Before I get into this article I just want to mention that streamers on Tenkara rods is not considered a traditional tenkara fishing method, some would call it “fixed line fly fishing”. I am OK with doing some untraditional things with tenkara rods and catching some sweet fish while using Tenkara-like techniques to present my streamer in a VERY effective way.
My Main Fixed-Line Streamer Tactic
Instead of doing lots of stripping the line quickly like some do with streams on a fly rod, I use a drift and twitch method streamer presentation method when using fixed-line tenkara gear and streamers. This allows me to use the advantage of the long rod and short light line for best presentation. I think many fly fisherman would be greatly surprised that dead drifting streamers is a method that actually works very well.
I have found it effective to cast at a 45 degree angle up stream toward the bank edge or above a structure, the top of a deep run or into the zone you think the big fish are laying. After casting, let it dead drift down until it is about 25-45 degrees downstream from you and then start twitching the fly as it swings with about a 2 inches to 1 foot with each twitch with a very short pause between each twitch. Once the streamer get straight down stream from you, let it hold in one spot for about 5 seconds before recasting.
I get most of our strikes as the streamer is dead drifting for that first 10-15ft. I also get a few strikes as I pulse the fly across the current, and a few strikes as the streamer holds straight below me. It is no surprise that the dead drift presentation is where we get the most strikes because that is what Tenkara is king at doing.
I find that the pulsing of the streamer through the water is not quite as effective as it is with a regular rod and reel setup unless you are using a stiff Tenkara rod, a soft tip Tenkara rod just does not get the action down right because it absorbs too much of the big pulse. I also find the small twitches to be more effective than big strips as it gives the streamer some life without pulling it away from the fish so they don’t have to chase it to smash it.
The pause at the end of the drift and swing has gotten me quite a few surprise fish right before I cast again. Because of this I make sure to pause before casting to give them a chance.
Tenakra Rod & Line Lengths
I’ve found that fishing streamers is a very effective and fun technique on my Tenkara rods. My preferred line length for rivers is a line from 14′ to 16′ and on smaller water I like about a 12′ to 14′ line. Combine that longer line with a longer tenkara rod around 13′ (385cm-415cm tenkara rod). The longer line helps us get more reach to cover more water quickly and effectively with a bit longer drift to get deep while the long rod helps maintain better line control and hold the line of the water more effectively.
Changing Your Cast
To protect you and your rod you will have to adjust your cast to make sure your fly does not hit you or your rod, causing it damage. You can do this by bring your back cast back at a slightly slanted angle 20 to 45 degree, thus swinging your fly out of the path of your rod tip (much like you would with a beadhead fly).
With longer lines and weighted flies, you will also want to pause on your back cast longer than normal as well to let it properly load.
When I fish big heavy streamers I like to do a swinging side cast instead of a regular tenkara cast that goes upwards on the back cast. This swinging cast carries the big heavy streamers through the cast better and they land softer on the water so you scare less fish not smacking the water with the big fly.
Streamer Flies I Like
For my style of streamer fishing with a Tenkara rod, I like to use patterns that have good movement on a dead drift presentation because for me that is where Tenkara style is king of presentation. My favorite streamer pattern is several variants of a zonker pattern taught to me by Doug Kenney in a size 6 or 4 (rarely a size 2) on bigger waters and size 8 or 6 on smaller rivers, and rarely I will fish them in small creeks in a size 10. Zonkers with a rabbit strip or squirrel strip move quite a bit as they drift with the current, and I like how they move when I lightly twitch them.
I also fish a lot of leech patterns in a size 10 like my MOST FAVORITE leech pattern the Sour Apple Leech, which works great in a deep run on creeks or rivers. Zirdle Bug streamer patterns have also become a favorite of mine for small rivers.
There are other streamers that will work great with your Tenkara setup but I suggest finding patterns that are not stiff that will have movement even on a dead drift.
Tenkara Lines I Like For Streamer Fishing
For smaller streamers, I like to use the Shogun Furled Line. It is light weight and easy to tight line very tight with a streamer and still casts good.
For heavy or large streamers, I like to use the Oudachi Furled Line or the Nodachi Furled Line. They cast heavy flies so much better than most of the lines I have used. These two lines are also great for windy conditions. The Oudachi line have a heavy fluorocarbon tip that just chucks flies so good and also sinks fast with the fly to help it get deeper fast.
Rods I Use For Streamer Fishing
We’ve fished several rods, but as mentioned I’ve found longer rods around 13′ to be more effective on our larger waters, and even on smaller waters the longer rod is great with streamers. The longer rod makes casting longer lines with weighted streamers much easier. They also tend to handle larger fish we tend to run into tossing streamers, it gives you better leverage making it easier to land good sized trout.
Our favorite rod to fish big streamers is the DRAGONtail HELLbender. There are other rods that are able to handle big streamers, the stiffer action casts weight around much easier and it also controls large fish much better keeping you in the steering wheel.
For smaller streamers like a size 10 leech, I feel like I can use most tenkara rods unless it is a very soft action tenkara rod. My NEW favorite rod for lightweight streamers is the premium NIRVANA Kokoro 400 rod, very light casting weight but handles very well casting and controlling fish for. This rod is a joy to cast with light weight flies and medium weight flies.
As Always, Be Safe
The first thing you need to do when approaching a section of water that might be tricky is come up with a game plan on how and where you can land fish, that way when you hook up with a good one you go right to that landing area.
You want to be safe when wading in big water where there can be some consequences if you do something stupid while trying to move around to keep the fish on. Going down the river like Brad Pit in “The River Runs Through It” is a bad way to get into some trouble, especially if you have waders on.
Even with big fish on fixed line tenkara rods I try to stand my ground or only take a few steps to land the fish. Running down the river can lead to accidents and I would rather loose a sweet fish than run down the river to keep it on. Checkout my “Big Fish Tenkara Tactics” article to land big fish easier without moving down river. With some experience fighting fish the right way and you will find that most of the time you don’t need to move much to land big fish.
Tell Us Your Method & Experience
Use the comment box below to tell us how you fish streamers on tenkara rods or about any experiences you have had fishing streamers on tenkara rods.