テンカラ

Basic Structure of the Rig

• Rod: A tenkara rod (fixed‑line rod) around 3.2–3.6m is generally used.
• Line: The line tied to the rod tip comes in two main types:
  Level Line — Fluorocarbon line of uniform thickness. Length can be freely adjusted, and it often comes in highly visible colors.
  Tapered Line — A nylon or fluorocarbon braided line that becomes thinner toward the tip. Its weight makes it easy to cast with minimal effort, making it suitable for beginners.
• Tippet (Leader): Attach about 1m of fluorocarbon tippet in 0.8–1号 to the end of the main line.
• Kebari (Flies): Traditional Japanese flies that imitate insects. Types include standard kebari with the hook point inside the hackle, and reverse‑hackle kebari that create resistance in the water for added appeal.

Fishing Procedure

1. Approach & Preparation:
   If using fluorocarbon line, stretch it once to remove coil memory; otherwise, it won’t land where you intend.
   Since stream trout face upstream, the basic approach is to fish upstream from downstream, staying in the fish’s blind spot. Move quietly and keep a low profile to avoid spooking them.
2. Casting:
   Use the rod’s spring (rebound) to cast. Stop the backcast at the 12 o’clock position and the forward cast at about 10 o’clock. This produces a clean, accurate presentation.
   Avoid excessive wrist movement or windshield‑wiper‑like motions, as they ruin the cast.
3. Drifting & Attracting:
   The foundation of tenkara is the natural drift — letting the fly float naturally with the current.
   Drift time is typically about 3 seconds, up to 5 seconds at most; longer drifts make the fly easier for fish to reject.
   When fish are less active, add subtle rod‑tip movements to make the fly twitch like a struggling insect, or repeatedly cast to the same spot to trigger a reaction.
4. Bite & Hook‑set:
   When you see a rise, unnatural line movement, or a fish turning underwater, quickly lift the rod to set the hook.
5. Landing & Release:
   Keep the rod raised and hand‑line the fish in, then scoop it with a net.
   For release, avoid lifting the fish from the water, wet your hands, handle it gently, and point its head upstream until it swims away on its own.