With Daniel of Tenkara USA and Ikutaro, who lives at the foot
of Mt. Hakusan where there used to be a lot of professional
tenkara fishers and some still fish for their livings.

Japan’s trout season is usually from March through September.

Each water is managed by fishermen’s union; thus the length of the

season  can vary but is almost during this period.

Fishing for the season is targeted at salmonidae species such as amago,

yamame  and iwana; they enter mating period from the end of September.

As the number of native fish (fish that are born and inhabit the water)

is declining  in Japan, close season is important in order to increase

the number of fish.

Some fish in the highland over 600 meters elevation start the pairing

even from the beginning of September.

Tenkara fishers are usually sensitive to the nature, so they refrain from

fishing when they see the color of mating in the fish.

They wish for greater reproduction of fish, which they believe makes

them able to enjoy the sport.

This is what I always strongly hope.

I have to put out last spurt. I have decided where to go: where

I believe I could see big ones.

Quite a few iwana or char which can grow as long as 40cm can be caught
in this area. But on this day, fishing was tough. It takes 6 hours by car
to get here from most of the major cities.

I gave a big #8 fly a first try to take a look at the river
condition and see how active the fish were.

Daniel hooked a big guy. It’s a nikko iwana.

 

 

Fish are holding at the bottom of water; the fly should be sunk.
In tenkara, flies can be sunk without using weight or shots as we learn to sink them
by traditional knowledge of tenkara method.

Got a nice one too: Look at this nice face. Amago,
another Japanese trout species.

It seems there has been some confusion on tenkara overseas.

What is Tenkara?

Only record left in writing on Japanese tenkara was “Tateyama

Climbing Journal”  written by Earnest Satow, then secretary of the

British legation, who went together with the Minister Parks on his

journey. (cf. History page)

Japanese tenkara has been handed down from generation to

generation  among professional fishermen in each local area.

And next tenkara record was written by Soseki Yamaoto in

showa era.

But they witnessed only some of the tenkara professionals.

They couldn’t see all of the professionals and matagi or

professional hunters.

All we have to do is just imagine other facts.

What we Japanese tenkara fishers have heard from old people

and stories of their  forefathers in each locality is as important

as the recorded documents.

Tenkara started with ordinary materials found everywhere

in Japan: a bamboo for rod with a line attached to it.

The first line wasn’t only horse hair; also everyday items such as

silk threads, cotton threads and so forth were used together

with artificial flies on hooks.

Some may have put on many flies.

Tenkara as pleasure angling now taking root in our pastime,

has been evolving into  several forms in conjunction with

western flyfishing that also now is taking hold in Japan.

For example, Mr. Horie uses flylines for tenkara.

Some use flyfishing flies for tenkara. I think the bottom

line is having fun!

It could be boiled down to “Every tenkara man (woman)

has his(her) style.”

I only deal with trout in the streams.

For lines, while I used many types, now I came to

conclusion  that level lines or tapered lines with modern

design from horse hair lines.

I don’t use horse hair lines,because of heavy.

My obsession also goes to tippets.

I love supple but strong tippets.

For flies, I choose black, yellow and white. These are base

colors for me.

I only go as small as size #14 for hook size.

I do not use small flies like flyfishing.

This is because I always want to pay homage to the traditional

tenkara.

Also because I do not want to forget what my father and

other great senior masters taught to me.

Just like tenkara fishers from 1800’s,

I want to blend in with nature and enjoy tenkara.

What we have to do is not argue or discuss but go

fishing.

You could learn more in the field with your eyes

than in books even if you read tons of books.

What you learn in real terms will be your

invaluable pages for your own tenkara.

BBQ after fishing. Bonito in sashimi (thinly sliced raw fish) style.

Savory turban shell

Small as they are, these lobsters were very delicious.

Wild boar one of my mates hunted: even its fat is not greasy.

Tying after getting back to the lodge.
Black works better in today’s river condition.

Got all the rooms to ourselves at the traditional thatched roof house.
We’ll hold Oni Juku class here next year!

Daniel is such a genial person and listens to everyone.
He can eat any Japanese food.

Hida beef is one of the best beef brands in Japan: tender and juicy.

Iku-chan got a horse tail. Tail of a black horse around this area is good.
But nobody uses horse lines any more as they are heavier.

翻訳：開場直人

Translation:Naoto Kaiba