Chris Stewart ties a Takayama Sakasa Kebari

Chris Stewart is know as the Tenkara Bum, he got in to fishing Tenkara by accident by way of English Spider patterns.  In researching North Country soft hackle patterns he was drawn to there simplicity and beauty. During that research he came across David Webster's book, The Angler and the Loop Rod which talked about using a long rod, no reel and a horsehair line tied to the rod tip. He also came across a mention of Tenkara (Japanese Fly Fishing), which is very similar to angling with a loop rod.  Those of you who read the blog knows that in the The Compleat Angler, Piscator used only a rod and line to catch the first fish. (Diving into Tenkara)

Chris experimented with crappie rods, because at the time Tenkara rods were not available in the U.S., in 2008 when he got his first Tenkara rod.  At the time information on Tenkara was hard to come by and most of it was in Japanese. Chris goal in starting Tenkara Bum is to provide the information he wish he had when he was started out.

He's a featured tier in “Tying Tenkara Flies" which is put out by Learing Tenkara.

Chris goes on spreading the word of Tenkara through his blog Tenkara Bum, where shares information on all things Tenkara, from rod reviews, how to ties traditional Tenkara flies, sharing Tenkara stories and sell everything you would need to get in to Tenkara fly fishing.

Here Chris ties the Takayama Sakasa Kebari, a legendary sakasa kebari originating in the Takayama region of Japan. I hope you enjoy the video, filmed at the 2012 International Fly Tying Symposium.

Tenkara is not Dapping

Daniel Galhardo of Tenkara USA demonstrates and teaches Tenkara casting techniques at the Somerset Fly Fishing Show.  Ask you can seen in this video Tenkara involves casting not lowering your fly in to the water (dapping). 

In order to dap (traditionally) you need wind to position the fly on the water and help make the fly bob on the surface.  In Tenkara you are casting in much the same way you cast a western fly rod.  The difference is you have a fixed amount of line.  With that fixed line you can deliver your fly with pin point accuracy, something you can't do when you "dap."

Great Tenkara Site - Traditional Japanese Fly Tenkara

While doing research on traditional Japanese Fly Fishing "Tenkara" I came across a wonderful site by Yoshikazu Fujioka, Trout and Seasons of the Mountain Village.

On the site you'll find information the the history of Tenkara, his favorite streams in Japan, the U.S. and New New Zealand, and his art work acrylics and watercolors (which he is best know).

Here are a few links to his site:

Trout Streams of the Mountian Village;

My Best Streams, Japanese Fly "Tenkara";

and

Traditional Japanese Fly Tenkara.


Enjoy!

Diving into Tenkara

I purchased my first Tenkara rod and line from TenkaraUSA.com.  The Jersey Angler turn me on to this traditional Japanese fly fishing method.  It's a great way of delivering your flies to the fish and loads of fun.

Fishing "Tenkara" only requires only a rod and line, much like in Izaak Walton's time. In The Compleat Angler.

 Piscator said to Venator:

"And I will then give you direction for the making and using of your flies: and
in the meantime, there is your rod and line; and my advice is, that you
fish as you see me do, and let's try which can catch the first fish". 

You'll can see from the engraving below no reel.

       "Izaak Walton and his scholar" 

by American illustrator Louis John Rhead (1857-1926).
Wood engraving.

This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs Division under the digital ID cph.3b34920