Beginner fly fishing/tenkara

[Slothman60]

I must be missing something... Tenkara looks like a $200 collapsible cane pole with no reel.  Why not just buy a light $100 fly rod and reel set up? What's the "lure" of the Tenkara...?

Really I bought it to fish when I’m at work since I travel a lot and there’s limited space in the truck. It’s also super light and packable.

[jackelope]

I must be missing something... Tenkara looks like a $200 collapsible cane pole with no reel.  Why not just buy a light $100 fly rod and reel set up? What's the "lure" of the Tenkara...?

https://www.discovertenkara.com/knowledge/culture-history/tenkara-history/

Rifle hunting = gear fishing
Bow hunting = fly fishing
Stick/traditional bow hunting = tenkara fishing

It has a time and a place. Typically you wouldn't be fishing Tenkara gear in a river where fish are going to need a 30' cast to get to them.  It's small streams, specific Tenkara style flies, etc. It's very different from "normal" fly fishing.

[Pathfinder101]

I must be missing something... Tenkara looks like a $200 collapsible cane pole with no reel.  Why not just buy a light $100 fly rod and reel set up? What's the "lure" of the Tenkara...?

https://www.discovertenkara.com/knowledge/culture-history/tenkara-history/

Rifle hunting = gear fishing
Bow hunting = fly fishing
Stick/traditional bow hunting = tenkara fishing

It has a time and a place. Typically you wouldn't be fishing Tenkara gear in a river where fish are going to need a 30' cast to get to them.  It's small streams, specific Tenkara style flies, etc. It's very different from "normal" fly fishing.

Ok, I guess when you put it that way, I kind of get it.  Still rather use my 3 weight...   

[jackelope]

I must be missing something... Tenkara looks like a $200 collapsible cane pole with no reel.  Why not just buy a light $100 fly rod and reel set up? What's the "lure" of the Tenkara...?

https://www.discovertenkara.com/knowledge/culture-history/tenkara-history/

Rifle hunting = gear fishing
Bow hunting = fly fishing
Stick/traditional bow hunting = tenkara fishing

It has a time and a place. Typically you wouldn't be fishing Tenkara gear in a river where fish are going to need a 30' cast to get to them.  It's small streams, specific Tenkara style flies, etc. It's very different from "normal" fly fishing.

Ok, I guess when you put it that way, I kind of get it.  Still rather use my 3 weight...   

I'm with you.
I'd like to try it. I have a Tenkara rod and I try to convince myself to go for it, but I cant talk myself into it. The thought of an 11' rod in the brush makes me cringe.

I'd make someone a sweet deal if anyone wants one. PM me.

[Harleysboss]

Since first trying a tenkara rod 5 years ago I haven't touched any of my fly rods. I fish both sides of the mountains and out of state.  Seems to simple and it is but its very effective fishing method. I use mostly standard fly fishing flies and occasionally tenkara flies. I use most of the flies mentioned and never leave home without an assortment of stimulators. I catch all sizes of fish as well, from 3" to nice 14+".  Casting in close quarters of the small stream is usually easier due to the short back cast and no heavy floating line to keep mending in the complex currents of a small stream and lets not mention the back cast required with traditional fly casting. Any roll cast that you can do with a fly rod you can do much easier with a tenkara rod. Don't give up! Just take it out and fish. Theres a learning curve but that's true for anything you do outside.  It's not the best for every application but for small/mid sized streams it's very effective.  No I have not given up on my fly rods....yet

[Naches Sportsman]

Tenkara rods definitely have a time and place. For bigger water such as the St. Joe, North Fork Clearwater, Kelly Creek, Lochsa, Middle Fork Salmon I haven’t found a use for Tenkara’s. Streams like this one in the screenshot, good luck packing a normal fly rod and getting a line out in a hurry in that crap. Tenkara white cloud comes in handy for the little tributaries. Catch more fish in a small amount of time. All about the right fly selection. I love fishing the small streams in burn scars in the frank and selway  with a Tenkara. Quick deployment with the Tenkara makes it fun.