With more and more water requiring single barbless hooks it is extremely important to keep hooks sharp. Hooking fish, banging off rocks, snagging leaves and branches, any contact will dull the hook, keep a sharpener on a lanyard on your vest and get in the habit of giving a couple of quick swipes after every fish caught or lost and after any prolonged period of bush whacking. A very worthwhile skill to master. It also gives you a chance to check the tippet for nicks.
Ok. I discovered your fishing channel after seeing use the Tenkara rod in either the Idaho or Wind River SUV RVing video. I was immediately attracted to this form of fishing because it’s so much like the bamboo pole fishing I did as a child. I’ve already purchased a Tenkara rod based on your reviews but haven’t used it yet. Taking it to Gatlinburg next month! What’s bugging me is the audio in the fishing videos! I could listen to you talk on a hike for hours, but OMG you have forgotten all your words when you fish. Fish on, oh no! Beautiful fish, see ya buddy! lol. I’m just giving you a hard time but really.. find some new words. I know you have them because of your degree! 😂
Some of the best advice I ever got when I started fly fishing was to get the best wading boots that I could find. I've been using the Simms Freestones for years now, which are built like a tank, but comfy enough for those long walks back to the car. I love the streams you fish. So beautiful and pristine. Thanks!
Thanks Tristen for sharing. I always look forward to your fishing adventures. Loosing fish is always a bummer, I struggled at Norfork tailwater in AR with loosing fish, and came to the conclusion afterward that my drag was set too tight and the hooks were straightening a little and pulling out. Live and learn. Keep up the fun times my friend.
I just got back from the Jemez mountains and the Valles Caldera. The Tenkara was the perfect tool for these tiny streams no more than 24 inches across. Long pole and short line.
When I first started fly fishing, the Valles Caldera was private land, and I could only daydream about it, as it was on the cover of the Craig Martin fly fishing book. It used to be called the 'Valle Grande,' because the geologists had only recently theorized calderas. I only have fished there once. Lately, I've been using a short rod and a very long hand-tied leader for everything within the range of 5 to 20-feet of distance, either with a 6.5 or 7-foot fly rod or a 5.5-foot ultralight spinning rod. Small mountain streams can't be beat. However, a tenkara might be the tool that I need for stealth backpacking...
That's a beautiful place. I've been there a couple times but only in the late winter/early spring when it wasn't really fishable yet. I'd love to go back this time of year!
Another wonderful video Tristan. Thank you for the effort and expense required to create these. I am vicariously through you enjoying my too hot to fish mountain streams here in the mountains of Virginia. I think I have another 45 days or so before I can fish them again. I guess it is the price for being able to fish all winter since we don’t get buried in snow like you.
Love the whole channel, man. Im new to tenkara and do a lot of long backpacking treks. This vid brings up a question: how often do you find yourself swapping out a fly because the hook is blunted?
I've been using a couple of tenkara rods for the streams around Kansas City since I first saw your videos last year. Recently, I bought a cheap Aventik and found out what you meant by it feeling heavy in hand while fishing. Today, I dug out an old Shakespeare Durango 13 foot cane pole, sort of American tenkara, and now I'm worried that I might not enjoy its weight they way I did 20 years ago. I guess it's time to buy a dragon tail. Thanks for the new addiction!
According to my spreadsheet this is the 6th video in which you fished the Kaida. My favorite part of this video was seeing those beautiful pools. Even if they didn't produce the most/best fish, their "fish potential" looked really nice.
Great job again always enjoy your expeditions insight to your thoughts on boot was great just a note if you go LL Bean they have ice creepers which just fit over boots or shoes n have one single velcro strap which I have used on all slippery rocks fresh n salt and work like a charm there easy on easy off, and are very lite to carry as back to tuff slippery conditions
Beautiful creek Tristan, thanks for taking us along. I had your older old boots and it was almost as if the soles were put together with water soluble glue. 😢 My Orvis Lites have been durable and dependable, I hope yours treat you similarly. Thanks again!
Another beautiful creek with some really nice fish in it , AND , all to yourself , awesome ! Plus new boots that you like . About as good as it gets . Really been checking out Dragontails rods , just can't decide , thinkin about the Hellbender to go after a lunker largemouth . Enjoyed the video , thanks again for sharing your adventures with us 😎👍👍
I bought those same Orvis Lite Hiker boots after watching a YT video recommendation about them by DrewLookinFishy. He raved about how comfortable they are, how quickly they fit, and he racks up lots of trail mileage like you. I've had mine for a couple seasons now and they're fantastic. Your videos continue to inspire me to get out more, thanks for sharing your trips!
KEEN water waders work for me. Flexible and Sticky in MOST situations. Use with neoprene booties. and good to hike in also..and not as expensive as ‘regular’ wading boots.
Nice creek! In most eastern streams those so called sticky soles are as good as roller skates knowing well that organisms can attach to your shoes, shoestrings, waders and neoprene boots I’m not killing myself believing that felt soles are the only thing invasives can adhere to Out west it’s definitely different and they work great
If you are fine with it, i would try out using studs. I used a cheap pair of boots off amazon for awhile, then bought a different pair and put studs in them, its like a whole different experience. Till they wear down a bit, its like wearing Velcro on your feet. And i still need to take my tenkara rods out, i have a hellbender and foxfire but everytime i go out i either forget to grab them or im going to be nymphing anyway. So one of these days ill get them out, just a matter of time.
Once u try the screw in studs it will be a game changer, you will never go without them. I fly fish weekly in the Sierra Mts creeks/drainage system and no more slipping thanks to the studs..
Most Definitely. The screw in studs are well worth the cost. Replace them when they get a little worn. For 15 years I have been using korker boots with the hard rubber sole that have carbine tip SPIKES. Very agressive.
That is a lovely stream, much like the ones I prefer albeit much more open n the bush on the side compare to what I'm used to, and with far fewer boulders and logs in the river. Your review of boots was interesting. If I may ask, I'm curious, why did you decide on boots instead of shoes? Habit or specific choice? I stopped using boots decades ago, going back to light weight wading shoes which I started fly fishing with in the 70's (in those days, cheap runners with thin felt glued to the bottom; these days there are now wading shoes with good rubber soles that work for wading)- about half the weight (and often much less) and particularly noticeable for 45+ min walks in and out through the bush. And much much easier for clambering over fallen trees, large boulders, etc, especially as one gets older. A plus being that when flying they are much lighter and dry much faster.
Good luck with your new wading boots... Anyone who has fished for any length of time will tell you how difficult it is to find a pair that lasts and is value for money...
Beginner question for you: why do you prefer fishing level line over a furled line? I have no bias either way but I am trying to decide which to get with my first tenkara rod!
Yeah, boots that don't suck....a tough one. You and I share similar preferences in fishing/hiking style, and I know the struggle. I too wore out my last pair of SoftScience Terrafins and I've been scouring the internet and shops trying to find another NOS pair out there with no luck. I have tried a couple different Orvis boots in the past, and they've all fallen apart pretty quickly.....not a fan. I have settled upon two boots that are working out pretty good for me now.... The first are the Simms Flyweight Access....silly expensive but pretty darn good. I wear these most of the time, and I'm reasonably happy with them. Functionally great, but the soles are wearing out quicker than I'd like. The second are the Altama Maritime Assault Mid......not technically a fishing/wading boot, but functions like one. Good price. They are the closest thing to those old Terrafins out there that you can still buy off the shelf. I wish the sole was a bit more lugged for hiking traction. About those SoftScience Terrafins.....if anyone has or knows about a size 8 available for me to buy, PLEASE let me know.
Those big, fat Western trout! I'm always surprised by the size of your catches on small streams. It's mostly 5-6 inches here in the Eastern mountains (the White Mountains between Maine and New Hampshire).
Question: I often see you lay your rod down when tending to fish in the net. When reading reviews of tenkara rods, people often talk about their rods being delicate and breaking when setting them down. How do you avoid this while you focus on a safe release?
So I bought my son a Tenkara rod a while ago. Could you take everyone through how you gear up and attach line to rod etc before you go fishing please? I am wondering what my son still needs to buy to go with his rod. Thanks
Dragontail has some good videos on this. I use what they call the Tenkara One Knot. 3.5 level line and 5X tippet will cover just about all tenkara fishing. Nippers and a net help.
If you switch flies because you think the hook is dull, have you considered carrying a hook sharpener? At my age with poor eyesight, sharpening a hook is quicker and easier than changing flies. LOL
I don’t understand how you have boots separate from the waders. I always thought they were all in one. Do your feet still get wet? What’s the purpose of the waders then?
Most wading boots are so damn stiff they are difficult to walk in on dry land, get in the river and with so little feel they are likely to tip you up and drown you.
Not necessarily - I often fish wiheven longer lines when the need arises. You just need to hand line the fish into the net, it's a commonly used style in japan with longer level lines. They key thing though is casting accuracy and drag control - keeping contact with the fly for hook setting but not allowing the line to drape in the water to avoid drag - as long as one can control the cast and keep the line off the water a longer line can be quite useful at times. Ive landed fish up to 20inches on 7x tippet with hand lining to net them.
Love talking poorly about Redington. Pretty disappointed in their customer service and availability of replacement rod sections. I asked if i could be put on a waitlist to order my section or if i could be notified if they're in stock. Thy basically told me to get bent and ill have to check every single day to see if they're in stock. First come first serve. NONE of the classic trout tips have been in stock for months. I repaired it in the meant time, but ill be selling all my Redington gear asap.
With more and more water requiring single barbless hooks it is extremely important to keep hooks sharp. Hooking fish, banging off rocks, snagging leaves and branches, any contact will dull the hook, keep a sharpener on a lanyard on your vest and get in the habit of giving a couple of quick swipes after every fish caught or lost and after any prolonged period of bush whacking.
A very worthwhile skill to master. It also gives you a chance to check the tippet for nicks.
Ok. I discovered your fishing channel after seeing use the Tenkara rod in either the Idaho or Wind River SUV RVing video. I was immediately attracted to this form of fishing because it’s so much like the bamboo pole fishing I did as a child. I’ve already purchased a Tenkara rod based on your reviews but haven’t used it yet. Taking it to Gatlinburg next month! What’s bugging me is the audio in the fishing videos! I could listen to you talk on a hike for hours, but OMG you have forgotten all your words when you fish. Fish on, oh no! Beautiful fish, see ya buddy! lol. I’m just giving you a hard time but really.. find some new words. I know you have them because of your degree! 😂
Comfort after a 45 minute hike in just may be the best possible recommendation! Thanks for sharing another great outing!
I just got the same thing.. they are good and light. I like them!
No hotspots or blisters or anything. So far, so good!
Some of the best advice I ever got when I started fly fishing was to get the best wading boots that I could find. I've been using the Simms Freestones for years now, which are built like a tank, but comfy enough for those long walks back to the car. I love the streams you fish. So beautiful and pristine. Thanks!
I bought a pair of Orvis ultra light wading boots and love them. I added the screw in studs and can highly recommend the combo.
Glad you got a new pair of sticky wading boots for that rocky creek. Great day, all around. Thanks, and enjoy.
Thanks Tristen for sharing. I always look forward to your fishing adventures. Loosing fish is always a bummer, I struggled at Norfork tailwater in AR with loosing fish, and came to the conclusion afterward that my drag was set too tight and the hooks were straightening a little and pulling out. Live and learn. Keep up the fun times my friend.
Good luck with the boots. I hope that they've improved because the soles on mine started separating from the boot after two years.
I just got back from the Jemez mountains and the Valles Caldera. The Tenkara was the perfect tool for these tiny streams no more than 24 inches across. Long pole and short line.
When I first started fly fishing, the Valles Caldera was private land, and I could only daydream about it, as it was on the cover of the Craig Martin fly fishing book. It used to be called the 'Valle Grande,' because the geologists had only recently theorized calderas. I only have fished there once.
Lately, I've been using a short rod and a very long hand-tied leader for everything within the range of 5 to 20-feet of distance, either with a 6.5 or 7-foot fly rod or a 5.5-foot ultralight spinning rod. Small mountain streams can't be beat. However, a tenkara might be the tool that I need for stealth backpacking...
That's a beautiful place. I've been there a couple times but only in the late winter/early spring when it wasn't really fishable yet. I'd love to go back this time of year!
3:52 if you have the orvis studs in them they will grip on everything out there!
This!!..I have the studs and it awesome, no more ice skating in creeks...game changer
Another wonderful video Tristan. Thank you for the effort and expense required to create these. I am vicariously through you enjoying my too hot to fish mountain streams here in the mountains of Virginia. I think I have another 45 days or so before I can fish them again. I guess it is the price for being able to fish all winter since we don’t get buried in snow like you.
Love the whole channel, man. Im new to tenkara and do a lot of long backpacking treks. This vid brings up a question: how often do you find yourself swapping out a fly because the hook is blunted?
I've been using a couple of tenkara rods for the streams around Kansas City since I first saw your videos last year. Recently, I bought a cheap Aventik and found out what you meant by it feeling heavy in hand while fishing. Today, I dug out an old Shakespeare Durango 13 foot cane pole, sort of American tenkara, and now I'm worried that I might not enjoy its weight they way I did 20 years ago. I guess it's time to buy a dragon tail. Thanks for the new addiction!
According to my spreadsheet this is the 6th video in which you fished the Kaida. My favorite part of this video was seeing those beautiful pools. Even if they didn't produce the most/best fish, their "fish potential" looked really nice.
Great job again always enjoy your expeditions insight to your thoughts on boot was great just a note if you go LL Bean they have ice creepers which just fit over boots or shoes n have one single velcro strap which I have used on all slippery rocks fresh n salt and work like a charm there easy on easy off, and are very lite to carry as back to tuff slippery conditions
Beautiful creek Tristan, thanks for taking us along. I had your older old boots and it was almost as if the soles were put together with water soluble glue. 😢 My Orvis Lites have been durable and dependable, I hope yours treat you similarly. Thanks again!
Another beautiful creek with some really nice fish in it , AND , all to yourself , awesome ! Plus new boots that you like . About as good as it gets . Really been checking out Dragontails rods , just can't decide , thinkin about the Hellbender to go after a lunker largemouth . Enjoyed the video , thanks again for sharing your adventures with us 😎👍👍
The Troll face rock at 6:24 - 7:20 was really distracting. Lol
I saw it too! Right off. I thought alien..
@@elcocoman4559 Lol. Right!
😂😂😂 funny he didn’t even see it!
I bought those same Orvis Lite Hiker boots after watching a YT video recommendation about them by DrewLookinFishy. He raved about how comfortable they are, how quickly they fit, and he racks up lots of trail mileage like you. I've had mine for a couple seasons now and they're fantastic. Your videos continue to inspire me to get out more, thanks for sharing your trips!
Great to hear a longer-term review! Thanks for watching 👍
Another awesome video well done some really nice fish
I own a pair of Orvis ultra light boots and I love them.
Best title ever 😂
glad you got good shoes
Nice spot as usual
KEEN water waders work for me. Flexible and Sticky in MOST situations. Use with neoprene booties. and good to hike in also..and not as expensive as ‘regular’ wading boots.
#1 Watching from southern Utah about to do some blue lining,.cheers!!
Nice creek!
In most eastern streams those so called sticky soles are as good as roller skates knowing well that organisms can attach to your shoes, shoestrings, waders and neoprene boots I’m not killing myself believing that felt soles are the only thing invasives can adhere to
Out west it’s definitely different and they work great
If you are fine with it, i would try out using studs. I used a cheap pair of boots off amazon for awhile, then bought a different pair and put studs in them, its like a whole different experience. Till they wear down a bit, its like wearing Velcro on your feet. And i still need to take my tenkara rods out, i have a hellbender and foxfire but everytime i go out i either forget to grab them or im going to be nymphing anyway. So one of these days ill get them out, just a matter of time.
Keep the videos coming :)
Once u try the screw in studs it will be a game changer, you will never go without them. I fly fish weekly in the Sierra Mts creeks/drainage system and no more slipping thanks to the studs..
Most Definitely. The screw in studs are well worth the cost. Replace them when they get a little worn. For 15 years I have been using korker boots with the hard rubber sole that have carbine tip SPIKES. Very agressive.
That is a lovely stream, much like the ones I prefer albeit much more open n the bush on the side compare to what I'm used to, and with far fewer boulders and logs in the river.
Your review of boots was interesting. If I may ask, I'm curious, why did you decide on boots instead of shoes? Habit or specific choice?
I stopped using boots decades ago, going back to light weight wading shoes which I started fly fishing with in the 70's (in those days, cheap runners with thin felt glued to the bottom; these days there are now wading shoes with good rubber soles that work for wading)- about half the weight (and often much less) and particularly noticeable for 45+ min walks in and out through the bush. And much much easier for clambering over fallen trees, large boulders, etc, especially as one gets older. A plus being that when flying they are much lighter and dry much faster.
Good luck with your new wading boots... Anyone who has fished for any length of time will tell you how difficult it is to find a pair that lasts and is value for money...
Tenkara Saturday! 🎣😄
I live in Eastern CO., wondering what app you use to research streams on the Eastern slope....
Envious of your adventures....
News we can use! Thanx!
Beginner question for you: why do you prefer fishing level line over a furled line? I have no bias either way but I am trying to decide which to get with my first tenkara rod!
"Lets go for a number 2". Sure, lets.
Yeah, boots that don't suck....a tough one. You and I share similar preferences in fishing/hiking style, and I know the struggle. I too wore out my last pair of SoftScience Terrafins and I've been scouring the internet and shops trying to find another NOS pair out there with no luck.
I have tried a couple different Orvis boots in the past, and they've all fallen apart pretty quickly.....not a fan.
I have settled upon two boots that are working out pretty good for me now....
The first are the Simms Flyweight Access....silly expensive but pretty darn good. I wear these most of the time, and I'm reasonably happy with them. Functionally great, but the soles are wearing out quicker than I'd like.
The second are the Altama Maritime Assault Mid......not technically a fishing/wading boot, but functions like one. Good price. They are the closest thing to those old Terrafins out there that you can still buy off the shelf. I wish the sole was a bit more lugged for hiking traction.
About those SoftScience Terrafins.....if anyone has or knows about a size 8 available for me to buy, PLEASE let me know.
Perhaps some Yaktraxs for those really slick streams?
Insta360 ace pro is a great camera. So much better than the gopro.
My boot of choice is Chota with felt soles. I won't buy a boot if it doesn't have felt.
Redington makes excellent waders.
Those big, fat Western trout! I'm always surprised by the size of your catches on small streams. It's mostly 5-6 inches here in the Eastern mountains (the White Mountains between Maine and New Hampshire).
I fish a lot and still have fun watching others fish I just don’t think I can get enough fishing
What polarized fishing glasses do you recommend?
What type/brand of waders do you like?
Question: I often see you lay your rod down when tending to fish in the net. When reading reviews of tenkara rods, people often talk about their rods being delicate and breaking when setting them down. How do you avoid this while you focus on a safe release?
So I bought my son a Tenkara rod a while ago. Could you take everyone through how you gear up and attach line to rod etc before you go fishing please? I am wondering what my son still needs to buy to go with his rod. Thanks
Dragontail has some good videos on this. I use what they call the Tenkara One Knot. 3.5 level line and 5X tippet will cover just about all tenkara fishing. Nippers and a net help.
Also Tenkara USA
I’m not quite getting wearing boots and then waders - how does one stay dry? I thought waders had built in, integral boots.
What kind/type waders do you use?
Do you have a tenkara rod buyers guide?
What sunglasses do you use? I literally never see fish under water. Maybe my polarized running glasses aren’t doing the trick.
Goodrs work fine for me. On sunny days, look for their shadows.
テンカラ凄いな～
If you switch flies because you think the hook is dull, have you considered carrying a hook sharpener? At my age with poor eyesight, sharpening a hook is quicker and easier than changing flies. LOL
I don’t understand how you have boots separate from the waders. I always thought they were all in one. Do your feet still get wet? What’s the purpose of the waders then?
Most wading boots are so damn stiff they are difficult to walk in on dry land, get in the river and with so little feel they are likely to tip you up and drown you.
5:53 your line is too long… 🙄
Not necessarily - I often fish wiheven longer lines when the need arises. You just need to hand line the fish into the net, it's a commonly used style in japan with longer level lines. They key thing though is casting accuracy and drag control - keeping contact with the fly for hook setting but not allowing the line to drape in the water to avoid drag - as long as one can control the cast and keep the line off the water a longer line can be quite useful at times.
Ive landed fish up to 20inches on 7x tippet with hand lining to net them.
Love talking poorly about Redington. Pretty disappointed in their customer service and availability of replacement rod sections.
I asked if i could be put on a waitlist to order my section or if i could be notified if they're in stock.
Thy basically told me to get bent and ill have to check every single day to see if they're in stock. First come first serve. NONE of the classic trout tips have been in stock for months.
I repaired it in the meant time, but ill be selling all my Redington gear asap.
Tristan, Mike here. It's been a while since I've hit you up. Do you have an email address i can email you at? Id like to send you something. Thanks...