Last Sunday we eventually used our days guided fishing with Andrew Cartwright after winning the wild trout auction earlier in the year. We were intending to use “normal” fly rods for most of the session but the Tenkara rod is always in the boot. Fishing was excellent, conversation came round to Tenkara fishing. Andrew had read about this method and was keen to give it a go. Out came the rod, a quick demo of setting up the rod and furled leader I handed the rod over to Andrew who added a duo of nymphs to start. Almost immediately he was into a trout, first reaction was to reach for the line! Once past this and with the method of landing and unhooking fish mastered enjoyment followed. After lunch and showing Sonia and I the best runs to fish Andrew changed to the dry fly. Again fish kept taking the fly. Talking to Andrew at the end of the session, the conclusions were.
1. Why do you need a £500 set up with rod reel and line when a £100 tenkara set up is better.
2. The Tenkara rod does everything that normal rod are capable of with the extra reach.

I am now about to loan our two rods to Andrew so that he can assess them over the next month so as to decide which to buy for his clients who have already enquired about the technique.