How to Attach Level Line to a Tenkara Rod! (STRONGER Connection)

[@dtffishingmi]

TENKARA FAM! We all need to help in taking some of the burden of building American Tenkara off of Jason Klass's plate and work to improve it! This guy has been backpacking the whole community when it comes to innovation in Western Tenkara fishing, and he shouldn't be alone. Seriously though, if you're interested in Tenkara and haven't checked out Klass's blog & podcast - "Tenkara Talk" - then you NEED to check it out: www.tenkaratalk.com/

[@outdoorsforachange]

My dad and I are considering our first Tenkara rods, which is a very timely video. Thank you.

[@dtffishingmi]

That’s awesome! What’s species will you be targeting?

[@outdoorsforachange]

@@dtffishingmi Probably brook trout and sunfish.

[@dtffishingmi]

@@outdoorsforachange you’ll both love it. The SHADOWfire rod by DRAGONtail would be great for that 👌

[@outdoorsforachange]

@@dtffishingmi thanks, I will check it out!

[@karellansky]

Overthinking it. Why adding one more element to a simple fishing rig that can fail?

[@dtffishingmi]

I suppose I just don’t view the Alberto knot as being complicated because of my conventional fishing background, but I understand it might seem complicated in this context. To answer your question - I don’t want my rig to fail 15-18 feet up the line. There are big bass, musky, pike, long nose gar, steelhead, king salmon, and flathead catfish in the river systems I fish. My plan is to safely land and release them (if I can manage to hook them in the first place). 🙂

[@karellansky]

Tbh adding the Dacron loop is for traditional tenkara unnecessary. Been there, done that, and reverted back to the simple original approach. I actually lost a few lines with that loop attachment, and never with the original way. Also for traditional tenkara quarries - trout - the strength aspect doesn’t really matter.

[@dtffishingmi]

@@karellansky I sure hope mine doesn’t fail me on a fish, because if it does, I’ll owe someone a nice Tenkara rod 🙂. My quarries are indeed untraditional, and my American rods and several aspects of my rig will need to be catered to my quarries in untraditional ways in order to responsibly target them. I do respect those who wish to uphold simpler traditional methods (sincerely), but my first responsibility as an angler is with the safety of the fish, and I have confidence in this system. I will put a clear disclaimer going forward so that all are aware that my methods fall outside of Japanese tradition, though I did state it was new.

[@thetroutconjurer]

This particular knot is kind of an overcomplication. A slip loop knot for my level to lillian connection takes care of all my tenkara fishing and is plenty strong for the girls I go with. Also, I dont need to put a knot in my lillian, which later prevents me from disassembling the tip section for cleaning.

[@dtffishingmi]

It’s a little more complicated, but it’s a knot I regularly use in conventional fishing, takes roughly 30 seconds to tie with practice. Preparing a level line is something normally done at home though, not out on the water, so I’m more concerned about the strength of the connection than the simplicity. I suppose it depends on what you’re targeting too - if it’s sufficient for what you’re targeting and you don’t have issues, why change it? Personally, I had to come up with something more suited for the 10/20/30 lb. fish I’ll be targeting 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@dennisvanderhouwentenkarap3861]

@@dtffishingmi I am in agreement with @thetroutconjurer. I believe that you are stepping outside of the scope of what tenkara was designed for. Tenkara at its heart holds the practice of "simplicity". While you may fish your tenkara rod any way you wish.Tenkara does have a very specific definition and practical application. Whatever you are doing with a tenkara rod DOES NOT make what you are doing "tenkara fishing." Just as a deep sea rod used on a mountain lake does not make one a "deep sea fisherman", using at tenkara rod in a way and place it wasn't designed to be used is not tenkara by definition. These attempts at messing with an established set up that has been (I assure you) already tested and proven to work just as it is. To your points though.. You are fixing something that isn't broken. Strengthening this connection loop is not going to do anything to improve your rigging. The tippet knot, if not the fly itself, should actually be the weak point (and already is) for when the larger fish overpowers the rod. All I feel you have done is reinvent a wheel that has not given out. Please understand that if your loop comes undone it is not because of the size of fish but the knot that is used. In the event of a larger fish, with your set up, you are actually putting more stress on the rod tip itself.... IF the tippet doesn't break first which it will. So congratulations on creating a redundancy. Tenkrara was not created for these larger fish. Yes, you can catch larger fish with a tenkara rod. I have myself. But why intentionally go after species it was not evolved for? There is already a fishing rod for larger fish. Just because we can do something doesn't mean we should. When you do hook into a larger fish with tenkara it is a joy. It is a challenge. That challenge is the sporting element of angling. Your bragging rights go out the door when you start beefing up the tackle to "win" in the fight of man and fish. Tenkara has much to teach if we listen. I also find it a little too boastful to suggest that you, someone new to tenkara and who hasn't done their homework about even the basics of tenkara philosophy has any relevancy to "innovating" anything. Take the time to learn about the true nature of tenkara and let it be tenkara. It is perfect as it is and really will only suffer by adding complication to it. Tenkara is not about the rod, the tackle or the goal of catching that monster pike. It IS about developing a relationship to the rod, tackle, fly presentation, fish and stream. You mention Jason Klass above with some "familiarity." Did you ask Jason what he thought about this "innovation?" (Who am I though) Well, I fished today with Jason and have been fishing tenkara for 10 years with him. I can tell you with confidence that he and I talk regularly about this crazy ideas people keep getting about screwing around with tenkara outside of it's intended design. I am not speaking for him but can assure you he would not find this to be anything more than messing with something that already works. Speaking for myself exclusively... Each fool hearty abstraction being added with the continued assertion that by changing something it is making it "better" or "inovative" actually takes away from tenkara. Videos like these can become misinformation for those getting into tenkara for the first time. You have already suggested tenkara to be something it is not. You did nothing to establish what tenkara is other than to suggest that the Japanese haven't done a good enough job of understanding angling with their own creation. You cross a line by suggesting that we westerner's are going to make it better by making it our own. Tenkara is a gift from their culture that we can either respect or step on with our hubris and arrogance.

[@dtffishingmi]

@@dennisvanderhouwentenkarap3861 The knot I tied in this video is objectively stronger than an overhand knot - any undertones of arrogance or hubris here are unintended. With all due respect, my efforts to adapt Tenkara to catch the larger species that I have historically targeted with conventional methods is in no way affecting your desire to fish using traditional Tenkara methods. My familiarity with Jason Klass doesn't go beyond the brief time I have spent reading his articles and watching his videos, and I don't feel that I was being disrespectful here. I have nothing but respect for what he's done for the Tenkara community and I have learned a good amount already from him. Why target monster pike? Lake trout? Musky? Seems like a good time to me. Being upset by the way that I fish is akin to being upset by someone else eating cake because you're on a diet. I'm fine with you calling it something else if you like, and I respect your desire to preserve tradition in the way that you fish (sincerely). Lastly, I'll just say that bragging rights has never been a concern of mine. I don't think that's a part of Tenkara philosophy. Best of luck, and a fair warning, it's not going to get more traditional from here.

[@dennisvanderhouwentenkarap3861]

@@dtffishingmi I appreciate your reply but stand by my words. I never said that you couldn't do what you want (eat the cake) Just don't present yourself as an innovator and be aware of the misinformation you are spreading. Learn the basics and philosophy and then you can speak with more authority. Your video only shows your lack of understanding in the physics of the tenkara rod. I can only suggest as well that if you are going to quote Jason's technique that maybe you add a link to that resource. Sometimes in our excitement and rush in learning something new we forget to actually do the work before trying to teach others. Traditionalism is a choice for sure. I will continue to stand for the integrity of tenkara. It is more than just fishing to many of us. We, the early adopters, are a little frustrated with what some people are doing with tenkara. I have a saying... "Its like putting ketchup on the sushi." Be well. Ps. Your loop is a cool idea. It just doesn't translate to tenkara as practical or necessary.

[@dtffishingmi]

@@dennisvanderhouwentenkarap3861 The weirdest part of it all is that Klass’s method for this same connection is one he came up with - it’s almost equally as Western, modern and innovative, yet you only have an issue with my slightly newer (objectively stronger) knot. I’m sure you’re using a carbon fiber rod and fluorocarbon line. I think you should self examine before you assume the role of angered purist.