Tenkara Line Setup: Furled Leader vs Tapered Nylon Leader for Fly Fishing Review

[@jaquesdaniels2964]

I have used a piece of bicycle innertube to straighten kinked nylon for many years, it tends to fold by itself, just slit one side and run a safety (diaper ) pin thru it and hang it off your vest. However, I have to agree that some of todays nylons/flourocarbons are near impossible to de-kink. For mono, I tend to favour maxima, but its hard to find in hi viz colours if thats what you need onstream. What we do here (France) is boil mono to make it supple and less prone to coil memory. We also knot differing diameters together to make custom tapered lines. I use the blood knot as you can clip the tags close, I then use uv resin to cover the knot, this can aid casting in windy conditions, uv resin is available in colours , so this can help with sighting if needed. My tenkara dealers level lines come from Japan and cast just fine-I have the same line keeper system as you have.Hope thats of some use to somebody, tight lines to all. Any outbreak of flat tires on bicycles after folks read this is nuthin to do with me officer.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I really appreciate these detailed tips! I hope to get to the mountains next month for some trout fishing and will apply them! Thanks!

[@stillwater62]

You are right on the money about that. I mainly use Furled leaders on both of my Tenkara rods. I have a 10.5 ft and a 13.5 ft. and in my personal opinion furled leader is the way to go. I do have some level, high floating fly line in .027 in and .040 in that I like to use on certain occasion for dry flies. Thanks for the video.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I agree. I have been using the same furled leader for years.

[@inkjob12]

The Idea with Tenkara is to NOT have your line on the water....as little as possible. If your rod is raised and your fly is on the water with out the line dragging behind it means a better drift.

[@obliqueangler]

I prefer using level fluorocarbon (not nylon) lines designed for tenkara instead of furled or heavier PVC coated lines for better presentations, and no lillian knot for cleaning/drying the tip section. The lightest line you can cast with your Tenkara rod results in less sag and a direct connection to the fly with the "Tenkara Triangle" to use the "Vertical Advantage" (Discover Tenkara). Using a "fly first" cast and keeping the colored fluorocarbon line off the water AT ALL TIMES results in better line control and fly presentation, and a lot more fish; similar to the French Nymphing technique that is currently dominating the world of competitive fly fishing. Only a small amount of tippet is on the water is on the water if fishing a dry or wet fly, and only the length of tippet to get to the desired depth is in the water if fishing weighted nymphs. I stretch the line at each bend or curl after pulling the line off the line winder or spool and am able to almost completely straighten the line. The small amount of remaining curl acts as a strike indicator. Try again using a good #3, #3.5 or #4 fluorocarbon line intended for Tenkara, and spend about 30 minutes to 1 hour practicing the "fly first" cast to keep it off the water. You'll probably like the result. Best of luck!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I really appreciate the suggestion. I will pick some up, practice and try it out when I go back to the mountains in April! Thanks!

[@obliqueangler]

Awesome. Yes trout season seems such a long ways off. The 12 o'clock - 2 o'clock "fly first cast" forming the "Tenkara Triangle" has you "fishing" the instant the fly lands on the water without having to lift the line off the water. I don't know what kind of rod you have but check with the retailer you bought it from about the best "level line" size to use (I started with #3.5 and worked my way lower, to a #2 with one rod). The two most common mistakes are over-power which actually kills the cast because tip rebound pulls the line backwards and it falls short, piling up. The 2nd mistake is trying to cast too far; going past 2 o'clock. That over extends the "Tenkara Triangle" and the weight of the line will cause it to sag and fall onto the water. If you haven't done so, go to the "Discover Tenkara" KZbin channel ( kzbin.info/door/G_32fIivZzXnhZLcMdoiGA ) and watch their "Tenkara In Focus" videos. Look forward to hearing how you do.

[@HaveFaithInGod]

Excellent video. I too bought that tapered nylon line and retired it quickly after some work with it. Too much memory as you showed. I much prefer the furled line but only second to a very light floating fly line such as the Badger Tenkara lines. The "float vs sink" argument is usually moot as my five foot leader sinks all I normally need for stream trout or even pond Bluegills. I have a sinking tip furled Tenkara line but haven't had the opportunity to wet it. You need to try fishing a Titanium line. Awesome to use but hard to see. Best line of all in the wind. Its memory is opposite of nylon. It begs to lay straight since it is a wire.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thank you for the comment - I am always looking for something new to try out. I will look up both the Badger and Titanium lines!

[@Dogfish63]

Tapered nylon works pretty well for me casting beadheads or weighted minnow flies. I use a rubber line straightener that works to get the kinks out of the line. Although level line is my preferred line.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I have one of those. I need to give it another try.

[@ReuvenEtzion]

Can’t you just stretch your line a bit to remove the kinks? I’ll still be ordering a furled line though. Thanks!

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I tried that and it still was stiff

[@RonMTube]

Most tenkara casters use flouro level line as it casts and turns over flies better than nylon. Give it a try, preferably a tenkara specific brand from Japan. Flouro does have some memory problems but maybe not as bad as nylon (don't know, never tried nylon). The reason to choose flouro level line over furled leaders (or mono) is density. A dense, small diameter, flouro will punch through the air and wind better yet still turn over flies and be light enough to allow you to keep it off the water. That said, furled leaders are still nice and I believe still popular. Just avoid nylon.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I really appreciate this recommendation. I love the TenkaraBum website and will follow his advice on what to get. I'll try it with some Vanish Flouro while I wait for the Tenkara specific version to arrive. For the last year, I have had a 0 wt level fly line I wanted to try as well - I need to test that. Thanks!

[@RonMTube]

Agreed about Tenkarabum. Also, last year I got some tenkara floating line (sacrilege to some) and it's great. Opens up new opportunities in the realm of fixed line fishing.

[@RonMTube]

Based on your video, I went and bought a thread furled leader for my tenkara rod. Can't wait to try it. Had used mono furled leaders w. my regular fly rods but wasn't overly impressed as they became awfully twisted after being pulled out of snags. Thread based ones supposedly behave better. We'll see.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I wrote an article on leaders for Southern Trout Magazine. You might find it helpful - issuu.com/southerntrout/docs/25_june_july_2016/10

[@HaveFaithInGod]

Personally I never could adapt to level fluro lines. Harder to cast for me. The best casting line I've used is titanium but impossible to see. I settle mostly on a very thin floating fly line from Badger Tenkara.

[@MrRourk]

Long Rods and short line for strike detection. Watch the number of fish you catch go up. Use a fluoro sinking line. It keeps the line tight for better strike detection. What weight was your umm orange line? I sometimes use a 3.3.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

It was what TenkaraUSA sold as a tenkara line. Probably 0 wt. The tenkarabum website has a number of line options. I will browse it and see what they have.

[@MrRourk]

The main reason furled lines are not used as much is they are harder to keep off the water do to sagging. A sagging line ruins your ability to detect strikes. Try Nissin PALS Line. Especially the the twisted line. Furled line makes it easier to cast. It has more mass. As your casting skills increase you will not like it. Harder to pinpoint accuracy cast with furled lines. tetontenkara.blogspot.com/2015/04/shimotsuke-mai-line-fluorocarbon-furled.html?m=1

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Appreciate the link - I'll check it out.

[@theimpaler5034]

take the guids and reel seat of a fly rod and u got a tenkara rod I use to use a 4m 13foot or 14 foot peace of bamboo yeah really heavy back in the day but I caught heaps of fish

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I always wondered whether a crappie pole would work... just have not tried it.

[@MrRourk]

vladimir jozic No it does not work that way. The lenth and flex is all wrong. I use a Daiwa Kiyose 53m it is 17' long. Take 2 hands to cast.

[@MrRourk]

Kayak Hacks Fishing It works just does not have the sensitivity and requires heavier line to cast.

[@ernieflynn5124]

What is your fured line made of? Braid, fluorocarbon? Just wondering. Thanks for the video.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

It depends on which one you are interested in. Here is the link to the place where I get them. blueskyfly.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0f2ikdz9-QIVSgaICR3nhQPzEAAYAiAAEgJE9vD_BwE

[@KayakhacksFishing]

It is very thin intertwined flouro. Sadly, the place I bought them is out of business now. I think braid would sink too fast when wet. I put floatant on the line and it works great.

[@surfdetective]

I Hate the orange tenkara line....today we fished for corvina in the surf...switched to 50 lb braid which worked great...used braid because it was what I had on one of my reels....braid works fantastic and is much less expensive...

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I agree!

[@spacespace777]

This is a gem

[@trialsrider1952]

What end of line attaches to the lillian?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

The thickest part

[@McBeavzz]

I make my own furled leaders with braided line and a tippett ring.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Awesome! I need to learn how to do that

[@royramdeen8864]

There is a line straighter for nylon ?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I think anything you use to add heat by rubbing and stretching might work. Maybe keep it in a warm place to relax it before using. I have not tried anything to give you a firm answer

[@skyjoyner6013]

Just use a regular circular spool!!, doesnt leave any memory on ANY LINE. I never use those clip on line holders, as they always leave line memory!!(Experience)

[@KayakhacksFishing]

I found the spool awkward to use. You make a good point on the memory

[@grunter1389]

So what's the "furled line " made from ?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Manufacturers create them by weaving thin diameter mono, fluorocarbon or thread material together to produce something that looks like a long, skinny ponytail with a loop connection at both ends. Do not confuse a “furled” with a “braided” leader. The weave on a braided leader creates a hollow core that holds water; creating more splash upon landing. Furled leaders have a solid center. Advocates of furled leaders argue the woven pattern makes them more efficient in transferring energy from the fly line. If interested, you can read my article on leaders in Southern Trout Magazine: issuu.com/southerntrout/docs/25_june_july_2016/10

[@jimseaman2558]

I too like the furled line, but.....I recently purchased one of the Tenkara USA tapered nylon lines. Yesterday I had the opportunity to use it on a local Montana stream. Yes, the line does have a memory coming off the spool, but I was able to straighten it easily. I use this same method for tapered leaders. Holding the line at one point and pulling with the other hand keeping tension while sliding same down the line. This movement creates a little heat during the stretching process. Do this for the entire length of line. This only takes a minute or two. I found the line worked well. The advantage to the nylon line is that it is lighter and easier to keep line off the water at distance. The disadvantage is as described. I enjoy and appreciate your videos. Thanks, Jim

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Thank you for that tip - it usually works. This was a cold day and I just could not get it to uncoil.

[@arustackle4798]

awesome tips sir..

[@ernieflynn5124]

Where do you get your furled line?

[@KayakhacksFishing]

It has been a while since I bought it and have forgotten the source. However, it looks like Amazon carries many choices now - amzn.to/3SNHYkg

[@Crypto1947]

T totally agree..not even close..go furl.!

[@realhardballify]

you might regret giving them the money , but they still have it . your saving others from buying that stuff , so thanks for the Sacrifice. sorry your wallets a bit lighter.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

This is where the ad revenue from KZbin goes :-)

[@redroofretriever]

In all fairness, this is not an equal comparison. I'm not a fly fisher, but to see a comparison, one is a swimming pool, the other in a stream, gives the appearance that the testing was a bit skewed. The stream clip did not show the actual line up close in the same manner the pool did. Also, the stream clip shows the line hanging from its own weight, unlike the pool line at rest on the water.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

Good point, but the nylon performed the same in the stream. I did the furled in the pool as well and it laid out straight, but I did not want to make the video too long - guess I should have included that footage. You can at least compare the memory when I unwind the nylon vs the furled at different points in the video.

[@redroofretriever]

Agreed, the visual memory of nylon is enough to see that line is flawed by design, even from my untrained eyes.

[@theimpaler5034]

why not just use fly line whats thhe difference after all its the same as a fly rod only with no reel

[@KayakhacksFishing]

You can use 0 wt or 1 wt fly line. I have been playing with that. Just cut it to the length you want.

[@itisjustmedude]

Tenkara rods are not fly rods without line guides. The flex point and tip flexibility are completely different. If you ever put the bend in a fly rod that you get from a tenkara rod, you'd break it. If you used a standard fly line, you wouldn't be able to keep the casting line off the water. The line would sag from its own weight and pull your fly away from your casting target. The whole point of tenkara is having the least amount of line in or on the water with a fly only contact on the water being the perfect cast.

[@ArkyJane]

Agree.

[@springteen3743]

Nylon stretch, just pull them and nylon will be memory free. Simple 😊

[@joesbud]

one is a sinking and the other is floating line

[@KayakhacksFishing]

True - the nylon is advertised as "slow sinking." I fished the nylon line with rod high as TenkaraUSA recommended to slow the sinking. My issue with the nylon was not the flotation, just the memory retention.

[@gregh4284]

That sucks. I was thinking about getting a tenkara rod but now it's looking primitive and counterproductive.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

No, I love Tenkara on small water. Just use a furled leader.

[@gregh4284]

@@KayakhacksFishing maybe I'll try it. Just trying to keep things simple.

[@fredfable5655]

In my opinion...the whole tenkara thing is a waste of money. A pink barbie (dollar store) fishing combo will be way more effective...and more stylish!! LOL.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

:-)

[@HaveFaithInGod]

I must politely as possibly say, "You haven't got a clue, totally uninitiated."

[@fredfable5655]

Colin, forget abouyt politeness...is a medieval very ridiculous fishing. Don't come to me saying you are yoda or obi wan kenobi...plane medieval fishing.

[@canadiangemstones7636]

@@fredfable5655It’s actually incredibly fun. Super portable, light, and you can enjoy the fight of a 3” fish. Delightfully minimalist and no-fuss, a nice break from normal fly fishing.

[@AnonymousOtters]

Neither. Flourocarbon. Done