Written by Martin Montejano
There’s one aspect of tenkara that drew a lot of us to the style. It was the main focus of marketing early on when TenkaraUSA first started out, and years later it still resonates with so many of us. Simplicity. The idea that one could catch fish with a rod, a line, and a fly.
I’ll admit, that is what got me interested in tenkara in the first place, and is still one of the reasons I love this form of fishing. There was a point in time when fly fishing piqued my interest, and in trying to learn more about a style of fishing that seemed so foreign to me I quickly became overwhelmed with the information I was seeing and reading online.
At the time, the idea of spending a few hundred dollars on a rod, then a few more on a reel seemed outrageous to me. Articles and marketing also suggested that one would “have to buy” all the little gadgets and nick-nacks that supposedly make your fishing experience “better.” All of that, in combination with having to learn to “match the hatch” seemed like more than a casual angler who fishes every now and then would want to take on. Reading all of this took the fun out of fly fishing without even having crossed the threshold of buying into it yet.
Luckily, tenkara isn’t quite like that. Of course, that’s not to say we don’t collect gear over time, but one of the core values of tenkara revolves around simplicity. From a very basic setup, we grow and tailor our gear to our needs and preferences. Regardless of the accouterments we attach to our favorite fishing packs, there are a few pieces of gear that are essential to fishing, and that’s what we want to talk about in this post.
The Essentials
Starting off with what you absolutely need to get out there, the list is pretty short. To catch a fish with tenkara, you really only need a rod, a casting line, some tippet (preferably a spool - not just the small section that’s already on your line) and a few flies.
Regardless of how long you’ve been fishing with a tenkara rod, I think it’s safe to say that one should use what they have. If you’re new and just starting out, that may just be one setup. If you’ve been fishing for a while and have a collection of different components, use what you like, or what best suits your needs.
Line & Fly Storage
A few things that extend off of the essential items that one should consider are a spool to hold their line, and a fly box.
There are plenty of options for line storage out there, from simple cards that you wrap your line around, or foam spools, to machine-cut, or hand-made wooden spools. Find something that works for you!
The same idea goes for fly boxes as well. If you look on any fly-fishing retailer's website, you’ll find a multitude of fly boxes offered in different sizes and materials, as well as plenty of options on how the flies are secured in the box.
Something to consider is finding an option that combines the two, and looking for a line spool that can also carry a few flies. This is a great option for those who take a very “minimalist” approach to tenkara.
Tools
A few things that you should consider bringing with you are line nippers, forceps, a net, and a thermometer. While these items aren’t absolutely imperative to have, they offer more benefit to both the angler, and the well-being of the fish.
The nippers will help you trim excess tippet or line when tying knots. When it comes down to it, that’s really what you’ll use them for the most. A lot of them will come with a little spike to help clear the hook eye of any leftover glue or tippet, but the cutting edge is where the main focus is. There is really no need to go out and buy expensive nippers. A lot of “beginner” kits will come with a pair of them, and even if they don’t, you can always use a spare set of nail clippers. While some people prefer to have their nippers as a separate tool, I myself prefer to just use forceps with scissors integrated into the jaws, which brings me to another helpful tool…
Forceps (or hemostats) offer plenty of utility. They can aid in tying knots, crimping the barbs on hooks, and removing hooks from a fish’s mouth. If one is going to carry any extra item outside of the bare-minimum, I would say bring forceps, and get comfortable using them for any of the tasks mentioned.
A net is another important piece of equipment. Being able to contain your catch brings plenty of benefits. For those who may be new to fishing, having a net helps in learning good fish handling skills. By allowing the fish to remain in the water without the ability to swim off, we’re able to take time to make sure we do things the right way; that is, wetting our hands, and gently holding the fish while we remove the hook (sometimes with our forceps), and making sure the fish recovers before we send it back on its way.
As far as a thermometer goes, this plays more into the well-being of trout. Being able to check the water to make sure it’s at a temperature that is safe for the trout (between 45F and 65F) is a practice that we’d like to see more of, as it ensures that others get to enjoy fishing and nature for years to come. If the water temperature is below or above that range, try to find a different stream or species to fish for.
One last item to consider for keeping your tools in easy reach is some sort of tether, whether it’s a “zinger,” or even just a stretchy (or not so stretchy) cord. Another added benefit is that the tools will stay attached to you in case you drop them, ideally preventing you from losing them to the river. Which brings me to one last piece of gear to consider…
A Way to Carry Your Gear
We need something to hold all our gear, and finding a pack that works for you and your preferences is important. Is it absolutely necessary? Maybe not. But, it can help one to enjoy their fishing.
On that note, it doesn’t even have to be a “fishing” pack. You can use whatever may be available to you - be it a backpack, fanny pack, or even a just a little MOLLE pack attached to a belt. If you really take a more minimalist approach to fishing, you may even get by with just a belt, or even just your pockets.
Having covered essential tenkara gear, and branched out to other helpful items, I wanted to express the idea that fishing is what you make it. It can be as difficult, or as easy as you want. With that, each individual will choose how much gear they want to bring with them on the water. Luckily, tenkara lends itself to simplicity, and requires only a few components in order to be able to go out and catch fish. It gives us an opportunity to worry less about the gear, and more about the environments we find ourselves in through our pursuit of fish.
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