I have a Tenkara rod and am new to using it, wondering if anyone has any tips or if anyone has fished Tenkara rods in the BWCA?

Can’t help you, but I did google Tenkara rod and learned something new. Kinda cool. Thanks.

brotherbear: "I have a Tenkara rod and am new to using it, wondering if anyone has any tips or if anyone has fished Tenkara rods in the BWCA? "

So...yes, I have. Caught a few smallmouth and one walleye with little jigs.

Tried for Brookies on a Brookie lake. Failed.

We were trying it in early August '16, and I think we just needed to be deeper than Tenkara is really set up to do.

I even took all my tenkara rods, including a new 20 footer with the ability to get down over 20', to WCPP last year. Negative result. But I also took spinning gear and we caught plenty on that.

Right tool for the right job.

That said - early in the season, when most fish are shallow, I think it could be productive in the right area. I am going in June 1-7 this year and will take both Tenkara and spinning gear. If my kids and I can catch 'em on Tenkara, we will and would prefer to do so. Very fun way to fish, and a real UL aspect to tripping or backpacking.

Good luck!

wife and I have them too We plan on bringing ours on a September trip.

Seems like that would not work well in lakes. You could not cast far enough to cover much water. I saw some guys on the John Muir Trail using Tenkara rods in lakes. They caught small trout close to shore and said they wishedthey could cast further into deeper water.

They do pack down well and are light. Probably works well for nymphing trout in streams.

If you do get it to work I think you will be a pioneering a new technique in canoe country.

If I got it right, it looks like a lightweight telescoping rod with no reel. Just a fixed line and a lure. And it looks like they usually, at least, come with their own carrying case.

scat: "If I got it right, it looks like a lightweight telescoping rod with no reel. Just a fixed line and a lure. And it looks like they usually, at least, come with their own carrying case."

Case may or may not be necessary and most of mine came with a fabric sleeve rather than a true case.

But otherwise spot on. Fixed line, no reel. I have used Tenkara rods to great effect in mountain streams and alpine lakes.

scat: "If I got it right, it looks like a lightweight telescoping rod with no reel. Just a fixed line and a lure. And it looks like they usually, at least, come with their own carrying case."

Correct. I got mine from Tenkara Rod Co. I got the OWYHEE PACKAGE. Came with the rod, neoprene sleeve, carbon fiber tube, tipit, line & spool, and 3 flies. All for $189 plus when you sign up for their newsletter you get 10% or 15% off your first purchase.
I moved to North Western Alaska this past summer and tried it out a few times on the rivers around the village with no luck. Was trying to use trout beads for Dolly Varden and Salmon. Didn't have a day with ideal conditions. Way too windy to be fishing with such light equipment.
Excited for the summer in the BWCA and end of summer and fall back in Alaska to test it out more!

Sounds like a $189 cane pole to me.

I'd never considered the Amish folks fishing the lake I grew up on in north central Indiana may have actually been trend-setting trailblazers at least 50 years ago!

I want mine with an alligator skin carrying case monogrammed with scat in bold colored script.

Highly recommend tenkarabum.com - Chris is very responsive, knowledgeable and helpful.

I really like cane poles in the right situation, and I have brought them to the BWCA for catching bait. I've also seen tenkara rods kill on mid sized rivers and trout streams.

That being said, unless you can find a good stream or a weed bed full of panfish you'll be pretty frustrated. In my experience BWCA streams come in two varieties - too small, short and fast to hold large fish. Or "beaver fortresses" running through swamps lined with tag alders with no banks to be found. Neither type have great fishing...

Let us know how you do, but don't leave your spinning gear at home. You can't sneak up on fish in a clear water lake the same way you do in a stream.

scat: "I want mine with an alligator skin carrying case monogrammed with scat in bold colored script."

Really nice to have a durable case for air travel, no need to worry about putting it into my checked baggage.

sns: "Highly recommend tenkarabum.com - Chris is very responsive, knowledgeable and helpful."

Thanks for the tip!

Tyler W: Let us know how you do, but don't leave your spinning gear at home. You can't sneak up on fish in a clear water lake the same way you do in a stream. "

Will do! And the Ugly Stik will be making the trip too!

It's an intriguing option. I have never fished with this rod. Most of mine are two-piece 6' or
6 1/2 ft., medium fast (except for the walleye-dedicated one).

I am on my second Tenkara rod, which I use mostly for arrowhead brookie streams. Have not taken one to BWCA, but wished I had one in 2016 when what we had the most luck with was perch in the lily pads on flu-flu jigs. Yes, you could call it an expensive cane pole, but a tenkara is much better. Super light weight and packs down very small and quickly. They are most in their element on overgrown streams as a tight quarters “fly rod”, but also replace a cane pole. Will likely be in my pack this year with some wooly buggers just in case we try for some perch in the shallows. I do like perch in the fry pan.

Firstly - Tyler W, been too long - We should do some Buffalo fishing if spring ever comes...

I'll second SNS that Chris is a great resource on gear and I think he actually does some bass fishing in stillwaters with Tenkara gear so he might have some insight.

Topic at hand... I spend most of my open water season fishing fixed line gear (usually on small to medium sized streams). I don't recall ever bringing such gear to the BWCA but maybe I have once or twice. It would work ok, at least for working shorelines for SM Bass. But I don't (personally) go to the BWCA to fish SM Bass, plenty of those in my backyard. On the other hand, a tenkara rod doesn't weigh much if you want to bring as a secondary option. I'd definitely recommend bring some spinning gear if you are serious about fishing in the BWCA - it would be far more versatile in typical BWCA waters.

STP has these two. My grand kids love them.

www.sierratradingpost.com/wetfly-kodomo-creek-tenkara-fly-rod-kit-8~p~127pu/?filterString=s~tenkura%2F

www.sierratradingpost.com/temple-fork-outfitters-soft-hackle-tenkara-fly-rod-1-piece-telescoping-116-slower~p~285fu/?filterString=s~tenkura%2F

AmarilloJim: "Sounds like a $189 cane pole to me."

Thats sort of funny.

I could see in very specific situations where it could be effective particularly for farm pond panfish and stream or mountain trout waters.

Schollmeier: "Firstly - Tyler W, been too long - We should do some Buffalo fishing if spring ever comes...

It would work ok, at least for working shorelines for SM Bass. But I don't (personally) go to the BWCA to fish SM Bass, plenty of those in my backyard. On the other hand, a tenkara rod doesn't weigh much if you want to bring as a secondary option. I'd definitely recommend bring some spinning gear if you are serious about fishing in the BWCA - it would be far more versatile in typical BWCA waters."

It has been too long. I'll let you know if spring ever comes, and if I find any buffalo.

To be fair, you tie one hand behind your back just to give the fish a chance. Don't forget normal people (like me) need every advantage we can get.

I've saw Schollmeier fish an 18' rod on MN trout stream and he slayed them. The precision inherent in the presentation couldn't be matched with a fly or spinning rod. They definitely have their place.

mastertangler: "

AmarilloJim: "Sounds like a $189 cane pole to me."

Thats sort of funny.


I could see in very specific situations where it could be effective particularly for farm pond panfish and stream or mountain trout waters. "

MT - this might be your shortest post I’ve seen. Love the details in all of your usual posts!