Fly Fishing
Tenkara-4ever
But a fact of life is that some of us are on a fixed income and can't afford a high priced tenkara rod, so you make do with what you can, of course you want the best outfit you can afford. Too, I was advised by a tenkara user of long standing the telescoping crappie rod was quite acceptable for learning the principles.
I've got fly rods ranging from $15 to several hundred bucks, but I would never knock another fisherman's gear, with the understanding its probably the best they could afford at the time.
FWIW, studying some tenkara stuff on-line it appears there's some kind of complicated quick release set-up (sounds contradictary to me too). Anyhow, I got a 13" telescoping crappie rod from Fleet for $8 as opposed to $65+ for a real tenkara rod with the flexible tip on-line. A simple snap swivel on the end of the line, attached to the rod's tip-top, replaces the quick release incorporated on a tenkara line.I also spent half an hour braiding a 9' line, 3 strands of 8# test with a loop on either end (one for the snap swivel) to which I can attach a tippet of my choice. A few very basic, simply tied flies and you're good to go.
Now, I'm not going to sit here and say a 13" crappie rod is as light or elegant as a 3-4 oz. tenkara with a finished cork handle, it isn't. But it isn't any heavier than a typical 5wt with reel either, and, more importantly, gets the job done.
I also found it's kind of fun to braid my own tenkara fly lines, with the advantage I can make them to my choice of lengths. I simply made a block of wood with three nails in it. I then put the "jig" in a vise, cut 3 pieces of line the desired lehgth. Tie each line to a different nail. Then, about 3-4 inches down, bind the 3 lines together with a simple overhand knot, put a dab of super glue in the knot and braid away. Another overhand knot with a dab of glue finishes it off - almost. Trim of the excess and make the loops with a simple overhand knot (remembering to put a snap swivel on one of the loops). Again, I put a dab of superglue on these overhand knots as well.
And so, you wind up with an outfit with about 25' of reach. What this will do is make YOU fish smarter, you'll have to approach much more cautiously to avoid spooking the fish, you'll have to cast more accurately THE FIRST TIME since there won't be any back casting to line up your target. In other words, it'll improve your basic skills while encouraging learning to read water so you know where to put you casts in the first place. Not a bad deal for, what $15 or less investment?
