Tenkara Casting: Fly First Cast

Learn Tenkara casting here: www.discoverte...
When done correctly - casting with a tenkara rod can be super accurate and is just as challenging to master as "western" fly casting with fly rod & reel setups. In fact, I believe that while it is equally easy to "lob" bead-head flies with either a western fly rod or a tenkara rod; it is slightly harder to get good at casting a tenkara line properly. This is because, with tenkara casting, the casting line is so much lighter than regular fly line and the tenkara rod is generally much longer and more flexible than single-handed fly rods. This means that any errors in the timing of power application or damping of the counter-flex are greatly magnified.
The major aim (and advantage) of tenkara is to be able to deliver the fly (and only the fly if you are fishing on the surface) onto the water - at sufficient range to avoid the angler spooking fish. As soon as the fly lines, the casting line is held in the perfect drift-controlling position. Ideally, the casting line never comes into contact with the water (although when fishing at greater range or when coping with awkward wind or water currents - a portion of the casting line may be anchored on the surface).

[@OverlandPNW]

These Tenkara videos inspired me to buy a Tenkara rod. I'm a fly fisherman but new to Tenkara. So much fun! Here is the very first fish I caught using a Tenkara rod: ua-cam.com/video/guguKBcOlZ8/v-deo.html

[@DiscoverTenkara]

That's absolutely brilliant - so glad that you've found a new branch of fly fishing (at least in part from our content) that you're now enjoying. Paul

[@hiptum]

Hey Paul....
Nice cast... but filmed side on, from the casting side and zoomed into the hand/arm upper body would be far better to see the actual technique in more detail... cheers

[@DiscoverTenkara]

Don't forget there's full instruction with (side-on) diagram painstakingly drawn by yours truly :) here: www.discovertenkara.com/tenkara-casting.html

[@jerrysmith7760]

Yes, I dream of consistently casting that well but the video would be much more helpful if done as hiptum suggests, one segment of video from the side to see the whole cast and another segment in closer zoomed onto the arm, hand and rod movement.

[@DiscoverTenkara]

Thanks Jerry - the video gives a good sense of the TIMING/LACK OF PAUSE which is critical (and it's really difficult to fit the whole line in the frame while showing that timing when viewed side-on as in the diagram on this page: www.discovertenkara.com/tenkara-casting.html). That's also not to mention the rare "back-lit" conditions and dark background that allow you to see the line at all! As mentioned above though, there are "side-on diagram" details and specific written instructions which should get you where you need to be (when you combine them with the idea of timing and hand position shown in the video). Paul.

[@TenkaraAddict]

It's a beautiful thing, and even better in slow-mo!

[@DiscoverTenkara]

Very much appreciated - and I'm really glad you liked it. Paul

[@Hunter-fl9yc]

Well done Paul!

[@peterheath8024]

poetry in motion

[@DiscoverTenkara]

Thank you Peter - you are very kind! Paul