Tenkara in Canada

by Chris Schatte
(Texas)

Just returned from our Canadian trip of 4552 miles. Fished the Bow River in Banff NP and the Sumwampta in Jasper NP. These are wide, deep and very, very fast. You could wade some, but very, very carefully, so you had to use a longer Tenkara rod, line and tippet.

My Sagiri and Daiwa LT39SF worked very, very well with 14-16 ft of the light size 3 Chartreuse line, 3 ft of heavier clear fluorocarbon, with 3-6 ft of 5X tippet and a couple of no-lead split shot. The water was so fast and the channels were so deep that this was the only way to get down enough. Then with the eddies your line would suddenly wash off to a slow pool. Once I learned this "technique" the fish were there for the taking. "Traditional tenkara" worked for the numerous whitefish, but not for the cutts or bulls.

Since we went after Labor Day, the end of the "busy" season, I was alone on the water each day. Had to watch for the bears since they are everywhere up there. Sorry, I did not take a lot of pictures while fishing since this is the last thing on my mind while enjoying myself on the water.

Thank you Chris for your very comprehensive line of products!

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” - Benjamin Franklin

"Be sure in casting, that your fly fall first into the water, for if the line fall first, it scares or frightens the fish..." -
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.

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.

Also, all the rods sold on TenkaraBum.com will conduct electricity. Do not, under any circumstances, fish during a thunder storm. Consider any fishing rod to be a lightning rod! Fishing rods can and do get hit by lightning!