Sanyo Valcan

Lo-Vis Fluorocarbon

Sanyo Valcan level line has been discontinued by Sanyo

Sanyo Valcan level line was a lo-vis fluorocarbon that was considerably stealthier than brightly colored, fluorescent, hi-vis fluorocarbon tenkara lines. For a long time, I believed that hi-vis fluorocarbon tenkara lines did not alert the fish. I did recognize that my catch rate was better if I made sure to keep the colored line off the water, but I caught fish - lots of fish - with bright, fluorescent orange line.

Recently, though, Rob Worthing has convinced me that just keeping the line off the water might not be sufficient - at least if you are fishing for highly pressured fish in relatively clear water - particularly on a bright sunny day. He tested bright lines and stealthy lines and says there are fish (very large, very wary fish) that you just cannot catch if you use a brightly colored line.

For a while now, I have offered clear fluorocarbon tippet material in diameters equivalent to Japanese tenkara line sizes as a stealthy alternative to bright, fluorescent tenkara line. If you use a clear line you definitely need to use a sighter to detect strikes, though, and the TenkaraBum Tactical Nymphing Sighter was introduced for just that purpose.

The Sanyo Valcan had been another option but it has been discontinued by Sanyo. I will look for other options, but for now I would suggest using heavy fluorocarbon tippet material. The -2X tippet is the same diameter as size 4 tenkara line. The 0X is the same as size 3 line, and the 1X is the same as size 2.5 line.

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Col. Robert Venables 1662

As age slows my pace, I will become more like the heron.

We've all had situations where seriously chewed up flies kept catching fish after fish after fish. It is no sin to tie flies that come off the vise looking seriously chewed up.

Warning:

The hooks are sharp.
The coffee's hot.
The fish are slippery when wet.

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Seriously, all the hooks sold on TenkaraBum.com, whether packaged as loose hooks or incorporated into flies, are dangerously sharp. Some have barbs, which make removal from skin, eyes or clothing difficult. Wear eye protection. Wear a broad-brimmed hat. If you fish with or around children, bend down all hook barbs and make sure the children wear eye protection and broad-brimmed hats. Be aware of your back cast so no one gets hooked.

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