1. Quick Start

This is where tenkara begins—not with complexity, but with simplicity.

Tenkara is a Japanese method of fly fishing built on a few essential elements: a rod, a line, a length of tippet, and a fly. There is no reel and no excess gear—just a direct connection between you, the water, and the fish.

To get started, you only need a minimal setup. Extend the rod, attach the line to the lillian, add a short length of tippet, and tie on a fly. That’s it. No complicated rigging. No heavy equipment.

The goal here is not perfection—it is movement. Get on the water, make a few casts, and begin to feel how the system works. Tenkara reveals itself through doing, not overthinking.

Extending the Rod and Connecting the Line

1. Hold the rod under your arm

• Tuck the rod gently under your armpit to free both hands.

2. Connect the line to the lillian

• Attach the line using a girth hitch or slip knot.
  YouTube: https://youtu.be/eDFns7f19QA?si=R2ykY7Wu4QRGY79v

• Make sure the connection is snug, but still easy to remove later.

3. Extend the rod, tip first

• Pull out the tip section first.
• Continue section by section, working in order down the rod.

4. Tip

• Point the rod slightly upward to avoid hitting nearby objects.
• Extend the sections smoothly. Do not snap or force them.

Collapsing the Rod After Fishing

Carefully remove the sections from the bottom to release the jam.

Reverse the process

Start with the section closest to the handle.

Collapse each section one at a time, in order.

Keep each section aligned and controlled

Do not hold too far above the section you are collapsing.

Keep your hands close to each joint for better control.

Important tips

Do not force any section.

Collapse the rod gently and in sequence to prevent jamming.

If the rod gets stuck

Do not force it.

Unscrew the butt cap at the base of the rod

Youtube:https://youtu.be/lFVI6nKpEss?si=szKeXedurkpINrSu

Carefully remove the sections from the bottom to release the jam.