VERSATILE LINE LENGTH

[daves]

If like me you have a number of different length Tenkara rods: maybe you use a zoom rod or you want to cover a spot that's just a bit too far for the line set-up you're using. Do you carry a whole range of level lines from 6' to 18'? I certainly have a whole host of different length lines, but I'm trying to rationalise & simplify, after all that's what Tenkara is all about!

Ideally I like a line plus tippet from 1' shorter than my rod to about 2' longer. That way, with a light line I can hold all but a bit of tippet off the water (under most conditions). When using a zoom rod I choose a line that is the optimum length for the zoomed length I expect to use most on a particular day & accept the compromise. However there are many times that I want a line a bit longer than what I consider to be the optimum, when I just can't get near enough to the fish. I now tie all my lines with a small perfection loop at the terminal end & I have  short extension lines, 3' & 6' with small perfection loops at each end. These can easily be attached loop to loop.

I also have some Hi-viz braid indicators with loops at each end so that if I need a really visible indicator when changing from dry fly to Sakasa or nymph it can easily be done.

Thus today I had brief visit to my local small still-water. I already had a 12' level line plus indicator braid attached to my 13' rod from a recent river trip. All I needed to do was remove the 8" Hi-viz yellow braid, loop on a 6' extension, & reattach the braid which was then greased up so that it would support a size 20 buzzer. (I also greased the Fluorocarbon line with Payette paste since it was very windy & I had no option but to have most of the line on the water surface).



 

[phil]

An ingenious solution Dave.

How do the connections between mainline and extention lines behave, kinks, hinging, folding, etc? What affect, if any, does it have on the terminal end of the line and tippet that may hinder strike detection?

Cheers and happy tenkara

Phil

[daves]

There is no hinging or problem with bite detection & it's possible to join a short indicator length that is a different colour from the main line to aid visibility in tricky light conditions. There are no disadvantages that I can see.

Dave

[phil]

Thank you Dave. Much appreciated.

Phil

[orangeotter]

A logical answer Dave to a tricky problem, many thanks.

[springerman]

I like your idea Dave. Funny, but I was reading the blog of a web site, Teton Tenkara, April 2nd 2013.

They do a similar thing using an extension at the rod end, say 2-4 feet and attach everything with a tippet ring.

Have a look at their web site.  They have diagrams and explain everything far better than I can.

tetontenkara.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/the-versa-line-change-your-line-length.html

I think the idea is very useful.

[orangeotter]

Thanks Ian, good idea.

[daves]

The versa-line idea is another simple way to extend the main line.

I think I'll stick to the perfection loops as I can easily taper the line by adding a lighter extension between the main line & tippet, e.g a 2 weight extension on a 3 weight main line, to improve presentation.

[jonathan27]

Ive just got a TUSA Sato and was thinking how to easily cover the 3 zoom lengths with a simple leader and this is a great method to try out

[springerman]

Dave, I like your idea of a lighter extension. I have two lines that Phil tied up, 12' - 14' but made up of three different weights of line, like:- #4 then #3 then perhaps a #2. I am sure Phil will throw more light on their make up.