@@ZenTenkara I am just starting. Today is my first day on the water with a tenkara rod. I will check out your content. Today is about getting used to the casting motion… definitely need to watch or read up on how to land fish.

I used a 16ft zen Fusion Line /Big with a 25lb test 7ft leader.

Hi there. This is the Zen Tenkara Kyojin Rod.

Glad you found it helpful. Tenkara is great and can do much more than many anglers think. Welcome to the tenkara community! About your question, not sure I understand what you are asking. Are you using a PVC line? If yes, is it a tenkara specific line (meaning does it have pretended loops at both ends?). If no, is it a homemade line with no loop at tippet end? In general if there is a small loop, I suggest a loop to loop connection with your tippet. This wogreat if you are using a pre-made tapered leader, like from RIO or some other manufacturer. If no then you can tie a simple overhead loop on the end of your tippet to go a simple connection. Or, you can use a clinch knot to attach straight tippet. If this doesn't answer your question, then reach out via email and we'll get you figured out. [email protected]

Totally get it but they are such fun fish to target. Some people feel that way where I'm from too, but no laws around them.

@vinny8532 Great question. The short answer is to the side and slightly up using your wrist to "pop" the fly and your arm to compensate for a very flexible tip. The more detailed answer is here on our Zen Blog: www.zentenkara.com/how-to-improve-your-hook-set/

@1000186ful I'm using the Zen Kyojin with a Zen Fusion Line Big/28ft. I can't remember exactly what fly I had on, but a smaller tarpon fly.

@ZenTenkara so you just use same Flys for fly fishing with a reel ?

@@1000186ful absolutely 💯

​@ZenTenkara I'm put back some money to buy one these poles I really want try this iv been trying to do fly fishing with the reel but this looks more fun .I almost caught a gar on one the fly lures I made it was awesome to see it trailing my lure all the way to the bank it was about 2 ½ feet long

​@@1000186fulWOW. Sounds fun. I use a reel too but always find more satisfaction landing fish on a tenkara rod.

Thanks!

@@mvsc-k5e almost but mot quite. And hey, whatever it takes 🤣

It sure is, especially when it results in landing a fish!

Justcant let them get ahead of you too much

Thanks so much. It was a lot of fun. Tenkara is a blast. Make sure you choose the right rod for the kind of fish you'll be targeting. Not all tenkara rods could have landed that fish. Most would have broken just into the fight.

It is a beautiful place for sure and a perfect spot to practice. So glad you enjoy the videos. If there is a topic or topics you're interested in, please let us know and we'll try to cover it. 😃

@@ZenTenkara Thank you for your response. I just received my first Tenkara rod, a Yari, and look forward to learning to cast it. I am 76 and have fly-fished since I was 12 years old. My wife and I made annual trips to Idaho...our favorite was Silvercreek and Copper Basin. We also fished in Wyoming, Montana, Colorado, and NM. I lost her to the pandemic so things have changed. I have decided to get off my duff and get back outside. It has taken me three years to finally realize I have to get on with enjoying life. Tenkara looks like it will fill the bill with some new challenges with much to learn and unlearn. I found your channel after ordering several rods but will look forward to doing business with you soon. Ironically, I think my wife had pointed out your channel several years back, and if I remember correctly you did guided trip for women and she was interested. If so, I am sorry I did not get the opportunity to fulfill that trip for her. Looking forward to your channel, blog, and doing business with you. Again, thank you for your kind response and sorry for the thesis.

It is quite beautiful and the perfect place to practice

​@@WayneTheSeineMy sincere condolences. Sounds like she was a true partner in life. I am guessing she would be proud of you for getting out there and living life again. Fishing can be very healing to the heart and soul. Tenkara has taught me so many things and has brought about an exciting life journey. Thank you for sharing your story. I hope tenkara will help bring positive change and joy to you. If I can help or support in any way, please don't hesitate to reach out. Anglers support anglers and Zen is not just about selling, it's about finding balance on the water.😊

Check out How to Cast an Extra Long and Heavy Setup...there's your double handed tenkara spey cast 😊 kzbin.info/www/bejne/kGKlpnZngt1-gMUsi=RKkm6fr558MG4qEM

Hard? Why? It's very simple and easy...promise.

76 years young! Tenkara will make you feel 12 again. You'll use all the same foundational skills with a few minor adjustments. Im confident you'll be landing fish in no time. My best tips are: Avoid turning your tenkara rod into a candy cane. Instead aim for an arc or half circle. This keeps pressure out of the tip and encourages you to get into more of the belly of the rod. Play to side as much as possible. This help you to get into that arc shape or "power curve" and avoid the candy cane shaped rod which often occurs when you play high over head. Strive for even steady pressure on the fish and the rod. This minimizes bouncing which can cause you to lose fish, and sudden intense pressure on a single point along the length of the rod. Finally, when you land a fish and grab the line, grab low verses high. This will make sure you done accidentally pull the rod tip down and breaking it while you grab the line. Tight lines and happy fishing. Reach out if you have questions or need some support. Always happy to help.

@@ZenTenkara Thank you so much for the reply and great advice.

Fantastic! Some of the fish were huge and very strong. Was using 15/16lb test. They were not tippet shy...never seen flies before and sometimes.would.still break off. We were told to bring brighly colored streamer and salmon-type flies in orange and pink. BUT we never hooked any with these flies. We caught everything on nymphs like big pheasant tails...traditional stuff and large sparkle scuds and pupa type flies. It is a beautiful country with wonderful people. Where are you going to be?

I only just saw that all of that info is in your video description! Sorry for the bother. We will be sailing around the south of Greenland coming from Iceland and then sticking to the western side for the month. I am working as an expedition guide and we often go out for excursions near lakes and streams. Saw a whole bunch of big char last year so have decided to buy a tenkara setup that I can travel with and quickly setup when I get to a suitable stream. Thank you for the help. I will make sure to take strong tippit and enough nymphs.

​@@african.origins Sounds like an incredible experience. Please feel free to reach out if I can offer any other insights. Bring a bug net. The bugs are continuous. Safe travels

So far I have only come across smaller streams and all full of silt which makes visibility very poor! Hoping that my luck changes to better streams and lakes. I still have another 10 days here before we leave. Fingers crossed! 🤞🏼

Whereabouts were you located when you took this video? And what other areas could you recommend?

A big carp or rainbow! A lot of.big.fish down in that corner.

Yeaahh. Gotta redo this one 😬😆

It absolutely is "trickier" to land fish when casting a long line. And a long handle net definitely helps. But once you do it a few times you get more comfortable with it and much more proficient at it. I don't think twice about a 25ft or 35ft setup. Of course a net buddy is always appreciated but doing it yourself will allow you to get better at handling those long line. Sometimes depending on the water Im fishing, I lay my rod in it. It floats and isn't going anywhere since Im holding the line - but you can't do that everywhere.

We have quite a few customers in the Texas, Panhandle area as well the Carolinas that use our rods for redfish - and even from a kayak - with great success. We usually recommend the Taka for this type of fishing, but the Kyojin and the Suimenka should also be considered. This might help you: www.zentenkara.com/faq/which-of-your-rods-are-best-for-carp-and-drum/ Happy to answer specific questions about these rod or about using them from a kayak, etc. Here's our contact form: www.zentenkara.com/contact/ Reds on tenkara are a ton of fun!

Yes, that's sure oops. 🫢 We'll be re-recording this one

@@ZenTenkara We’re human. Let it slide.

Generally we recommend either two of our rods - the Zen Taka or the Kyojin. While we've used the Sagi on smaller bones up to about 3lbs saltwater is unpredictable so a beefier rod ilike the Taka or Kyojin is safer. When considering these rods the Kyojin is hands down the strongest and most capable rod when dealing with wind, long lines and potentially bigger flies. It has a much stiffer tip than the Taka which allows uou to cast 30ft even 40ft setups into heavy wind, and has the backbone to land bones, tarpon, shark, baracudda, jacks, junior permit...even trigger fish. No lie, it takes some skill and understanding your rod flex and the Fishing Triangle. But we've had incredible success and landed fish people would think impossible. The Taka is an awsome and very strong rod but the softer tipcan make it difficult to cadt a really long line if there is strong wind.

@@ZenTenkara Thank you. Will look up that rod. Will be travelling to Southeast Asia soon, and my target species would be barramundis, png snappers, milkfish, mahseers, snakeheads, knifefish. And if possible, GT's and Wahoos too.

​@@herphermitswe actuaaly had acustomer geta Kyojin for a similar trip to visit family. He landed a number of snakehead....so it is doable (not the prettiest fish though)

@@ZenTenkara Oh i love snakehead fishing. Used to catch them on BFS setup, now can't wait to catch them on tenkara. For toothed predatory fish like snakeheads & barracudas, do i or can i attach a wire leader to the tippet? So the fish won't bite off the line? Will it still be able to cast well i wonder.

​@@herphermits you sure can. Just know you may have to move. Keep the rod in an even flex position, to the side, stsy out of the tip and maintain even pressure. Tons of fun.

Yes! And much easier to learn on a tenkara. Casting is cadting. Boils down to physics regardless of the tool. 😊

You bet!

There are two loops on the Fusion Line and our AllPurpose Floating Lines: One large (with a tag end) and one small (on the All Pupose Lines this is the orange end with the tippet ring). The large loop is your connection loop which attaches to your lillian cord on your tenkara rod. You will make a simple hitch by 1) opening the loop by inserting you thumb and index fingers 2) with those fingers holding the large loop open, grab your line and pull a small amount through so that a circle loop is formed 3) insert your lillian cord through the middle of that newly formed circle loop and twist it through twice 4) cinch the hitch down tight. Here is a link to a video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3qsmJKEmL1mq7Msi=SVTH8ExAkbgJYMY9 While the vide demos the attachment using our All Purpose Line, the method is exactly the same on either line. Now, utilizing the small loop on the opposite end of your Fusion Line, we suggest using a loop-to-loop connection with either straight tippet or a tapered leader. You can also use a clinch knot and go straight tippet. On the AllPurpose Line we suggest tying on straight tippet using the tippet ring to protect the coating on the line. For longer leader/tippet set ups on the All Purpose Line, use a loop-to-loop connection. Make sense? If not, please let me know.

Thanks for the tip

Our apologies - we do what we can do. 😬

yes they are!

It was a tough day with that much wind

Right?! The best of both worlds, simplicity and sensitivity but with casting. He is actually casting the Kyojin with a Zen Fusion Midweight Line 25ft. We usually pair the Kywith our Zen Fusion Big Line, but he does a great jobs of nicely getting it out there.

@@ZenTenkara There is a lot of finesse in that cast. I can see how concentrated he is. I'm assuming the big line casts a bit easier.

@@logannewman4532 There is, and it does. People used to say tenkara was for peeps who don't know how to cast. But that's such a misconception

@@ZenTenkara I would say that "traditional" tenkara is just for a completely different type of water where even western fly fishing is not ideal. The fly first cast in traditional tenkara is ideal for pinpointing small pockets in small rocky mountain streams. I use a Keiryu rod for eurol-nyphing. Maybe this style of fishing just needs a new name of its own?

@logannewman4532 I often refer to it as Fusion Fishing or American Tenkara to delineate it from Traditional Tenkara.