At first glance, it looks like some kind of new cane-pole and fly rod mash-up. But it's actually an ancient Japanese fishing method perhaps most notable for its simplicity and minimalistic approach.
That's really the beauty of this Far Eastern angling technique called tenkara. And Norman angler Michael Vidrine, 40, has embraced it.
"It ultimately is the original style of fishing. I see it as a simpler way for people to get into fly fishing," he said. "But it's a different technique for sure, and it works."
Tenkara originated in Japan and has been practiced there for at least several centuries. It was known by only a few people in America until a company called Tenkara USA opened in the United States in 2009. Since then, the ranks of those enjoying tenkara have grown.
According to the Tenkara USA website, emphasis is placed more on technique than large collections of fishing gear. And that's a good thing for Oklahomans who might rather focus less on what to bring and more on where to go.
Where traditional fly fishing can involve lots of gear, tenkara ultralight fly fishing uses just the basics. There's no reel, just a long lightweight rod with a length of fishing line tied to the end. There aren’t large cases of tackle or jars of bait to carry, just a couple of artificial flies. No wading required. A small pair of pliers, an optional fish net, and perhaps a pair of polarized sunglasses, and you are set.
Vidrine said his interest in tenkara came about because he found himself cooped-up inside his workplace for eight hours per day with no windows. So, he decided to get outdoors during his lunch break. And that's where the simplified technique of tenkara entered his life.
A nearby Close-to-Home Fishing site offered him the opportunity to enjoy some fishing on his midday breaks. These waters are designed as urban opportunities with bank access that anyone can use. Not only that, but they've been regularly and amply stocked all spring and summer with catchable-sized hybrid sunfish. They also offer fishing for largemouth bass and catfish.
It was just the right combination of quick and easy. “It was the minimal type of fishing that I was looking for.”
In only a minute or two, Vidrine can park his car near a fishing hole and have his fly in the water. After a relaxing half-hour, he says he typically catches some fish. He gets a chance to unwind in the middle of the day, and usually returns to his office feeling more energized.
It is believed that tenkara originated in the mountainous areas of Japan. Anglers would create bamboo rods up to 15 feet long that could be taken apart and carried in a tube. The anglers would follow the small running streams up the mountains to fish for trout, and they needed gear that was simple and portable. The long rod allows the angler to present an artificial fly in a very precise manner. There is no reel or spool of line to worry with; only a length of line ending with a lighter tippet to tie on a tiny fly. The length of line is normally about the length of the rod, or maybe a bit longer.
As for tenkara technique, most people pick it up quickly, Vidrine said. “The kids call it ‘whip fishing.’ Anybody can learn to do it.”
Similar to traditional fly fishing, a tenkara angler will snap the rod back and forth to position his fly before letting it fall into the water. Vidrine says tenkara is best used in smaller water bodies and streams or creeks. But because it is ultralight fishing, the wind can easily hamper the angler’s casting efforts.
Several companies now offer tenkara fishing gear in America. Vidrine said the expense is comparable to what you might pay for a high-quality rod-and-reel combo. Modern tenkara rods are usually made of fiberglass or carbon fiber and are very light. They are often telescoping rods that extend from about 20 inches to 12 feet. Rods come in a carrying tube that can easily hold everything an angler needs.
“These are amazing for hiking. It weighs next to nothing.”
The flies that are used in authentic tenkara are called kebari. They differ from a standard Western artificial fly in that it is a wet fly with a special reverse hackle — instead of feathers or hair tied facing back- ward to cover the hook, they are tied facing forward to create more disturbance in the water.
Vidrine said during the past several years, he’s noticed more traditional fly fisherman trying their luck at local urban fishing areas. Many are curious to learn about the method Vidrine is using.
“I’ve met so many great people all the time I’ve been fishing. But it’s a different technique for sure.”
But he’s never once run across another tenkara angler while fishing. Perhaps as society has learned to slow down some, more people will take to tenkara. “There’s lots of opportunity. It’s an easy way to get out with the kids, to go out for an hour or two. “It is so much fun.”
- This adapted article was originally published in the May/June 2020 issue of "Outdoors Oklahoma" Magazine. Subscribe here to receive six full issues for $10. Don P. Brown is an information specialist for the Wildlife Department.