Friday, February 15, 2013

Tenkara: It is what it is

Let me start by saying that I think "Fly Fishing Only" waters are idiotic as would be "Gill Net Only" waters.

I've seen a discussion going on in the social media about whether Tenkara is fly fishing or not. Specifically, this becomes an issue when one considers using a Tenkara rig in "Fly Fishing Only" regulated water.

Look, flies! It must be fly
fishing. From Tenkara USA

There are two dimensions to this discussion. The first is a philosophical question: Is Tenkara, in form, a method of fly angling? I can easily see both sides of this discussion. I happen to think it is fly angling. That's an opinion.

The second question is a legal question: Does Tenkara angling fit the legal definition of fly angling in a given jurisdiction? In Connecticut, it does not. Apparently it does not in Washington either. Legally, Tenkara is not fly angling, it is Tenkara angling.

If you chose to fish with a Tenkara kit, I'm not sure why you would have an expectation that you'd be able to use it on "Fly Fishing Only" regulated waters. It's not, legally, fly fishing. So, either get over it or change the regulation.

I would suggest the change to the regulation would not be to redefine fly angling but instead to remove the restriction to the waters altogether. Anglers unite!



19 comments:

  1. I couldn't agree with you more.. fly fishing only waters need to go, as for Tenkara, all these guys keep telling me how its not really flyfishing.. and I guess the states agree.. in Oregon it needs a reel to meet the "fly gear" guidline- Brad

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    1. Yeah, it's not legally fly fishing. It's clearly a first cousin.

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  2. I am not a tenkara fisherman but if I happen to see 1 out there on a fly fishing only stretch...

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  3. I wouldn't hesitate to kick his butt. LoL..... Just kidding just kidding. But for real I would definitely consider tenkara fishing fly fishing. No doubt.

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    1. I think the appropriate thing to do is to taunt him while fishing with a collapsible antenna from an old AM radio.

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  4. I've always thought fly fishing only was a little elitist. The rules in the Great Smoky Mountain NP were (and I assume they still are) "single hook lure or fly only." No baits or scented plastics could be used. That made sense to me. It allowed somebody without fly gear to still enjoy the resource. All you needed was a beetle spin or a crappie jig on an ultralight, and you could play the game too. I do find it strange that tenkara wouldn't be able to qualify as fly fishing in some states. I find that ridiculous and xenophobic.

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    1. FFO is elitist though I suppose such waters just cast us in the mold by which others see us. Sad.

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  5. I couldn't find anything in the Fish & Game regulations in California except this phrase "Only artificial lures with barbless hooks may be used." so I think any type of fly fishing, whether it's a fly rod or Tenkara is admissible. Being a Tenkara fisherman I figure that if you fish with and fly it doesn't matter if it's on a 6wt or a Tenkara Iwana.

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    1. California is an enlightened state. It is also crazy.

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  6. huh... I realize it's not possible... but maybe the regs should worry more about the mindset and ethics of the fisherman than the rig he/ she is using.... "Conservationists That Leave No Trace Only" ..... violating that should be grounds for kicking you off the river.... not the rod / or pole or antenna that is in hand or what is tied at the end.....
    My 2 cents.

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  7. Jesus, I can barely fly fish with an ordinary fly rod never mind some fancy, smancy, nancy Japanese fishing pole. I think I had a Tenkara rod when I was a kid. It was an 14 foot bamboo stick with a kite string for a fishing line and a paperclip for a hook. What happened to Euro nymphing from just a few years ago?


    Let me just say this. I won't be buying a Tenkara thingy anytime soon. I bring home another fly fishing or second step child of fly fishing piece of equipment and my wife will have a conniption and may just possibly shoot me.


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    1. There are many reasons to refrain from fly fishing gadgetry, spousal disapproval tops the list.

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  8. FWIW, I've checked with Pennsylvania Fish & Boat, and they're cool with tenkara in FFO waters. That said, I agree with you in regards to FFO water in general, it's stupid. I think if you designate a body of water C&R only you'll probably get rid of most of the riff raff the FFO regulations are somewhat set up to protect. Whatever, water's water, fish are fish. Also...I think this was the best take on the whole tenkara on FFO water from Jason @ Tenkara Talk. Hopefully this URL makes it through the blogger spam filter: How to be a tenkara outlaw

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    1. yeah, some states seem to be considered with the terminal tackle (i.e. flies) than that rod, etc. I too think C&R regulations are more important than FFO. In CT we have waters where there are tackle restrictions (e.g. Class 1 Trout Management Areas: No bait, single hooks, C&R) which makes a lot more sense.

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  9. Regarding Tenkara, I keep hoping every angler will hook a large trout or big steelhead. That alone will cause the death of this ancient idea.

    Your thoughts on FFO waters is interesting. Here in Oregon there a few places with Fly Fishing Only regulations. There is also a companion style of regulation called Flies and Lures only. They are both designed to manage angling in waters that have viable wild trout populations where harvest is either very limited or not allowed. Waters that have ESA listed species (bull trout) can stay open to angling since fish have a very high rate of success of survival when released with fly or lure that are barbless.

    Those two regulations quite common and function quite well in most flowing waters in the state. Social issues over these type of regulations is not an issue anymore on all waters that are catch and release.

    Keep up the thoughtful writings, they are enjoyable.

    Clint Brumitt

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    1. Last summer I met someone who tried to use Tenkara for tarpon with predictable results.

      I think C&R and tackle restrictions (i.e. no bait, no treble hooks) are more fair than simply having FFO regs. That'd definitely be my preference.

      Thanks for stopping by Clint.

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