Sporting

Fly Fishing Without a Reel

Hailing from the mountains of Japan, tenkara finds a home in the South

August/September 2011

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Guide Tom Sadler picks apart a Virginia stream.

Photo: Michael JN Bowles

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A light and portable tenkara rod

Photo: Michael JN Bowles

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Photo: Michael JN Bowels

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Photo: Michael JN Bowles

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Photo: Michael JN Bowles

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Photo: Michael JN Bowles

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Photo: Michael JN Bowles

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Photo: Michael JN Bowles

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Photo: Michael JN Bowles

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Photo: Michael JN Bowles

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Photo: Michael JN Bowles

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Photo: Michael JN Bowles

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Photo: Michael JN Bowles

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Photo: Michael JN Bowles

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Photo: Michael JN Bowles

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Photo: Michael JN Bowles

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Tenkara fishing doesn’t use a reel, so to land your fish:
1) Raise the rod tip to bring the fish closer.

Photo: Illustrations by Bruce Hutchinson

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2) Use your free hand to pull the line toward you.

Photo: Illustrations by Bruce Hutchinson

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3) Hold the line taut with the same hand as the rod, using your other hand to grab or net your fish.

Photo: Illustrations by Bruce Hutchinson

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