Tenkara USA 3rd Generation Traditional Line
Tenkara USA has just updated their traditional furled tenkara lines and I recently got mine and had a chance to do some test casting with my 13 footer. Here are my thoughts comparing it to the 1st generation monofilament lines and 2nd generation spectra lines.
The 2nd generation Kevlar lines were an improvement over the old mono lines in that they didn’t tangle if you had to pull out a snag; however they were heavy. In some respects, that wasn’t a bad thing. They cast well in the wind and gave a powerful delivery for larger flies. Plus, they were very easy to cast for beginners who needed to feel the rod load more. But people who were used to the daintier mono furled lines complained that they were too heavy and pulled back toward you when you were trying to keep you line off the water and didn’t make a very delicate presentation.
Those 2nd generation lines are now called “high wind” lines and are still available. But for those who want the delicacy and finesse of the old mono lines without the tangle headache, the new 3rd generation lines are the way to go.
Aesthetically, the new 3rd generation lines look pretty much identical to the 2nd generation lines with the same packaging, dull yellow (natural looking, yet surprisingly visible) color, instructional booklet, and spool. But you will definitely notice a difference if you cast them side by side. The new line is noticeably more delicate.
I’ll use both. There are definitely specific applications where each line would shine so I consider them to be compliments to each other. All in all, I think the new lines are an improvement and they’ve definitely tempted me a bit from my recent love affair with level fluorocarbon lines. In my opinion, this line blows all traditional monofilament furled lines out of the water.
Have you tried the new Tenkara USA Kevlar Lines?
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Jason Klass is a former fly fishing guide who now exclusively fishes Tenkara for trout in the streams and lakes of Colorado...Read More Tenkara Summit 2012
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I think I will have to try it. How would you compare it to the streamside leader bifilament line? (that is the only furled tenkara line I have) Thanks
To me, this one has a bit more power and throws a tighter loop.
Tried mine this last trip. Had several places where I had overhang so had to float with the current to the deep pocket. Worked very well in open areas where I could cast.
Jason,
I wander how the High Wind line would compare to a #5 Hi-Vis Tenkara Bum line. Have you ever cast a #5?
Tom, I have not. I’ve only cast up to 4.5 because that’s plenty heavy for me. I think I have some #5 laying around so maybe I’ll dig it up and give it a side-by-side comparison.
Chris Schatte — Does your post mean that the 3G line floats, or did you apply a flotant?
Jason, I have a 1G line that I absolutely never use – I use my TenkaraBum level lines in almost all situations, and my TenkaraBum taper sometimes with a delicate dry or a kebari. When do you use your traditional lines? Should I consider going back to mine in certain situations?
Hi Alex,
Hmmm, I haven’t cast the Tenkara Bum tapered line so I can’t really say if the delicacy of that line and the 3G traditional line are comparable. If you’re happy with your level and tapered lines, maybe there’s no need to get a traditional line but I like to try out every option so that’s why as soon as something new is out, I like to try it out. All I can say is that of all the furled lines I’ve cast, I really like this one the best so far.
Jason,
Does this line have a “memory”, like fluoro, when winding it around a spool or EZ-Keepers?
Since it is a braided I assume not, but then I’ve assumed a lot of stuff that ….
Hi Greg,
No. Spectra is more supple than mono so this line had no memory and you can use it with EZ Keepers or on a spool without having to straighten it out.
Paul, Where I was fishing there was a lot of over hang so casting was out. On my rod I used the furled line (as above) a 5ft floating braided leader and 3 ft of sinking tippet. This gave me enough reach to float my line to where the pools were from where I could stand to fish. I was using 20-22 midges.