Leave the vest full of flies behind.
Tenkara is a Japanese fly fishing that strips things down to their most simple.
One fly.
One rod.
Sam Vanderbeek uses a Tenkara rod while fly-fishing in the Oregon coast range.
Corky Miller / Oregon Public Broadcasting
All responsibility lies with the fisher.
This ancient, simple form of fly-fishing from Japan has become popular in US. Tenkara rods have no reel, a short but extendable rod and a fixed length of light line.
Fans say it makes fly fishing possible even on small mountain streams.
Masako Tani occasionally uses Tenkara rods but actually prefers western rods and reels. Her husband, fly-fishing author Dave Hughes enjoys Tenkara more than she does.
Todd Sonflieth / Oregon Public Broadcasting
Resources and Information
Recreational Educational Adventures
Tenkara USA
Dave Hughes Fly Fishing