Tailwater Tenkara

by J.D.
(arkansas)

I fished my local tailwater last weekend with my tenkara rod. I was able to fish a couple of hours before high water from the generators ran me out

The rod is a 13 ft 6 inch lightweight 6:4 ratio. The line is 15 ft furled. Tippet was 2 feet of 7x.

I’d been fishing this spot with a 7 ft 3 weight western rod and 7 or 8x for some time. I usually fish a sow bug pattern tied on a barbless hook. I was a bit skeptical of break offs without a reel and drag.

The rod worked great. The reach was comparable. I landed 7 (about average). The fish averaged 12 inches. I had no broken tippets beaching these guys without a net.

These rods are a fun and effective set up if you want to simplify your gear. The fish seem to do better when released without unecessary battles with a drag as well.

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” - Benjamin Franklin

"Be sure in casting, that your fly fall first into the water, for if the line fall first, it scares or frightens the fish..." -
Col. Robert Venables 1662

As age slows my pace, I will become more like the heron.