Ancient Tenkara: A Modern Method

Before Reading Note: I use the term 'downstream method' not to infer a tenkara angler would have been standing in the middle of any river fishing directly downstream (though they might have been on some Honryu rivers), but that a downstream approach gave the greatest advantage to [water-anchored] fly manipulation (sasoi) techniques. I am speaking very broadly of this downstream method, not that it couldn't be defined as 'across downstream' or 'quartering down.' Water conditions would have greatly factored into an angler's decision in these cases, but it is my overall and general belief that the 'downstream method' would have been preferred by the ancient Japanese fisherman.    

    Additionally, for reading purposes, please envision 'headwater fishing' on high-gradient mountain streams pre-infrastructure (before concrete dams and retaining walls were built). These man-made constructs were built centuries after these methods would have been developed by the Matagi people. In ancient times, these mountain streams were untamed, making fishing very different than what is noticed in Japan today.

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Were the Matagi and Shokuryoshi downstream anglers? This question keeps coming up in my mind. Why, you might wonder? Because I am under the firm belief that tenkara in its’ ancient history, originated as a downstream technique. For those of you unfamiliar, the Matagi people were ancient Japanese hunters who are credited with first developing the tenkara-method of fishing. The Shokuryoshi, were the village fisherman, who later adopted the Matagi techniques and further developed them [professionally] as they fished for the survival of their family and mountain villages.

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While the Matagi and Shokuryoshi surely fished downstream and upstream out of necessity — it’s my opinion that these original practitioners found tenkara most effective when fished downstream. It's only over the past few hundred years, that a transition from a downstream approach, to a [now mostly] upstream-method has taken place.

 

It’s with this transition [if true] from a downstream approach to a mostly upstream-technique that I believe is the current [and ongoing issue] for tenkara's elbowing for respect within Western fly fishing circles. 

    This jockeying for 'status' among the other ‘respected techniques' of western fly fishing that has shown to be an identity crisis when trying to "find a home" or even an answer, for the western tenkara angler trying to describe tenkara to the angling public. Answering, often leaves western tenkara anglers stuck between giving respect to the Japanese history, answering the "gear" question, or answering the "fishing method" question. This fragmented and split-answer description is often confusing for western anglers, and completely disorienting when it comes to trying to understand where tenkara [the technique] "fits in" with the other more known and 'respected' fly fishing disciplines.

    If the 'downstream method' was preferred by these early fisherman, this described identity crisis, would be as if wet flies went from being swung downstream, to then replaced by a more popular upstream-method. It's not that wet flies can't be fished upstream, it's just not the (historical) or original method.

    As it stands today with the majority of tenkara anglers fishing upstream, [we] (if my theory's true) have essentially dismissed the traditional method with a more popular approach. The only problem I’d argue, is that wet flies are more effective when they’re swung, just like I’d make the same case for tenkara — it’s more effective when it’s fished downstream using [water-anchored] fly manipulation [or Sasoi (luring)] techniques.

 

It is my belief that the Matagi and Shokuryoshi knew the downstream effectiveness to lure fish out from their holding lies, and that’s why they fished mainly a downstream method when the conditions were adequate to do so.

    Consider the thicker diameter and primitive lines they would have been using 300 or 400 years ago. Surely, an upstream approach would have proven less effective when fishing these heavier, less efficient lines [in crystal clear waters].

    It is my belief that these more primitive (thicker diameter) “forest-crafted” lines were less than ideal for upstream effectiveness; especially for the earlier Matagi people. As for the more modern Shokuryoshi, even after the implementation of thinner, braided horsehair lines and silkworm thread tippets, these water-anchored downstream tactics [would have still] provided better results. Food, of course, being the objective.

    As time marched on and with developments in modern equipment and with a wider audience of anglers fishing tenkara techniques on a variety of waters, these original downstream practices (if true) were lost to a modern-day, and decidedly more popular upstream philosophy.

 

This loss is unfortunate, if true, because over the past 20 years a generation of western tenkara anglers argued for tenkara’s place among western fly fishing ‘ranks’ as an effective and deservingly unique approach. A method they’d argue had a stand-alone-place among all the other fly fishing disciplines. Consider among these more widely known disciplines; dry fly fishing, streamer fishing, euro-nymphing, wet fly swinging, and [possible missing] downstream tenkara?

    Tenkara should not be known for its’ fixed-line (lack of a reel) and telescopic (backpacker-friendly) rods, but as a ‘style of angling,’ designed specifically to be most effective on certain types of water — with [a very exact] downstream approach?

 

I like to say, “Western fly fishers cast "the line," tenkara anglers cast "the fly.” This is not a snub at rod and reel fly fishing. This is truly my belief as it speaks to tenkara as a method. Tenkara, aside from euro-nymphing, is the only fly fishing discipline that is fished with a lighter — narrower diameter line. This is what separates tenkara and euro-nymphing from all other styles of fly fishing. This uniqueness, in the use of a lighter line, allows the tenkara angler to fish not only the fly, but the water current. As the fly, or kebari (ke = haired + bari = hook) is effectively 'presented' to the fish by the tenkara anglers ability to use these thinner diameter lines while drifting through or anchored-on [these exact] micro-currents.

 

The same is true of euro-nymphing. The difference that separates tenkara even further from euro-nymphing, and should afford tenkara its’ own seat at the proverbial “fly fishing table” is that euro-nymphing is meant to be fished [within] the water column. Euro-nymphing is not a topwater method. It’s not even a ‘top shelf’ of the water-column technique. 

    Euro-nymphing is about catching fish in the middle and bottom of the water column. Sure, euro-nymphers catch fish on-the-lift or in skinnier water, just as a tenkara angler might ‘dip’ to a certain depth that would be considered euro-nymphing, but for “proverbial” ‘seat-at-the-table’ purposes — tenkara is not intended to be fished at any 'real' depth, but instead within the top few inches of the water's surface-column. This "topwater" distinction separates tenkara from euro-nymphing and some of the other ‘respected’ fly fishing disciplines making tenkara [the TECHNIQUE] uniquely its’ own, and quite deserving of its’ own place at the so-to-speak ‘fly fishing table.’

 

For the American angler who's never fished tenkara methods, a way to understand the tenkara approach would be to think of it as modern-day streamer fishing. The technique involves using the rod-tip in conjunction with the line to perform life-like (and sometimes non life-like) movements that would provoke a fish to strike. 

    Tenkara anglers are ‘enticing the bite’ with targeted casts intended to draw fish out from their holding lies using [ancient Sasoi-tactics] that invite curiosity, and may provoke aggressive-strikes as certain fish become decidedly annoyed or more opportunistic in their feeding behavior.

 

It would be my suggestion to any tenkara angler who would like to help support and amplify tenkara’s stand-alone position within the so-called 'ranks' of the other fly fishing methodologies, that when asked, “what’s tenkara?”

 

They/You answer: “Tenkara is a technique. A method that involves using fly manipulation techniques [much like streamer fishing] to induce fish strikes within the top few inches of the water column."

 

Notice how nothing was said about the rod or the fixed-line. The rod and the fixed-line are only tools to fish the method. You’d never ask a western fly fisher, “what’s streamer fishing?" with the intention of hearing about their rod and reel.

    Now if someone were to ask, “What’s fixed-line fly fishing?” That answer would be a description of the rod and the attachment of the line to the lillian. Just if someone were to ask, “What’s fly fishing?” That answer would include a description of the rod and the reel and how the weighted line [and casting it] plays a part in the presentation.

 

We need [to start] to separate what tenkara is, from ‘how we fish it.’ There have been many anglers (over time) who have taken methods or styles of fishing and made them their own. That’s what fishing is all about! Having fun, catching fish, and experimenting with the equipment and various styles to make the experience — uniquely yours’. 

    Just because we have fun experimenting with the gear on a variety of water-types, doesn’t mean that when I decide to go to my local city park [with my tenkara rod ready-to-fish], I'd be fair to answer someone should they ask, “What’s tenkara?” With only a quick, “...oh, it's no reel fly fishing." 

   Instead a better answer may be, "It's a fly fishing technique where I manipulate my fly to make a fish want to strike," or more simply, "it's a fly fishing technique."

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Notice I'm leaving the rod and line out of it. If they want to know about why the line is attached to the end of the rod, or why the rod is telescopic, then they can ask that separately. That's a tackle question. Sure the line and rod play a major role in our presentations [and the TECHNIQUE], but that answer can be included when they ask about the equipment.  We need to remember: Tenkara is a technique first and foremost!

 

I encourage every tenkara angler who cares about upholding the traditions of Japanese tenkara to consider its’ origin story. How the Matagi and the Shokuryoshi may have fished these methods out of necessity and survival. 

 

We may live in a modern age, but many generations of anglers throughout history have been able to preserve [in practice and in tradition] their preferred method of fishing. It is OUR JOB to do the same for tenkara. Begin to separate ‘how you fish’ tenkara with what tenkara actually is and [maybe was] historically. If you do that — the next time we tie on that foam-Chubby and start fishing an 'upstream dead drift,' we don’t get lost in what we're doing, but we remember the origin answer:

 

“Tenkara is a technique that uses fly manipulations (Sasoi-tactics) to induce holding fish to rise. Much like how streamer fishing provokes fish to strike — tenkara is similar — only [fished] with a lighter line in the top few inches of the water column.”

 

While that might be how’d you’d find me fishing tenkara [for trout] on most days, that doesn’t mean that you won't find me fishing tenkara for sunfish at my local city park. If that should be the case, I may follow that traditional answer with; “…but today I’m fishing bead-headed nymphs for sunfish.”

 

Remember, as a western tenkara angler we have a responsibility to understand tenkara’s origin story, and how these early practitioners may have used these ‘tools’ to catch fish. Not only is the history of tenkara important for Japanese anglers, it’s important to us — not for what it means culturally — but for what it means for tenkara [as a technique!] among the other great fly fishing disciplines.

 

So I ask you…do you think the Matagi and the Shokuryoshi preferred a downstream method? The answer to this question may unlock the secret to how western fly fishers accept and better understand the [advanced] techniques tenkara offers. The next time you’re on the water — give the 'downstream method' a chance, and ask yourself, “if I lived in Japan 300 years ago and had to fish heavy tippet, with even heavier lines, would I have fished tenkara upstream or down?”

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Please note: I am not dissuading anglers from fishing upstream. I only want to draw attention to the advantage of the downstream-method, and how using sasoi-tactics [against the water current] may have been how these "original tactics" were first developed and used to catch fish [when catching fish] was considered an everyday necessity.