Every time someone asks me to try out a new tapered tenkara line, I always say the same thing: “I’m a level-line guy”. But, because of my STGA (“Severe Tenkara Gear Addiction), I always accept, and am always reminded of how easy tapered lines are to cast. So when Chris Stewart of Tenkara Bum asked me to try out the new Nissin SP Pro line, it was the same old story.
The SP pro is a multi-strand fluorocarbon line (as opposed to the more ubiquitous nylon tapered tenkara lines). Since fluorocarbon is heavier than nylon, this means a couple of things. First, it casts “like a bullet” (in Chris Stewart’s words). Turnover is excellent and it’s extremely easy to cast. Second, it will sink faster than nylon. So it’s probably better suited to fishing wet flies than dry flies. But if you’re fishing dry flies, you’re probably already using a nylon line. If you really wanted to fish the SP Pro with dries, a quick rub down with floatant would do the trick.
One curious thing about the SP Pro is that unlike most tapered lines, it doesn’t use a girth hitch connection to the lilian. Instead (and this is a little tricky to explain), there’s a big loop at the end (just like any other tapered line where you would do a girth hitch) but there’s a sliding band of red thread in the middle. What you do is thread the lilian through the open loop and slide the band taut against the knot in the end of the lilian. At first, I thought this was odd, but it’s actually a little easier than doing a girth hitch. And removal is just as easy. Simply slide the band back and pull the lilian out.
On a side note, red probably wasn’t the best color choice for the band. Since most lilians are the same red color, it’s difficult to discern the band from the lilian so it’s easy to get confused about exactly what to pull on when you want to remove the line. A quick fix would be to color the band with a Sharpie marker so it contrasts.
I got the 6-meter version because I like longer lines, but it’s also available in 3.3, 3.6, 4.0, and 4.5 meters if you prefer shorter lines.
Pretty much every product I’ve tried from Nissin has been solid, and the SP Pro is no exception. It’s nice to see so much quality gear coming from Japan. If you’re a tapered line fan, this line is worth checking out. Get more info or buy one in the Tenkara Bum Store.
How is it performing in comparrison to other furled or braided lines when you try to keep as much line from the water as possible?
Hi Chris, it’s pretty much the same as any other tapered line–it sags. In my experience, I haven’t found a line other than a level one that doesn’t.
Jason, I’m relatively new to Tenkara
and would like to know what the 2.5,3,3.5, etc on the packs of leader
stand for. Is it like5,6,7x on western fly lines? Also, how long are
the leaders that you use, I find if
I use too long a leader, I start having trouble getting the line to
straighten out.
Thanks, Jim
Hi Jim, those first numbers you reference refer to the diameter of the main line, not the tippet. Here is a rough guide to the diameters those numbers correspond to: https://www.tenkaratalk.com/2013/03/tenkara-level-line-chart/
Then, at the terminal end, you’ll just tie on regular tippet like 5X, 6X, etc. Of course, you can fish any size tippet you want, but I pretty much only use 5X since I mostly fish a #12 fly. Hope that helps.
Hi Jason,
I am new to Tenkara and fish a Sawtooth by Tenkara Rod Company and an Amago by Tenkara USA. I’ve only used furled lines so far, but I’m looking for something to be able to cut through the wind a bit better. Should I go with something like this?
Thanks!
Sean R.
Hi Sean,
In general, level lines cut through the wind better than tapered lines because they’re thinner and put up less wind resistance. Have you tried level lines? However, since this is both tapered and made of fluorocarbon (instead of the lighter nylon most tapered lines are made from), it does perform better in the wind than most tapered lines. The thicker butt section gives it more punch and the extra density carries the momentum through the cast to provide better turnover.
Sean, give titanium line a try for easy casting and beating the wind. Harder to see than other lines but you can tie on a foot of indicator line before the tippet. Hi viz Amnesia brand or a piece of fluorocarbon level line that has some body and day glow look to it will do. Also titanium doesn’t have the sag Jason mentioned that tapered lines have. Search on “Knot 2 Kinky” nickel titanium tenkara line. Jason did a couple of blog entries on it some months back.
Thanks guys. Very helpful. Will give Titanium a try on windy days.