Not traditional but worked

[ejsell]

Took my new Tenkara USA rod out for the second time today to a very small creek a TU club stocks with rainbows in the fall. My previous excursion resulted in a 2" river chub. I hiked down to my favorite hole hitting 2 or 3 other holes on the way with just a few casts. Spent about an hour trying various nymphs with no luck. With about a half hour left I tied on a black bugger and slow drifted it through the hole several times. I didn't have any takes but I did get a chase when I went to recast. Got a couple more chases retrieving it back up river but the fish kept turning away at the last second. So I decided to do the unthinkable. I tied on one of my steelhead clousers. I drifted it through the hole a couple times and then I started swinging it through and retrieving it quickly with jerky motions. That got their attention. I caught one almost immediately and a second shortly after that. Lost another one and then on my way out caught a 3rd. It was just above freezing today and all of the fish were hiding out of site in deep holes. I was pretty surprised they wanted to chase something but I'm glad to have my first real tenkara catches.

First fish

Didn't get a good shot of the second or 3rd. But here's the best I got of the 3rd before he jumped out of my net.

 

[james w 3 3]

Those are some darn nice fish!
The ability to try many things is one of the pleasures of Tenkara.
Congrats on a fine bit of creativity leading you to a nice catch.
:thumbsup:

 

[ia_trouter]

Glad that worked out for you. Steelhead flies on Tenkara is very unique. There are certainly days when thinking out of the box pays off.

 

[ront]

Am a member of that 'club', fished AC a few times but usually fish each of the CF's.
Cheers,
R

 

[ejsell]

Am a member of that 'club', fished AC a few times but usually fish each of the CF's.
Cheers,
R

I joined it 2 years ago but due to distance and timing was never able to attend a meeting. I didn't renew last year but probably will again this year and may actually attend a meeting. I grew up on the CF and worked for one of the liverys all through high school and college. I try to hit the upper everytime I visit home but do occasionally hike way down into the lower when I have more time.

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[ront]

Have caught Trout within sight of Rt. 42 on the 'other' CF, lots of ideal Tenkara water there, with permission. I stay away from the crowd at Gatton Rocks.
Cheers,
R

 

[cpowell]

Awesome! Making Tenkara happen!

 

[ejsell]

Have caught Trout within sight of Rt. 42 on the 'other' CF, lots of ideal Tenkara water there, with permission. I stay away from the crowd at Gatton Rocks.
Cheers,
R

I was just talking to my father in law about fishing it last week. It ran through the front of their property when my wife was growing up before my father in law took up fly fishing. Thanks for reminding me, I had to stop over there on Sunday and that would have been more convenient than where I ended up going.

I only hit Gatton Rocks if pressed for time, it's 5 minutes from my father in laws but there's a couple of other spots nearby also.

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[vanwagw]

Took my new Tenkara USA rod out for the second time today to a very small creek a TU club stocks with rainbows in the fall. My previous excursion resulted in a 2" river chub. I hiked down to my favorite hole hitting 2 or 3 other holes on the way with just a few casts. Spent about an hour trying various nymphs with no luck. With about a half hour left I tied on a black bugger and slow drifted it through the hole several times. I didn't have any takes but I did get a chase when I went to recast. Got a couple more chases retrieving it back up river but the fish kept turning away at the last second. So I decided to do the unthinkable. I tied on one of my steelhead clousers. I drifted it through the hole a couple times and then I started swinging it through and retrieving it quickly with jerky motions. That got their attention. I caught one almost immediately and a second shortly after that. Lost another one and then on my way out caught a 3rd. It was just above freezing today and all of the fish were hiding out of site in deep holes. I was pretty surprised they wanted to chase something but I'm glad to have my first real tenkara catches.

First fish

Didn't get a good shot of the second or 3rd. But here's the best I got of the 3rd before he jumped out of my net.

Way to go with your creative approach. Looks like it worked out well for you!

 

[patrick62]

Last summer, when the Housatonic River was reduced to a trickle running through an ornamental rock garden, I pioneered Tenkara Czech Buggering, which sounds like an X-rated Internet search.

Using a massive 13 footer and a 6 foot furled leader, I rigged up not one but three Wooly Buggers - unweighted green size 12 up top, unweighted black size 8 in the middle, beadhead brown size 8 below.

I deployed this unlikely setup in one of the few deepish runs available last summer. The smallmouth went nuts, probably out of boredom.

I wouldn't recommend this approach with an expensive Tenkara rod but this was one of those $50 Chinese jobs from an outfit called MaxCatch. It's slightly more dynamic than a broomstick and about as easy to break.

 

[pab1]

Looks like a great day!

 

[patrick62]

Speaking of "not traditional but worked" --

Sunday's crazy experiment on the Housatonic River was a three-fly rig of Stimulator, light Cahill nymph (unweighted) and isonychia nymph (on jig hook) on eight-foot Tenkara rod. Caught bluegill, smallies and what are either crappies or rock bass on all three flies. Completely absurd, and a lot of fun. I wish I had video of this, but I tend to fish alone.

 

[ront]

RE: your PM.....Which bridge? I can't get the PM's to work. Rainbows in the lower next March, may know more after Castailia sesson this Friday.
R