Photo: TENKARA USAEver looked at the growing technological advancements in fishing and thought a day without news of the newest rod or reel would be nice? Just you against the fish in the tranquility of nature?
Tenkara fly fishing is one of the newest trends sweeping the angling world – and it gives fishermen that back-to-basics perspective.
Tenkara originated in Japan hundreds of years ago. The rod lacks a reel, so the only tools an angler has is a telescoping rod, a line, a fly and his or her wits. It can be sort of like a practical meditative practice, with the added bonus of catching fish.
“Every fly angler I know tends to experience some aspect of the meditative qualities of life on the river,” says Chris Loizeaux, a local fisherman and owner of Trekka Outfitters. “That seems to be the real pursuit.”
Quality tenkara rods can run as little as $100, compared to traditional fly rods that can run $170 and up. With no additional gear required beyond a line and flies, people can get started immediately. It’s nearly the cheapest way to enjoy a day out on the water.
Even for anglers attached to their favorite reels, there’s a wealth of knowledge to be gathered by fishing tenkara-style. Because there’s less emphasis on casting, landing a fish with a tenkara rod is all about presentation of the fly, one of the most challenging skills a fisherman can master. It puts creativity through restriction into practice, and even many fly fishermen might be surprised at what they can learn with a tenkara rod.
“It’s hard to slow down, stand in a river as the water swirls around you, mountains and trees rising overhead, and not be affected,” Loizeaux says of the serenity afforded by the sport. “The exhilaration of catching a fish is often tempered with the calmness that you get from being your truest self.”