A PLEA FOR TENKARA

470 Words

Deemed the new trendy way to fish, influencers and fake purists have flocked to this simplified version of fly fishing, while many seasoned vets have written it off as some fad. Well these fools do simply not know what they are missing out on. If unaware, a Tenkara rod is a fly rod without a reel. Essentially a fancy stick with a string attached to the end of it that holds your fly. This means that the angler has limited line to work with, as opposed to a normal rod and reel setup that allows for long casts and longer floats. Described as a "self imposed handicap", the setup doesn’t exactly make it easy, but thats the whole point. To quote Kelly Clarkson, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger! When driving by a river it is common to see one of these crusty Tenkara haters head to toe in water proof gear all while standing no more than ankle deep in the water, choosing instead to cast further to their desired pool. If that decked out Brad Pitt wannabe had any real skill, he’d be chest deep with only seven feet of line to work with, catching more than you ever will, all with a dinky rod many of you call a joke. These so called "self imposed handicaps" force you to get creative, wade further, and put more thought and effort into catching a fish; as opposed to standing on shore in your cute waders, scared to get them dirty as it might drive down their resell-ability once the new Simms drop happens (because the new ones are ten times better!). Of course the mighty keyboard warriors will preserver in their quest to shame those who prefer the heightened experience of Tenkara. So, to the haters, Simms fanboys, keyboard warriors, and crusty naysayers; I ask them to examine what the point of fishing is. Fishing isn’t necessarily about catching; it’s an excuse to explore a new area, and enjoy the meditative qualities of a river flowing through your waders and off into the distance. Tenkara enhances these qualities of fishing. French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry once said that “perfection is achieved when there is nothing left to take away.” This holds true with the Tenkara. I’d even argue that by taking less you are experiencing more. Our day to day lives are constantly filled to the brim with clutter and distractions, but with a few of your favorite flies on your hat and a simple Tenkara rod in your hand, one can leave that clutter behind and adventure freely. Before you write it off, give Tenkara a chance; wade that stream, crawl through those bushes, get lost, and enjoy the simplicity that Tenkara has to offer. But watch out, there’s a chance you might get those waders wet!