An ancestral technique that's easy to implement
Tenkara is an ancestral fishing technique (8th or 9th century BC) from the land of the rising sun. Professional fishermen used it to feed villagers in the mountains of Japan, a fine example of its great efficiency.
The equipment could not be simpler: a telescopic rod, line, leader and flies. The line is made of braided monofilament and is the same length as the rod. The leader, which is tapered and simpler than a traditional fly-fishing leader, is the last piece of equipment required. Line and leader are stored on a cork strand wide enough to limit the memory effect of nylon. What else do you need? A box with a few flies, one or two spools of line to rebuild your leader in case of breakage, and that's all!
A one-handed throw
Casting is much the same as fly-fishing, but requires the use of only one hand. The fishing distance is given by the length of line and leader, i.e. less than ten metres. That's plenty of distance to tease our friends in current areas, whether they're trout or whitefish. The contact with the fish is direct, which can provide some great sensations depending on the size of our playmates.
The difference, a little disconcerting the first few times, is that when you catch a fish, you can actually catch it... Indeed, the soft rod, added to the length of the line and the leader (which represent about two lengths of rod), put the fish far away from us. So we need to place the rod well back, grab the base of the line with our free hand, then put it in the hand holding the rod to finally net the fish now at our feet.
Tenkara, fishing for pleasure
Imagine setting off with just a small rucksack containing a water bottle, rain gear and tenkara equipment. A walk through a forest, in search of a small, lost, unfished river. After a good walk, you'll hear the rustle of the river, and discover its clear, sparkling water, with its currents, its smoothness. Settle there, a little way back, to watch the dance of insects, birds picking the biggest ones, gracefully taking off from the surface. In a cushion, behind a rock, imagine the fish posted, waiting for an opportunity. Take the time to unfurl your rod, attach your line and unwind it to tie a carefully chosen fly.
Observe your surroundings, move discreetly to reach the spot in the right conditions and at the right distance. Make your cast, watch the line unfurl, then the leader, the fly fall flush with the rock... Suddenly, a flash of lightning, then a swirl... The fly disappears. The rod bends as the line tightens... The fight begins, headbutts, rushes, candles, and soon the fish abdicates. The pleasure of bringing him to you, in a place where the water is calm. Watching it for a while, then unhooking it and making sure it goes back to the water in good condition.
What next? Look for another playmate, fold up and move on. Whatever the choice, tenkara allows you to get back up and running in 5 minutes, or to continue exploring other positions... That's the freedom this technique offers.
