Growing Our Sport

    I’ve decided to title this essay, Growing Our Sport. Some of you may be offended by my use of the word “sport," or question the use of the word relating to a fishing technique, but know that many anglers [especially the Japanese Masters] do consider tenkara a sport.   

    I think most anglers who have fished tenkara for any amount of time consider tenkara, if not a sport, a proficient means of accomplishing their goals as an angler and enjoying their time on the water. Some anglers may go further to describe tenkara as; an art form in efficiency. For both descriptions, tenkara should be celebrated as 'sport;' at least of a non-competitive and recreational nature.

    So it’s not in the numbers of fish caught, or the needed athleticism that I refer to tenkara as a sport, but rather with ‘organization’ in mind. All sports have some degree of organization, that’s why you may have heard the term ‘organized sport.’ Whether it’s in the teaching and instructional practices, or in the organization of an individual’s skills.

    Think about any sport you’ve ever played or participated in. Most likely there was some way of classifying your skills and then bringing you up through a teaching process to build on those [introductory] skills to advance you as a participator or player. This is often achieved by you being classified a beginner, intermediate, or an advanced-level [professional] participant. 

    Rod and reel fly fishing has this so-called “organization." They have their own highly competitive World Championship organized by FIPS Mouche. They have junior and senior-level participation, and the FFI (Fly Fishing International) has a way of classifying your abilities as a caster and then qualifying those abilities to allow for Casting Instructor status to be obtained. There’s competitive challenges to see how far you can cast, and accuracy contests within the FFI format. Fly fishing, at least with a rod and reel is considered an "organized" sport.

    Now I’m not saying we need tenkara to get to this level of competitiveness, but it is time we start to consider how we’re going to pass down these methods [or rather “teach up” these methods] to a younger generation of advancing [or wanting to advance] angler. We’re going to need a process to teach these techniques. A way to 'bring up' and instruct a new tenkara angler on how to reach an advanced-level of participation in our sport.

    Tenkara has its’ own unique techniques and casting methods. In fact, the fundamental elements that make tenkara so beautifully efficient, are actually far different techniques of those taught and used in western fly fishing. Tenkara techniques and the sasoi-tactics used to lure fish from their holding lies deserve much more respect than the simple statement; “a rod, a line, and a fly." I would argue that we have not done any kind of job as western tenkara anglers promoting tenkara's more nuanced and complex methods to the experienced western fly fishing community. To that [more experienced community] I would like to say this:

 

Tenkara is a versatile method of fishing that allows the angler to enjoy in one minute, dry fly fishing and in the next, transition to euro-nymphing techniques. The light line can demonstrate extreme flexibility when presenting in all kinds of water and the joy of casting such a finesse system can match [at least at the advanced level] any weighted fly line at a near distance. You've heard the term "pick apart water." Tenkara defines this experience with precision casting and the ability to change water depth with a simple raising or lowering of the rod. Presentation is further enhanced by the advantages of a light line system allowing the angler to manipulate and impart life-like movement into the fly enticing furious fish-strikes [like those experienced when provoking streamer-bites].

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    For any fly shop owner, guide service, or outfitter business who may be reading this — I want to make myself clear — this is not about making tenkara “seem better” or "more enjoyable" than western fly fishing. On the contrary, it's about making tenkara a platform for new anglers entering the sport; and second to that, building on those beginner-skills to showcase tenkara as its' own unique and stand-alone TECHNIQUE.

    The fear that I think exists within western fly fishing is that if you start an angler out with a tenkara rod in their hand, they'll never want to give rod and reel fly fishing a try. UNTRUE. The truth is that many beginner tenkara anglers can't wait to cast a western fly rod and make the investment in more equipment, it's only that some of these new anglers have never caught a fish on-the-fly before. Some of these first time fly anglers only need to experience "the magic," through a simpler introduction before being "bitten by the fly fishing bug," so-to-speak. Believe me, tenkara is not an end-all-be-all for the fly fishing angler. Western techniques and weighted fly lines hold just as much appeal for the tenkara angler as do the lighter line set-ups of euro-nymphing and tenkara systems.

    While "a rod, a line, and a fly," may be oversimplifying tenkara as a fishing method, it's also a great way to hold the door open for new anglers who may feel intimated by western equipment and casting. Not to mention the lesser investment needed by someone wanting to give fly fishing "only a try." Many of these angler-tourists would love the opportunity to be introduced to a far less complicated method through a beginner 'fixed-line' program. Fishing Guides and outfitter businesses should be promoting tenkara as the, "Let's Catch You A Fish First" method for aspiring fly fishers!

     As for those tenkara anglers out there who might say I only want to make tenkara an entry-level starting point for the rod and reel fly fishing industry, I’d both argue and agree that if we don’t start to demonstrate effectively the advanced methods of tenkara fishing, and allow a path for beginners to further advance through a proper and “organized” program then maybe tenkara [in the West] will have to be simply a starting point. TEACHING tenkara is at this point ON US. We need to show that tenkara is the “pickleball” equivalent of the game of tennis. An alternative within the genre; much like ski resorts have adopted snowboarding as another means of "getting down the mountain." Both skiing and snowboarding are great downhill disciplines, and both can be enjoyed at an advanced level.

    Tenkara doesn't take away from western fly fishing. Both rod and reel and tenkara gear options have their advantages and disadvantages and both styles [the techniques] can be mastered at advanced levels. The problem for tenkara currently [in my opinion] is that there is no way of deciphering the more advanced tenkara TECHNIQUES, and the skills needed to enjoy them over simply choosing to fish the gear. I would say to any western [rod and reel] fly fisher (especially fishing guides and outfitter businesses) "separate the gear from the technique." Tenkara can be made simple by choosing the gear; with that said, tenkara can also be made complex by its' tactics. The same could be said of euro-nymphing. Many euro-nymphing anglers are criticized over their lack of NOT fishing weighted fly lines. Choosing instead mono-rig systems. This is a similar case for tenkara where the gear [telescopic rod and fixed-line] dominates the conversation. When the technique and enjoyment of fishing [the method] should be the driver of the discussion.

    Even experienced western fly fishers and advanced-level tenkara anglers want to see more master-level tenkara methods taught and better demonstrated on YouTube and other learning platforms. There is a craving for higher-level learning within the Western fly fishing community that has otherwise been missing. Western rod and reel fly fishers only need to understand the differences in the technique to be able to enjoy tenkara fishing in certain conditions, and on certain types of water.

    There are always days when "tricky fish" seem to be the story; tenkara techniques make great searching tactics on these less than ideal days. The next time you find yourself fishing pocket-water and precision casting is required (especially when shallow-depth presentations are desired), I suggest you [turn to your' advanced tenkara-tactics] and do as an ancient Japanese survivalist would have done; [that is] methodically begin to pick apart or 'hunt down' the holding locations of these [seemingly] non-feeding fish.

     One of the great enjoyments of fishing tenkara techniques is the embracement of the ancient survivalist-mentality. Tenkara fishing stemmed from the needs of those who fished these early methods. If no fish were caught, they could not eat. I suggest any angler who wants to further their tenkara fishing experience, take a minute [out of your next fishing day] to embrace this ancient survivalist mentality. How many fish would you have brought back home to feed your mountain village?

 

    Now, I know opinions will very greatly on how we should teach these Japanese fishing techniques and principles, after all we are not Japanese and we didn’t have anything to do culturally with its' origin-story. I'm certainly not suggesting we abandon the history of Japanese tenkara. If anything, I’m suggesting we embrace the origins of tenkara and become more traditionalist in our approach. This DOES NOT mean that we shouldn’t fish-tenkara however our local waters would dictate, or that we describe ALL non-traditional tenkara as fixed-line fly fishing. I think as long as we specify the species as being “tenkara for bass” or “tenkara for carp,” etc. The use of the word “tenkara” seems to make [at least saying it] the most sense. I want be clear about my position though — to me — tenkara is a technique! The rod and fixed-line attachment are only functions of the tackle and not a defintion of the method. I think it’s easy for us to confuse the gear with the technique, especially in tenkara where seeing past the telescopic rod and fixed-line can be difficult. We need ALWAYS REMEMBER; there’s a technique being performed and not just a particular tackle choice being made. No matter what type-of-species we're fishing for, or on what kind of water we choose to demonstrate the techniques, tenkara should be noted as a fly manipulation method where the rod-tip is used to manipulate the fly with the intention to provoke and “make a fish” want to feed.

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    Now to get back to our growing sport. In order to teach these methods to the western angler we must first organize the Japanese teachings and methods into a structure that’s ‘ready’ for western learning. Just because we have difficulty pronouncing some of the words associated with tenkara, doesn’t mean we should abandon them altogether [at least not all of them]. I do recognize that not all words used in Japanese tenkara are appropriate when trying to understand and teach tenkara to western anglers. I think as a community we will decide what words we’ll use and what words we'll leave out as our teaching methods and processes develop.

        Regardless of the words we choose, it’s time we develop and embrace our own teaching practices and not be afraid to teach ourselves tenkara! Both new and experienced tenkara anglers who watch YouTube videos, read blogposts, listen to podcasts, etc., CANNOT LEARN tenkara techniques if we don’t begin to use the words associated with this highly efficient method of fishing. Otherwise, if we continue with this leis-a-fair approach, and we don’t decide to teach these traditional techniques, we’re NOT going to continue to grow our sport! If we DON'T continue to grow our' sport then both tenkara anglers and western fly fishers will continue to wonder where tenkara fits into the larger [more 'advanced-world'] of western fly fishing techniques.      

    We may only be adopter’s of this sport-of-tenkara, but there are plenty of other non-western sports that westerner’s now teach; think all Martial arts. The time for teaching traditional tenkara to the western angler is now. We must own our preferred method, EVEN IF NOT ALL OF WHAT WE TEACH ARE 100% JAPANESE IDEAS.

    Traditionalist, may seem an old-fashioned word. In some ways it is. This does not mean that new ideas can’t be explored and embraced out of a traditionalist mind-set. New styles and techniques can’t be developed and taught without those foundational ideas and traditions. I encourage every tenkara angler out there who feels a calling to this NEW western 'traditional-tenkara,' to go out there — without fear —  and teach tenkara with a traditionalist mind-set! It is YOU that has the opportunity to grow this sport into what it will be for western anglers in the future. DO NOT be afraid to share your ideas, use Japanese words, and to further become your own student-teacher. 

    There are NO MASTERS in tenkara fishing. Even those given that distinction rightfully refuse it. NATURE is the MASTER. Tenkara is a way to connect with that spirit in all of us to be closer to nature. Masterfulness is learning from others, and sharing what you love. Tenkara is a special gift, “one from heaven,” you might say. A gift that on each return to the water we’re given a moment in time. In that moment we’re afforded ourselves [that we] may better understand ‘something meaningful to us.’ 

    Among the sounds of nature — I choose to fish. It’s those sounds that I return too — they combine all creation in that moment on the water. Where nature and time share a passing micro-current. It is there that I will be [on that river] standing in the flow. On that day, I will enjoy the ‘take of fish, so that in some way I may leave the sounds of nature and the cold flow of the water a better person; understanding most gratefully that it is tenkara that has given me the excuse to get out and experience nature.