SETTING UP COST FOR NEW STARTER

[redial]

Just my luck the very day I discover Tenkara was the same day I purchased a new fly rod .What as a rough guide would it cost to start Tenkara fishing I fish the local brook. I love the idea of Tenkara travel light keep it simple,is it welcomed on all waters. Most grateful for any advice, Yours in Sport, Phil

[Simon]

Hi Phil.
Bad luck that! If you buy from TenkaraUSA a rod will cost around £100, that's about the set up cost. You can start with some straight through leader connecting to a tippet of your choice and then whatever fly you have, then your fishing. Stand by for others giving you a hard time, first comment, it's pole fishing. Soak up the comments there will be many. I found letting others have a go helped to change minds! Just point out the only difference is the lack of a line holder. Start spreading the word, maybe a proper magazine write up may help Tenkara take off here in the UK.

[redial]

Thanks Simon just to recap equipment is rod ,leader,tippet,fly. No flyline is it awkward to cast without the weight of the main line. Cheers Phil.

[pedros]

Hi Redial,

I'll jump in on this one.

Simply put, the dynamics of the Tenkara rod and its flexibility in the tip are essentially your flyline.

Think traditionally Flyline->Leader->Tippet and the transition through these to present your fly

Now think

Tenkara->Leader->Tippet

HTH

Peter

[redial]

Thanks Peter sorry to labour a point if you were to set up arod ready to fish what length of leader and tippet also breaking strains the rod I have in mind is the Iwana 11ft as I fish brooks. Thanks for your help and advice. Phil,

[pedros]

Phil,

I use the 12' Iwana on a small river and generally use a 7' furled leader with 5-6' of tippet.

If you are on a brook then perhaps use a similar ratio to the length of your rod. If overhead canopy and vegetation allow you can go longer on the leaders. Don't worry too much if your total leader/tippet length is longer than the rod, you just need to raise your rod arm when inspecting the hook or landing a fish.
I probably have a vertical reach of almost 8', so add that to the length of the rod and you probably have a max cast length.

It is often said that the maximum distance for optimum control on a river using a conventional fly rod is around 6m. If you compare my maximum Tenkara length cast against this there is no difference. That answers the critics question of casting distance being limited on the 'T'.

The leader types I have for the T are:
7' Furled indicator leader (www.custom-furles.com)
12' Furled hi-viz Tenkara leader (www.custom-furles.com)
10' Level hi viz Flouro leader (www.TenkaraUSA.com)
12' Level hi-viz Flouro leader (www.TenkaraUSA.com)

I have the two weights of level leader supplied by Tenkara USA although as yet there has been no need to use the heavier.

HTH

Peter

[pedros]

Sorry Phil,

Breaking strains...

Not sure of precise bs as I tend to look at the diameter, but probably either 3lb tippet straight through, or 3lb stepped to either 2lb or 1.7lbs (I know that one as it is a spool of Beyer)

Peter