When I got my Tiny Tenkara the line options were a level line which felt like monofilament or a piece of old fly line. I tried the monofilament and did not care for it. The piece of fly line worked well and I could see myself using this with out trying something else. Well I found something else and first impressions are that this is a great alternative. A ClearStream furled leader. As you can see from the label on the packet it is a perfect length for Tiny Tenkara. It has a loop for easy attachment, and a tippet ring for attaching your tippet. The color is a bit difficult to see on the water, so perhaps another color would be better. They come in various colors and weights and lengths. They cost 7.95 and that includes free shipping.
The Morning Caddis...a good imitation for a couple of stages of caddis. Hook, a curved hopper, size 12...Body, orange dubbing, gold ribbing..head natural fox squirrel.
The Pheasant and Squirrel...Tail and body is natural pheasant tail with a copper wire rib. The hackle is natural fox squirrel, with a brass bead.
Reasonable furled leaders Alan. I've been using mono but I'll try these.
ReplyDeleteHave to try the morning Caddis. Fish here are suckers for orange.
billp
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Bill he also makes mono leaders. Custom also to your specs. 7.95 is the cheapest I've seen them.
I've always preferred the furled leader to the level line. $7.95 is an excellent price.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark I'm still working on the two of them. Fly line has been real good for me, but I'll give the furled leader ample water time.
You made a convert, I bit the bullet and ordered a 'Tiny Ten'. The furled leader sounds like an easy choice as well. Wish me luck...
ReplyDeletemike
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Congrats on becoming part of the Tiny Tenkara crew. I know you are going to enjoy it. There is a stream in Rangeley where I would love to fish this rod. I'll try to give you more info on the furled leader as I fish it.
Anybody else want to join the Tiny Tenkara crew?
Well I've got too many Tenkara rods as it is. :-) Shortest is a 7' 8" Shimotsuke Gen. Same as The Tiny Tenkara 2.
DeleteBill, I almost bought that Tiny Ten 2...but settled on the Tiny.
DeleteHi Alan,
ReplyDeleteI've been following your adventures with tenkara with interest. I may give it a try with the tenkara I bought for my grandson. Unfortunately, it hasn't been safe for him to fly out to MA from California.
My usual approach in tight situations is to cast my 12-foot leader with my very slow action bamboo 7.5-foot 3WT. (This works best if I tie my own leaders. A.J. McClain once wrote that when he got his leader proportions just right, he could "cast" just the leader from his hand.)
On another topic, yesterday I caught native brookies from two different places less than 3 miles away from each other. Both groups of fish were beautiful, but those from a tiny brook were much vividly colored than those from the small river. Even the 2-inch young-of-the-year in the brook had noticeable red fins. The small brook is in constant shadow all day long from overhanging trees, whereas the river has quite a few open, sunny areas.
You've seen and photographed a lot of brookies, Alan. Any thoughts on color variations?
Best wishes,
John
John Strucker
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John it's tough but your grandson is better off staying where he is. I'm certain you guys will team up soon.
I read something like that written by Datus Proper. The article was called Real Fishing.
That's the beauty of fishing wild brookies. Their variations can be striking. Generally brookies from cold streams tend to color up, as opposed to those from a warmer stream. For instance a cold stream now will have temps in the 50's where as a warmer stream maybe at 65 or higher.
Brk Trt, I love the flies!! I'm relatively new to fly tying starting over this past winter, in which I use to buy all mine prior to that. The Pheasant tail was the 1st taught to me @ a Orvis tying lesson. My basic nymph patterns are actually finally starting to look like what they are suppose to look like with many disasters along the way. With no disrespect to you, your two that are in your photos look easy and basic enough for me to give'm a tie try....Phil
ReplyDeleteDRYFLYGUY
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Phil I love the fact that you are now tying flies. It's a great feeling.
Those two flies are simple patterns, and I'm sure you will have no problem in tying them. And although they are simple they have shown they can catch fish.
Tie on!!!!!
Alan
ReplyDeleteGreat leader mainly because of the line memory. I usually have to stretch my leader every time before I cast any flies. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill monofilament leaders are terrible for that memory fact. Orvis at one time sold "braided leaders" I loved them. Maybe that's why they no longer sell them.
G'Day Alan,
ReplyDeleteI looked up "Clearstream" after reading this and have sent away for three furled leaders--an 8 footer and two indicator leaders--6 foot and 8 foot. Their leaders are very reasonably priced and postage to Australia much cheaper than many other companies. I'll use theses leaders with my tenkara and conventional fly rods.
I like the look of that Pheasant and Squirrel fly--correction--I like the look of all the flies that appear here!
I dont have a Tiny Ten brand rod but have a 5 foot length alike poor cousin that I use on tiny creeks. I would have bought the Tiny Ten but postage and our lousy exchange rate torpedoed that. May I still join the Tiny Ten crew?
On leader color and visibility--browns and greens can be hard to see in certain light conditions. That's why I ordered the indicator leaders. I also use a bright yellow and red tipped furled leader that I can see in pretty well any conditions. It doesn't seem to deter the trout.
I'm hoping our Victorian COVID19 travel restrictions will be eased for the September trout opening. At the moment we are only allowed to travel within our council or shire boundaries, which is pretty restrictive. This will end. Gam zeh ya'avor.
Kindest Regards,
Steve.
Steve
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Steve..what is Gam zeh ya'avor. You have used that saying twice now, inquiring minds want to know.
The pheasant and squirrel is a fish taker, only thing the pheasant tail is a pain to wrap. Olive is a real camo color, a hot orange marker helps. Tiny Ten crew welcomes you.
G'Day Alan,
Delete"Gam zeh ya'avor" is anglicized Hebrew for "This ,too, shall pass ". The saying originally goes back to ancient Persia but has been adopted by other faiths including Judaism.
Abraham Lincoln used the phrase in a speech that he made before becoming president.
"It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words. "And this, too, shall pass away". How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction!". In the darkest days of the Civil War, I think President Lincoln might have taken some comfort from the saying.
I'm not a religious person but I find this saying helps me deal with the positives and negatives of life, particularly this COVID19 crisis. I probably should have written the English translation as well.
Kindest Regards,
Steve.
Steve thank you for that clarification. I never heard of it but it dates back a long time in history.
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