The tenya panel
Choosing the right tenya is the first thing you need to master if you want to fish consistently well. Fishing with light tenyas offers a more natural presentation of the bait, but it still needs to be heavy enough to compensate for drift.
In calm weather, a 30 g tenya will be the maximum to use for fishing depths of up to 60 metres. You can use 40 to 50 g tenyas at the expense of presentation, if weather conditions are unfavourable.
Natural colors work very well in shallow depths, but colors like pink and red are very effective passe-partouts.
The cane to choose
The choice of rod depends on the weight of the tenyas to be used and the type of fish to be fished.
Generally speaking, casting rods are to be preferred, as they provide better line control on the descent. The rods must have a soft tip action to limit stalls, but also a good reserve of power to fight the fish.
The ideal length is between 1m90 and 2m30, depending on your preferences. A rod with a power range from 40 to 160 g may seem disproportionate for such light tenyas. However, the slim tip is sensitive enough, yet still powerful enough for fighting.
Finding the right reel
The reel for tenya fishing serves mainly as a line reserve. However, a few parameters can make fishing easier. A high ratio will enable you to reel in your tenya more quickly, with the aim of getting back down to the area as soon as possible and keeping the fish active. A reel with a good-quality progressive drag is an important asset for fighting. It will limit the risk of stalling for fish species with strong mouths such as sparids.
Braid and leader
Vertical fishing in the Mediterranean requires the utmost discretion. The choice of braid depends on the average depth at which you wish to fish.
A fine braid will allow better contact with the tenya and limit the banner effect in the line. I recommend using a braid between 11 and 16 hundredths depending on the size of the fish targeted. As far as the leader is concerned, a length of between 5 and 8 metres, in 20 to 26 hundredths, will allow you to be sufficiently discreet while still being able to fight some fine individuals.
