Tenkara

Kevin C. Kelleher, MD, is a family physician, an adjunct professor of medicine, the author of a monthly medical advice column, and an award-winning painter. He is also a backpacker, canoeist, and tenkara devotee.    Misako Ishimura, a top international fly-fishing competitor, was the charter director of the International Women Fly Fishers and the founder of World Fly Fishing of Japan. 

Introduction

Chapter 1: Gear Simplicity

Ultra-light, radically simple, and inexpensive, in an increasingly complicated world tenkara provides a number of advantages. The gear and technique retain the grace of fly-fishing even while providing on-stream ease and a direct, uncluttered, natural experience.

Chapter 2: Rigging Easily

With a tenkara rods and a few gear essentials, you can be fishing in minutes.

Chapter 3: Roots of Tenkara

Tenkara is rooted in the mountain streams of Japan and in the pragmatism of the subsistence fisherman. It has evolved over the years, and has benefited from recent American innovation.

Chapter 4: Dance of the Dry Fly

To fish dry flies with a tenkara rod, there are only three basic principles needed.

Chapter 5: Underwater Rooms

It's easy to fish nymphs with tenkara. This chapter covers the major techniques of subsurface fishing, as well as the vivid visualizing of underwater hide-outs.

Chapter 6: Simplest Cast in Fly-Fishing

Complete casting instruction can be communicated in minutes not days, including the fine points for the experienced caster.

Chapter 7: Small Streams

Tenkara is perfect for fishing small trout streams. This chapter will discuss how to read the water and present your fly in restricted environs, as well as the advantages of tenkara over western fly-fishing.

Chapter 8: Large Water

Even with a shorter cast, tenkara is surprisingly adaptable to larger waters.

Chapter 9: Hook to Hand

This chapter discusses playing, landing, and fish handling with a tenkara rod, and why tenkara actually enhances fish survival.

Chapter 10: Bugs 101

There are a few basic, aquatic insects any fisherman who wants to take tenkara to the next level should know about.

Chapter 11: Kebari and Western Flies

Simplified, situational fly recommendations can streamline your fly box, accented by the traditional Japanese reverse-hackle. The basics of fly tying is covered, as well as brief instruction on how you can make sensible, on-stream fly choices.

Chapter 12: Making Tenkara Leaders

This is a discussion of how to build level and tapered monofilament leaders as well the easy winding of traditional tenkara furled leaders.

Chapter 13: Tenkara Backpacking

Backpacking and tenkara fly-fishing are perfectly matched. Packing, storage, camp use, and camp cookery are covered as well as bonus recipes.

Chapter 14: Tenkara Women

Tenkara is being discovered and explored by women. World class angler Misako discusses the beauty and sensibility of tenkara for women, friendships, family, and treasured memories.

Chapter 15: Final Word

A final world about how tenkara expands the fly-fishing experience and renews us.