I am a terrible fisherman who packs way too much stuff in this bag as it is. So i went
looking for the lightest, most compactable, most idiot-proof way to catch fish while backpacking
and i found it and we're gonna talk about it right now.
So here we are folks welcome to the channel. So the kind of fishing we're gonna be talking
about today is tenkara fishing. Tenkara fishing is a sort of Japanese fly fishing. It's really
minimalist which makes it perfect for backpacking. It's usually done in small streams or creeks.
I find that kind of tenkara fishing to be much more difficult but i find it really easy to catch fish
with these things at high mountain lakes. Those high mountain lakes we love to backpack too that
we always see fish jumping in and we're just like, hey if i could throw something, anything out there
i'm sure i could catch a fish and that's exactly what you can do you can just throw this thing out
there and catch a fish. So let's just talk about the gear you'll need to get into tenkara fishing.
It's really simple to get into this you only really need to buy one simple, nicely,
neatly, packaged tankara setup. I went with a company called Tenkara Rod Company. Why did i
go with Tenkara Rod Company? Well the main thing is they're out of Idaho Falls and me being from Idaho
i wanted to buy local. They are a big player in the tenkara market so you really can't go wrong with
them. A lot of their rods have cool Idaho names like the sawtooth package or the white cloud
package. The one i went with is the Beartooth. This is their smallest, most collapsible, most versatile
rod that they have. It will cost you $200 for this and all the things you need to get started. This
thing is totally carbon fiber. It weighs 2.3 ounces. It comes in this really hard, indestructible tube
and you can just throw this in your bag and be on your way. The other stuff that's going to come in
your kit is this little package here. It's going to hold all your goodies. You're
going to get a wooden spool kind of hold your line there. You also will get some tenkara line.
This is the line that you attach to your tenkara rod. It's usually about 14 feet long.
On the end of your tenkara line you will add tippet. About this much, about two feet of tippet
is good. You're also going to get this little tin can that holds your flies. Now they only send you
three flies. I would recommend getting some more. I have a collection here. More packages that i've
ordered from tenkara rod company and then going down to your local fly shop and getting some flies
that guides in your area recommend that's a pretty smart way to go. And for $200 you'll get all that
and you are good to go. Some other accessories you might want to look into. Little nippers
just in case you want to like cut your line. Basically a pair of pliers to get you know
the hooks out. There's also paste you can get to make either your line or your fly float. Tenkara
fishing is traditionally wet fly fishing which means that your fly will sink. Wet fly fishing is
typically more successful and easier to do, but if you're a traditionalist you might want to try dry
fly fishing and to do that these are the pastes you would get. Now you might be wondering about a net.
I do have the tenkara net that i got. It is made completely of carbon fiber, but
it's pretty big and it's still a little heavy. I think this is about 12 ounces.
This is the smallest one that they sell and i find myself leaving this at home a lot. I just
take the fish out by hand, but if you want a net they have nets, they have bags. I don't really see
a use for it if you're taking it for backpacking. So let's pull out our rod here real quick.
It comes in another soft case in the hard case for extra protection. The reason this one is
the most collapsible is that most tenkara rods from the Tenkara Rod Company have a
cork handle to it which makes it a little bigger, a little bulkier. This rod is all work and no flash
and that's why i love it. The rod has a little stopper here on the end.
You will take your tenkara line, attach it to this end. Pop the top. Out comes your rod, it will extend
to 10 feet long. Oh no i've hooked my camera. I'm tangled up even in the studio. A couple tips
before you head out to the next mountain lake. To cast use your finger right here, and it is just a
soft flick of the wrist. You're gonna want that fly to land in the lake nice and easy.
It's all kind of this motion. Find a high point when you're next to the lake, either a rock or a
bank. It's really cool and it's a lot easier when you can see the fish actually come up and take
your bait and when you're standing above them you'll see them swim by, you'll actually be able
to cast to them. Make sure you wear some polarized sunglasses and these will help clear up the glare
so you can see your fish better. Once your fly hits the lake you're just going to want to kind of give
it a little, like this, like you're jigging with it. And then it's just fly, jig a little bit, fly,
jig a little bit, you'll be catching fish in no time. It is super easy. Now at this point are you
asking, Jon when i hook a fish how the heck do i get that thing out? Good question. You're right,
this thing has no reel, you cannot reel it in. You actually have to kind of pull the fish in.
I like to use a technique where i put the line behind me, slowly bring it back down to the tip,
and then grab the line and slowly work myself into the fish before taking it out and releasing it.
Just be careful that you don't step on your tenkara rod on the way back. If you do step on
your tenkara rod it is really easy to get those segments replaced. You will just email Tenkara
Rod Company. Costs like 15 bucks for a segment. Let them know what segments you need and you will just
unscrew the bottom of this rod and replace your sections where you can get them
right here. Just everything about this setup is so easy and so minimal and i love it and it's a ton
of fun and you'll have fun too. Check out some of these fun backpack fishing adventures over here.
Youtube thinks you'll like this one. Thanks for watching, i'll see you next time.