It's been a while since I've read a good fishing book - and therefore was delighted to receive a copy of Tenkara Today. I tore into the book and found it so interesting and well-written I decided Streamside readers needed to learn about this productive and rapidly-growing method of fishing.

Tenkara is the ancient method of fixed-line fishing with just a rod, line and fly, used very effectively for catching trout in swift-flowing mountain streams by commercial fishermen in Japan; today it is utilized by recreational anglers world-wide who enjoy catching fish with great success.

Tenkara was first introduced to the U.S. in 2009 when Professor Hisao Ishigaki traveled to the Catskill Fly Fishing Center in Livingston Manor to speak about tenkara fishing. There are now websites, online blogs and tackle companies in this country where anglers can learn about and purchase tenkara equipment.

Author Morgan Lyle does a fantastic job in detailing the history, terminology, and techniques of this sport in a style that is clear and concise, relating personal experiences and including photos and illustrations on almost every page that enables even the novice to easily learn about and understand the lure of tenkara.

Morgan's passion is apparent, and his precise descriptions of exactly how to fish tenkara enables the reader to imagine being there on the stream, experiencing the thrill of connecting so closely with a fish on the end of your line, unlike any other method of fishing. The fly is tossed onto the water's surface with a flick of the wrist, then watched for hesitation, which occurs when a fish ‘takes' the fly.

Rather than playing the fish on a reel, letting it take line out, then reeling it in, the long flexible tenkara rod bends, then springs back, pulling the fish in. The angler raises the rod to guide the fish closer and can then net the catch. This exciting sport involves getting nearer to the fish, as the rod and line average 12 feet each, providing a shorter range to fish than most trout fishers can cast with traditional fly or spinning rod.

Fixed-line fishing was the method used for centuries before reels were available; surely many today will remember, as I did, fishing as a young child with a small branch, a piece of string and a safety pin on which the ‘bait' was placed.

Tenkara Today explains in detail how to choose (and use) equipment for fishing Tenkara. The good news is that, unlike traditional fly-fishing outfits, fishing tenkara is much less expensive. Morgan relates that while an “affordable” quality fly rod runs between $200 and $600 (double that by adding a good reel and fly line) a good-quality 12-foot Tenkara rod is less than $150, no reel needed.

Another plus is the convenience of the rod, typically 12 feet long, that collapses “like an old-fashioned spyglass” down to about 22 inches, easy to pack or carry. You unscrew the cap at the base of the rod, revealing the “lillian” or short piece of braided nylon affixed to the tip, to which you tie on your line (generally the same length as the rod.)

Pull out each section of the rod, graduated thin to thick, until the rod is fully extended; tie on a section of tippet, then the fly - and you're ready to fish. Some rods can telescope out to two or three different lengths, called “zoom” rods, and provide more versatility for different waters. And there are rods of varying lengths and weights for catching other species - even large saltwater fish!

A chapter on Tenkara flies includes photos and patterns for simple Japanese kebari as well as American flies that are familiar to most fly-fishers today.

This is Morgan Lyle's second book; his articles have appeared in many publications, and he is known to readers for his “On the Fly” column in New York Outdoor News. Tenkara Today is a must-read for everyone seeking a new way to catch more fish!

Note: Morgan Lyle will be speaking about Tenkara and signing books at the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 1:00 pm - be sure to attend and learn all about this exciting method of fishing!

Judy Van Put is a long-time member of the NYS Outdoor Writers Association, and is the recipient of the New York State Council of Trout Unlimited's Professional Communications Award.