Tenkara Line HolderThe tenkara line holder spool is one of those accessories that is very handy to have. When fly fishing small streams, it is often necessary to walk along the stream bank to get to the next spot you want to fish. With an 11 to 13' tenkara rod, it is necessary to collapse the rod if there are any trees or brush. The line holder allows you to keep the fly, tippet and line attached to the rod - and prevents the tangles you'll inevitably get if you just wrap the line around your hand. A number of people on the Tenkara USA forum have come up with creative ideas for holding the line. This tenkara line holder really is a clever design, though. The notches on one side allow you to hook your fly in the notch and then start winding the line around the yellow foam insert. The foam has enough give to it to allow you to wind tightly - so the line stays put. If you are fishing with a dropper New Zealand style (with the tippet for the point fly tied to the hook bend of the top fly), you can wind the line on just as you would without a dropper, and the hook will not be exposed where it could catch your hand, your shirt or streamside brush. If you tie your droppers on a long tag end of your tippet knot, keep winding until you get to the dropper fly, pull the line a little snug, and just barely insert the hook point into the foam. The tension on the line against the foam will keep the fly from coming loose. As you wrap the line around the line holder, stop winding when there is about a foot of line left (the actual amount depends on which rod you have). Catch the line between the yellow foam and the blue side plate just before bringing the line out one of the notches.
Insert the end of the collapsed rod through the hole in the center of the spool, but make sure it is inserted though the side that has the notches. Then you can snug the holder down against the cork (or wood) of the grip. The Amago grip is thin enough that the holder won't snug down against it, and the Ito grip is thick enough that the spool won't go over it. Just trapping the line between the foam and the side of the spool should hold it, though, as long as you insert the rod through the side of the spool that has the notches. If you snug the holder against the grip with the line tight to the rod tip, it will also keep the rod tip protected inside the collapsed segments. Just to be safe, it is still better to carry the rod with the grip end down. People really like the Fuji EZ Keepers as a way to manage your line when you move from spot to spot, or even to keep your rod fully rigged and ready to go at a moment's notice. However, these small tenkara line holders offer some advantages, too. First, you can easily keep a line fully rigged - with tippet and fly or flies attached even after you have taken the line off the rod. More than a few tenkara anglers find that they like the tapered line for fishing dry flies and a level line for fishing wets or nymphs. With two of the line holders you can keep both lines fully rigged and easily switch when you wish to go from nymphs to dries or back again, or from a size 3 line to a size 4 line and back again. Second, if you are fishing multiple flies, as mentioned above, it is a bit easier to secure both flies safely with the round spool than with the EZ Keepers. That is even more so if you fish three or more flies.
If you'd like to try the pesca alla Valsesiana technique, which utilizes a cast of four flies, having a couple of these spools allows you to tie the casts the night before and carry them fully rigged to the stream. If (should I say when?) you get a tangle, take the whole cast off and replace it with a new one that's ready to go. Trying to undo a four fly tangle could put you out of action for a long time. Pesca alla Valsesiana isn't really tenkara, but the simplicity that comes from having a spare cast already tied certainly is. And if you ever get a chance to do some tenkara fishing for bluegills, you have to try it with four flies (if your state regulations will allow it). I've found it to be much more effective than with only one. Like the other tenkara accessories, not being a rod, line or fly, this is something you don't absolutely need. But if you have one (or two) you'll be glad you do. The small tenkara line holders are $5 for domestic buyers and $6 for international customers (to offset the greater cost of shipping). I have found it much easier to reflect the increased international shipping cost in the price of the item, which allows a simple flat shipping charge of $3 that is added to the order. Most small items can be shipped domestically for $3 for the entire order. For international orders, I have found it much easier to reflect the additional shipping cost in the price of the item. Payment is through PayPal but you don't need to have a PayPal account. You can use your credit card. PayPal payments will be made to chris at tenkarabum dot com. Credit card statements will read CM Stewart. Small tenkara line holder - $5 (domestic) or $6 (international) Return from Tenkara Line Holder to Tenkara Accessories Return from Tenkara Line Holder to TenkaraBum Home |
