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Post by paul1966 on May 31, 2012 23:39:38 GMT
After a long day in work I thought I'd have an hour on the river just before dark. I started off with the dry gave it 1/2hr no luck. Then a big fish splashed in the tail of the pool, I thought about heading back to the car for the sea trout gear but by the time I'd set up I'd have missed the chance. So I tied on a size 12 wet fly with a bit of flash in it. Second cast I had a thundering take. Then an absolutely heart stopping fight I was convinced my rod was going to break. I even thought about cutting the line to save the rod ( I was using 4lb tippet ) Eventually I landed a sea trout 5lb 10oz fresh from the sea. It's surprising how strong these tenkara rods are a couple of times the fish tried to head down river out of the pool. The rod was creaking a bit but it stopped it.
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Post by Simon on Jun 1, 2012 6:06:18 GMT
What can't a Tenkara rod land? Great fish and even a better memory. I dont know about you but when I landed my salmon all thoses years ago I had a job to walk my legs were shaking that much.
Simon
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conor
Bronze Member
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Post by conor on Jun 1, 2012 7:31:24 GMT
wow! what an experience! have you posted on tenkaraUSA site? people there would be very interested to read about this one i think.
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Post by custheyder on Jun 1, 2012 7:51:18 GMT
Hey! Hasn't anyone told you that Tenkara is only for small fish! ....Now stop catching such cracking specimens and upsetting all those people that are stuck in the notion that a Tenkara rod can't handle them.
Brilliant!... Well done.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2012 8:46:22 GMT
Nice one Paul.
Bet that got your knees shakin!
They give one hell of scrap on light salmon tackle never mind on a T rod! A well deserved pat on the back & a memory that will last a lifetime.
Regards Stevie.
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Post by paul1966 on Jun 1, 2012 10:04:39 GMT
Thanks it is certainly an experience I'll never forget. It was nerve-racking stuff casting for to the fish. A voice in my head was saying what's going to happen if you hook this. But also I didn't want to miss the opportunity.
I've got two T rods a Iwana and a Yamame .The Yamane I bought with sewin in mind ( not big sewin ) but I was using the Iwana.
I think now I would feel quite confident using the Yamane for sewin fishing, I think T rods are ideal for small rivers like the Cleddau and Nevern. I'd like to get a longer rod to reach to a few places without wading.
Conor I will post on the USA site
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Post by paul1966 on Jun 2, 2012 8:13:24 GMT
Simon I meant to ask how big was you're salmon and where did you catch it?
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Post by Simon on Jun 2, 2012 9:53:40 GMT
Hi Paul. If you go to the first page of the Tenkara UK reports and then tales form Wales you will find a write up on that trip. Simon.
1st River trip. « Reply #1 on Feb 1, 2010, 7:21am »
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Post by paul1966 on Jun 2, 2012 10:25:40 GMT
That's is amazing! I've just read the post it makes my 5lb 10oz sewin small fry. Just for curiosity has any one ever broken a tip playing a big fish?
With Western fly gear I've always fished light for sewin 5/6 weight rods and landed double figure fish. I don't like 7/8 weight tippy rods, I'm sure the fish jump more when they feel the stiffness of the rod and as a result more fish are lost. I'm sure I've read somewhere about Lee Wulff fishing the river spey and catching lots of salmon on a 6ft 6" fly rod.
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Post by cm_stewart on Jun 2, 2012 12:05:04 GMT
I don't think the tip is at risk when playing a big fish. Next time you hook a nice fish, look at the way the rod bends. The bend is in the middle sections, with the tip section pointing in a straight line to the fish. If you hook a very large fish, the bend will be in the middle to lower sections, which are the strongest. I have broken one rod on a very large fish. The rod was a cheap panfish pole (before tenkara rods were readily available). The break was at the junction between the second and third sections counting from the grip. Only saw the fish's tail, but it was the largest trout I've ever hooked on any tackle before or since.
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Post by leckie on Jun 2, 2012 21:35:13 GMT
Paul, Well done you...I think I can still see a few sea lice on it's flank....I'm really impressed that your knot didn't give way with the abuse it was taking...what knot do you use?....I'm a nervous wreck if I nail anything over 1lb in case my knot comes undone Wales has got a fantastic reputation for sea trout fishing...long may it continue....it was great that you photographed it and shared it with us...memorable...keep it up...we're greedy..we want to see more tight lines Alex
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Post by paul1966 on Jun 3, 2012 6:22:47 GMT
Hello Alex, thanks, when I moved to west wales 20yrs ago and started fly fishing for sea trout I had a few knot failures as they certainly put your knots to the test. I don't like fluoro I have started using it and it definitely has some advantages but I'm still a big mono fan and always use it if I think sea trout are about. The knots and set up I use for Tenkara ( I'm still a newby) is a 7ft furled leader from the tip of the rod attached to the end of the furled leader I use varying lengths of Cus's hi viz fluoro connected using a surgeons loop. I find this quite flexible way of quickly changing line length and it casts really well for me. I have a figure of eight stop knot at the end of the hi viz I then attach the tippet using a uni knot www.netknots.com/fishing_knots/uni-knot/ . I attach the hook with a version of the davy knot something like Cus uses with an extra Tuck particularly if I'm using fluoro. Hope all this make sense. Cheers Paul
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Post by paul1966 on Jun 3, 2012 6:27:29 GMT
Also thanks cm-stewart for that info on rods breaking when I think about it makes sense it's exactly how my rod was bent when I hooked the big fish. The tip could knot bend any more.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jun 3, 2012 12:40:49 GMT
Well done and congratulations Paul, that's a proper fish!
Since the Tenkara USA rods are rated to a maximum of 7lb tippet I suspect we are all a little too timid about the size of fish we go after. A 6lb tippet would give a safety margin to protect the rod and be strong enough to land pretty big fish. Anyone tried carp yet?
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Post by leckie on Jun 3, 2012 20:48:12 GMT
Paul,
Thanks for the information..very useful...your current set up is certainly working for you at the moment...keep knocking these reports out.
tight lines
Alex
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