Rather than fishing a single stream, why not follow an itinerary? We have mapped six themed routes by tenkara.ca: six fishing journeys, from Quebec to Japan, designed for the fixed-line rod. Each links chosen waters, a season, a level and a trout. Here is the overview.
01 · 道 Michi — Quebec Route, native brook trout
Four days at the heart of tenkara fishing in Quebec, in the Capitale-Nationale region. From Forêt Montmorency — a teaching forest and the cradle of the Tenkara Summit — to the Montmorency River, the Jacques-Cartier tributaries and the upper Sainte-Anne, it is a contemplative itinerary for native brook trout. All levels, June to August, about 180 km. A 3.6 m rod in 6:4, dark kebari #14-16, and a Sepaq permit for Forêt Montmorency.
02 · 山 Yama — Adirondacks ↔ White Mountains Route
The tenkara pilgrimage of the American Northeast, over five days between New York State and New Hampshire. English River, Great Chazy, the famous King Brook (simply WOW, made for tenkara), then Mad River and Ellis River up to the Tenkara Camp Out at Pinkham Notch. Intermediate level, June to September, about 800 km. A 3.3 to 3.6 m rod, separate NY and NH permits, and watch for the May-June mosquitoes.
03 · 峰 Mine — Rockies Route, cutthroat
From the Front Range to Yellowstone, seven days in search of the native cutthroat trout. Boulder Creek (Tenkara USA's home water), the alpine lakes of the Indian Peaks Wilderness, the streams of Rocky Mountain National Park, Idaho's Sawtooths, and finally Slough Creek and its meanders deep in Yellowstone. Intermediate-plus level, July to September, about 1500 km. Above 2500 m, plan 24 hours of acclimatisation and a wading staff.
04 · 谷 Tani — Pyrenees Route, native brown trout
Latin tenkara, six days between France and Spain. The French side first, with the Pyrénées Pêche school; the Spanish side next, in Aragon, with the Salvelinus school; then the rivers of Asturias and León, the cradle of the traditional Spanish fly. Intermediate level, March to September, about 700 km. A 3.6 to 3.9 m rod, a local permit by region or community, and care with the April-May snowmelt flows.
05 · 丘 Oka — Discover Tenkara Route, UK hill streams
The grand British tour over seven days, in the footsteps of Paul Gaskell and John Pearson (Discover Tenkara). From the Peak District to the Yorkshire Dales, from the Welsh hill streams of Snowdonia to the intimate burns of the Scottish Highlands: brown trout and grayling on small streams full of character. Intermediate level, April to September, about 950 km. A day ticket from a club or riverkeeper, and warm clothing even in July.
06 · 岩 Iwa — Itoshiro Route, pilgrimage to Japan
The ultimate pilgrimage, seven days in the Gifu and Fukui prefectures. The mythical Itoshiro valley — home of master Oni Sakakibara —, the Shō River, then the Kuzuryū down to the Sea of Japan. This is the journey that closes the loop: returning to the source of tenkara, where the fixed-line rod was born and is still passed from generation to generation.
Follow a route, not just a spot
A route is a way to travel light and to read a territory as a whole. Each one is mapped on tenkara.ca: adapt it to your season, your level and your time. One rod, one line, one kebari — and a whole itinerary ahead of you.