too close to be able to cast a longer line effectively.

But my main issue seems to be the stiffness of the rod. The trout in these rivers are quite small, and when I get a bite I feel like I end up pulling the fish straight out of the water, often on my hookset, instead of playing it and if it's a really small fish or a fry I've wound up hurling it to the moon and probably killing it. I'm not hooksetting vigorously, in fact I've been actively trying to do as little as possible (less even than lifting for a back cast) but I'm still ripping the trout out of the water.

Would a shorter rod help with this issue? Would an overall less stiff rod help? Maybe lighter tippet? Maybe it's my technique?

I'm considering another Dragontail rod, and I'm between the Mizuchi (hero of this sub), the FoxFIRE, and the TinyTALON. The Mizuchi would be the no-brainer, I'm thinking, if it wasn't for the apparent stiffness issue, which I'm thinking either the FoxFIRE glass rod or the TinyTALON short rod would help solve.

Hey looking for a recommendation on some poles for kids. Possibly fairly cheap amazon ones so no one loses their mind when they get broken.

Current kids are 4 years. Put them on my 12' poles and its just too long

I've been at this for about two seasons now and I still catch myself second guessing my level line length every time I hit a stretch of water I haven't fished before. My default is rod length plus maybe a foot or two, but that feels more like a habit than an actual decision at this point.

Yesterday I was on a narrow brushy creek, barely six feet wide in most spots, and I ended up shortening way down, almost to rod length exactly, just to keep from hanging up in the branches on every cast. Caught a few small brookies doing that, but I kept wondering if I was leaving fish behind in the deeper pools downstream where a longer line probably would have covered water better.

I know the textbook answer is "match the line to the water," but in practice I feel like I'm just guessing based on how annoyed I am at snagging trees. Curious how other people actually approach this when they walk up to an unfamiliar stream. Do you start long and shorten up as needed, or the opposite? Do you change line length mid-session or mostly commit once you've read the water?

Also curious if anyone fishes with more than one line length rigged and ready, like keeping a second line on a spool in your vest, or if that's more trouble than it's worth for a day trip.

I am absolutely new to fly fishing. I've done a little traditional fishing, but fly seemed a whole world away, and the gear seemed expensive and highly specialized.

What's attracting me to tenkara is the cost of entry but also the portability - I can have this in my backpack when I hike, or throw it in my car and always have it with me. So I do have an interest in getting a compact kit. And I also like not dealing with a reel, even if that aspect of tenkara has its downsides (don't mean to stir any pots, just something I've read). Basically low barrier to getting it, low barrier to using it. Seems great.

So, I'm wondering if you guys have a rec for good starter kits. I'm going to need basically everything, and a durable, laminated sheet showing how to tie the knots would not be unwelcome given my complete newbie status. If it has a book or something that would be nice, but I see there's lots of vids and learning material online at least.

I live in the northeast (PA) and have trout-stocked streams near me. There's a lot of tree cover; I've read that shorter poles are good for this. I also have access to lakes and rivers without the tree cover but they are less convenient to me. I'm not targeting any specific species at this time, I'm figuring I'll start by doing it where it's convenient and I have the most opportunity.

I wouldn't even mind paying for some in-person lessons, if you know of anything in the eastern half of PA. As best I can tell so far, everything around me is oriented to traditional fly fishing.

E: Thanks for all the tips. Still have a lot to learn. I think I just need to get started and go from there!

I’m looking into getting into tenkara fishing, but I’m getting a little overwhelmed and confused by the amount of information online. I’d really appreciate some advice from people who have experience with it.
I’m looking for a tenkara rod around the $50 USD range. I understand that I can’t expect high-end quality at that price, but I also don’t want something that’s going to snap after a week. Are there any brands or models around $50 that you would recommend? Also, what length would be best for someone just starting out?
I’m also wondering about flies. What’s the difference between tenkara flies and regular flies used for fly fishing? Can I use regular fly-rod flies with a tenkara setup, or is it better to buy flies specifically designed for tenkara?

Thanks

[WTS] TOPO Designs X Tenkara Rod Co. (TRC) Sierra Rod, 2.8 oz. $120.

Photos here

https://imgur.com/gallery/topo-designs-x-tenkara-rod-co-trc-sierra-rod-2-8-oz-120-NPNmjdj

Direct Link:

https://imgur.com/gallery/yxlscFX#l9EPwUO

Adventure Ready. Beginner Friendly. 

The Sierra Rod is a 10.5 ft. rod.  It has an incredibly soft flex and amazing feel to it, designed with smaller water in mind.  The Sierra is one of TRC's funnest rods because of how light and flexible it is, and the action of this rod gives you so much feel throughout the entire rod.

Extended Length: 10.5ft (320 cm)
Collapsed Length: 20 inches
Weight: 2.8 oz
Material: Carbon Fiber
Segments: 8
Handle Length: 11.25 inches

Edited to add “raw” Imgur link from IMGUR