Dan Brozowski explains the appeal of the ancient Japanese fly fishing practice of Tenkara.

Tenkara! Just saying the word gives one a feeling of power. It’s one of those words that, when spoken, brings intensity from deep inside one’s being!

Before you start cheering and fist pumping, and before you do something grand like your best deadlift in competition, “Tenkara” translated simply means “from heaven” or “from the sky or above.” Sorry to quell one of those “Rocky on the top stairs moments,” but today we’ll be investigating a different concept or technique for bank anglers.

Welcome to Tenkara! Tenkara is a rather old system of angling dating back several centuries, originating on the small mountain streams of Japan; it’s one of the earliest forms of fly fishing suited primarily for those small scaly inhabitants of those local Japanese waters. So…while I’m sure you appreciate the history lesson, you are probably pondering, with all the technologies available today to pursue our favorite species, what could possibly interest me in such an antiquated system? Because, well, it’s cool! Wow, deep thoughts!

I stumbled on to Tenkara while researching fly fishing products and yes, starting to get my feet wet, so to speak, in the fly fishing world. I kept seeing information on Tenkara rod systems, so I began to seek out more information. While it’s somewhat of a niche angling experience, it piqued my interest to the point of venturing beyond studying the concept to purchasing the entire Tenkara rod system, of which you’ll see its beauty in its simplicity going forward.

Tenkara certainly falls into the fly fishing genre as you’ll see the baits are flies and cast in similar manners and areas frequented by the fly fishing community. So let me explain what the Tenkara system consist of and you’ll understand the similarities but also the obvious differences. The entire Tenkara system is made up of a pole, a section of fly line, a tippet and a fly—that’s it!

The Tenkara pole is the obvious distinctive difference in that it has no reel and no line guides. It’s a telescopic pole that collapses into an approximately 20-inch carrying size and fits into a rod tube. There are no line guides; therefore, the line attaches to the tip of the pole.

From the pole tip, you attach the fly line; it’s simple with the line provided and is removable without dealing with tying knots so you can compact your rod back into the tube for transporting. The fly line itself is different in that it is not the coated fly line most fly anglers are familiar with; it consists of what they refer to as furled line, similar to braided fishing line. On the end of the fly line is a ring to which you attach your tippet, which usually consist of a couple of feet, then topped off with some type of fly. That’s it!

As far as casting the Tenkara, it’s not as complicated as the various fly casts; it’s simply rather a flick of the wrist. YouTube it for sure, but after a few moments on the water, you’ll get the hang of it.

As far as landing a fish with no reel, while it might seem a bit unusual, it’s just like those old days of cane pole fishing; the pole does all the fighting. You’re probably thinking, well, that’s going to be a tiny-fish-only technique, but you’ll be surprised at the size fish the Tenkara will handle. If you know you’ll encounter bigger fish, Tenkara also has poles from light to heavy to fit your fishing needs.

While thought of as a small-stream approach primarily because of its origination, the Tenkara system works well on all bodies of water: Small rivers and streams, of course, but also larger main rivers, ponds and small lakes that make this system one of my new fish-catching approaches. Another very positive aspect of the Tenkara system is the casting and handling for kids or beginners to the sport. The Tenkara will have fish on the line in a matter of minutes—perfect to keep the beginner interested.

Earlier, I stated that the Tenkara system was just a “cool” way to fish—and it is! We live in a society full of ever-changing technology; we have the most advanced tackle systems we have ever experienced in the world of angling, so why use a system that dates back hundreds of years? For me…at times…I need to find a little peace, a little serenity. I need to step away from the distractions of our intense surroundings and find a bit of solace. The simplicity of this type of angling reconnects me with my passion for what is tugging on the other end my line.

Looking for some new fishing techniques to try this season? You’ll find plenty of suggestions in every issue of MidWest Outdoors. Subscribe on our website.