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Post by jonathan27 on Apr 20, 2014 19:23:25 GMT
Hi all I am requesting the help of the members of this forum to contruct a pro tenkara argument to my club to allow tenkara as an accepted fly fishing method. There are reservations over the use of tenkara due to it not being suited to my waters due the odd chance of bumping into 2-3lb fish. The majority of the fish stocks are 8-15 inch trout and grayling with most being stocked trout of 12 inch.
Now I have fished it on the Yorkshire Calder with no problems but generally the fish have been in the 8-12 inch bracket for trout and Ive had grayling to 15inch no problem. My main club has waters on the Hodder and Ribble which are much larger than the yorkshire calder.
How have fellow members on this forum faired with larger trout and grayling on their home waters?
I dont want to publically air the arguments against tenkara but I would be willing to share via PM if anyone can help me with their experiences of largerfish on tenkara or difficulty accepting tenkara methods into clubs.
Jonathan
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Post by Paul G on Apr 20, 2014 21:30:11 GMT
Perhaps it may be worth showing them the video in the blog post below? We routinely land fish in the 2, 3 and 4lb bracket on tenkara gear. On rivers where 3lb fish are common, we will use rods like the Yamame or Amago (which are designed for larger fish), a tippet of 4 or 5lb and the Palomar loop knot to attach both the fly as well as a modified version of the same knot to attach tippet to the end of casting line. It is important not to "follow" the fish around with the rod tip and end up in a straight-line tug of war (instead the rod must always be held in a deep bend - and the direction of pull should be at an angle to the fish's direction of travel instead of direct opposition). Other important points to raise are the base rate for people breaking off on big fish whilst using normal fly fishing gear (see especially dudes fishing a tight line down and across and experiencing "smash takes"!!). Another crucial point is that allowing a fish to run out line whenever it pleases is much more likely to end in a break-off as that fish reaches a snag. The video in the blog post below was filmed on a single camera and there are no cuts between when John hooks the fish (as he is just starting to lift up at the beginning of a back cast!) and when it goes in the net. You can, consequently time the fight. There is a very short cut just after the fish finally goes in the net to make my camera-work look a bit better (!) but aside from that it all happens in real time. www.discovertenkara.co.uk/landing-a-larger-fish-on-tenkara-gear/Instructions for tying the Palomar knots are given on our free video here (these retain between 80 and 100% of tippet breaking strain - compared to around 50% or less for tucked half-blood knots, Davy knots etc.). The knot tying video is the bottom one of the three on the following page: www.discovertenkara.co.uk/about-tenkara/equipment-setup/
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Post by jonathan27 on Apr 20, 2014 21:43:38 GMT
Thank you Paul
I have been fishing Tenkara for nearly 16 months and have been broken only once and that was due to inexperience in playing fish and I instinctively followed the fish with the rod tip instead of keeping angle against the fish. I will add your video to my armoury to show not only tenkara managed to land the fish but also much faster than what you would on conventional tackle (i have found this playing fish myself) and this aids fish recovery and return without ill effects of a long battle.
Jonathan
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Post by Paul G on Apr 20, 2014 21:50:08 GMT
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Post by jonathan27 on Apr 21, 2014 18:11:14 GMT
Thats a cracking fish! Id love to hear from Dave and his take on this subject?
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Post by custheyder on Apr 22, 2014 10:36:33 GMT
That is indeed a cracking fish on one of my rods. As Paul said, you really do have to keep a deep bend in the rod and keep deflecting the fish from it's path without directly opposing it. As the fish keeps swimming across the current it will tire quickly and come to hand.
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Post by daves on Apr 22, 2014 17:02:21 GMT
Whilst I do not consider Tenkara to be ideal for big fish, as Paul says, with a Tenkara rod designed for bigger fish such as the ESO 410 7:3 or Tenkara USA Amago & 5x tippet it is surprising what can be handled. I've landed rainbows to 3lb 10oz, browns to 53cm (estimated at 3lb 8oz) & 3 grayling over 3lb on the two Tenkara rods mentioned. I would, however, be loath to use Tenkara on rivers where fish go very big such as the Eden where I've had hard fighting wild brownies to 3lb 10oz on small flies & 6x tippet. The attached photos are of a 53cm brown, a rainbow (not measured or weighed) & a 49cm grayling.
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Post by paul1966 on Apr 22, 2014 19:15:08 GMT
5lb 10oz fresh run sea trout caught on an Iwana and 4lb tippet. Good knots are the key.
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Post by jonathan27 on Apr 22, 2014 19:52:06 GMT
Thank you to you all for your input. Whilst fish of the sizes shown in the various videos and photos are not common in the waters I fish they maybe encountered and shows the point that tenkara can handle them if hooked and if hooked on conventional western tackle it still involves the skill of the angler to land such fish without tippet breakage whether on a fixed line or spooled reel. At some point on a reel it becomes a fixed line to bring the fish back in!
My task now is to compose a just argument that the use of tenkara on my clubs waters is valid and not detrimental to the fish populations held.
Jonathan
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2014 17:09:05 GMT
Most things are possible in the right hands. I suspect your problem will be it can be used by any 'Tom, Dick or Harry' who has a membership card. Surprised it is an issue. Sounds like one of those dry fly only arguments of yonderyear. Best of luck of course!
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