Some rod manufacturers may cringe at me suggesting this tip to remove line twist when you’re winding your line on to the spool for fear of broken rod tips. But I have been using this technique for over two years and have never broken a rod. You just have to take the same care you normally do with any tenkara rod tip.
Jason is an avid fly angler and backpacker. As a former fly fishing guide originally from Western New York, he moved to Colorado and became an early adopter of tenkara which perfectly suited the small, high altitude streams and lakes there. He has not fished a Western-style fly rod for trout since.
Hi Jason,
I have a tip for Tenkara fishers. I lost my “plug” to my rod (it became very loose over time), so I took a very sharp knife, using a cutting board, and very carefully cut a piece of a wine cork which I stick in place of the plug and it works great! I didn’t shape it or anything, I just cut a wedge to fit. To simply fishing, Syd
Good tip, Jason. I don’t usually have this problem though since most of the rods I use have a swivel connection for the lillian. The swivel rotates as the level line is wound on to the spool. It’s a nice feature and I know of any downside to it!
This tip can be helpful for those who don’t like to unmount the line for a faster start at the next time. At the end of a fishing day, I do unmount the line and wind it onto my spool. So I can see my lilian has a longer life because it doesn’t rub at the blank during transports ans so on…
Hi Jason,
I have a tip for Tenkara fishers. I lost my “plug” to my rod (it became very loose over time), so I took a very sharp knife, using a cutting board, and very carefully cut a piece of a wine cork which I stick in place of the plug and it works great! I didn’t shape it or anything, I just cut a wedge to fit. To simply fishing, Syd
OK, so what level line do you use? That looks much thicker than most I’ve seen in videos.
Hi Rick, I fish various lines but the one in the video is a #4 Tenkara Bum line.
Thanks. That’s the one Chris recommended as well.
Still working on the Moonlit and CutThroat furled lines (which I LOVE!), but want to try the level lines too.
Good tip, Jason. I don’t usually have this problem though since most of the rods I use have a swivel connection for the lillian. The swivel rotates as the level line is wound on to the spool. It’s a nice feature and I know of any downside to it!
-Tom
Hi Tom, the majority of tenkara rods don’t have swivel tips so that’s why I thought this might be helpful.
I agree. I am not sure why though; maybe cost?
-Tom
Cost probably has something to do with it. I’ve also heard people say it increases tip breakage but have no direct experience with that.
Cool tip Jason.
This tip can be helpful for those who don’t like to unmount the line for a faster start at the next time. At the end of a fishing day, I do unmount the line and wind it onto my spool. So I can see my lilian has a longer life because it doesn’t rub at the blank during transports ans so on…