Tenkara TalkTenkara Talk
Tenkara Talk
a tenkara fly fishing blog
Search TenkaraTalk
  • Home
  • Tenkara Gear
    • Tenkara Rods
    • Tenkara Lines
    • Flies
    • Line Holders & Spools
    • Fly Boxes
    • Nets
    • Packs, Organization & Storage
    • Clothing & Accessories
    • Wading Gear
  • How-To & Resources
    • What is Tenkara?
    • Tenkara 101
    • Presentation Techniques
    • Streamcraft
    • Tenkara Videos
    • Fly Tying
    • Knots
    • DIY & Hacks
    • Warmwater Tenkara
    • Books & Media
  • News & Fun
    • Trip Reports
    • Interviews
    • Philosophy
    • Humor
    • Art
    • Tenkara News
    • Events
  • Tenkara Links
  • About Me
  • Contact
FacebookTwitterYouTubePinterestInstagram
  • Home
  • Tenkara Gear
    • Tenkara Rods
    • Tenkara Lines
    • Flies
    • Line Holders & Spools
    • Fly Boxes
    • Nets
    • Packs, Organization & Storage
    • Clothing & Accessories
    • Wading Gear
  • How-To & Resources
    • What is Tenkara?
    • Tenkara 101
    • Presentation Techniques
    • Streamcraft
    • Tenkara Videos
    • Fly Tying
    • Knots
    • DIY & Hacks
    • Warmwater Tenkara
    • Books & Media
  • News & Fun
    • Trip Reports
    • Interviews
    • Philosophy
    • Humor
    • Art
    • Tenkara News
    • Events
  • Tenkara Links
  • About Me
  • Contact

How to Tie ANY Line to a Tenkara Rod

December 15, 201811 CommentsKnots, Tenkara 101By Jason Klass

As tenkara anglers, we like to push the boundaries and experiment with different techniques and tackle. One area of our sport that particularly lends itself to R & D is using unconventional materials for lines. While early lines may have been constructed of furled or braided horse tail or silk, commercially available modern lines have evolved to include furled nylon, furled Kevlar, furled polyester, level fluorocarbon, braided fluorocarbon, titanium wire, and tapered nylon and even some secret proprietary materials. And individual anglers have taken it upon themselves to push the envelope even further by experimenting with floating PVC lines, braided level nylon, level nylon, Dacron backing, knotted level line and more. My friend Dennis exclusively fishes with a rainbow-colored line made from kite string!

Recently, I was talking to a friend in Argentina who is heading to the Andes soon to fish some lakes with his tenkara rod and was wondering about which lines to use to get down deep. I recommended a sinking line like Airflo’s Poly Leader and we also discussed some other tungsten-impregnated lines. But then the question arose, “how would you attach it to the lilian?” With their softer “rubbery” finish and thicker butt section, they don’t really work with the typical knot used to attach level lines (they’re too soft and aren’t slick enough to cinch tight and would create a lot of bulk). I immediately though of a method I’ve been using for years that I thought would work and described it to him. Then, I realized anyone out there who is experimenting with off-the-beaten-path materials for tenkara lines might find it useful so I made this brief video on how to do it.

As you can see, it’s very simple. If you can tie an overhand knot, you can tie this. And the girth-hitch connection is not only strong, but quick and easy to attach and detach. Some might wonder if the more supple Dacron creates a “hinging” effect. It doesn’t. The transfer of energy goes from the rod tip right through the Dacron to the main line seamlessly. In fact, this isn’t even my idea. This type of connection has been used in commercial lines for years so it’s tried and true. The only thing that might be original about it is my DIY technique.

The title of this article might be a little misleading. You probably can’t tie absolutely ANY line using this knot (for example, a stiff and springy material like titanium wire), but for any line that’s supple, it will work. And that inclues using it as an alternative to your conventional level fluorocarbon lines. I just think it’s a more convenient connection. So give it a try on your next line experiment and let me know what you think.

how to attach a tenkara linetenkaratenkara DIY linetenkara line connectiontenkara linestenkara videos
About the author

Jason Klass

Jason is an avid fly angler and backpacker. As a former fly fishing guide originally from Western New York, he moved to Colorado and became an early adopter of tenkara which perfectly suited the small, high altitude streams and lakes there. He has not fished a Western-style fly rod for trout since.

Like this article? You might also like these ...
Advantages of tying your own flies
5 Good Reasons to Tie Your Own Flies
February 4, 2020
How to Attach Tippet to a Tenkara Level Line
How to Tie Tippet to a Tenkara Level Line
February 17, 2019
Tenkara Casting vs. Western Fly Fishing
Western vs. Tenkara: Presentation Efficiency
November 6, 2018
Tenkara Fishing
How to Avoid Wind Drag in Tenkara Presentations
October 19, 2018
tenkara
6 Things That Will Frustrate You About Tenkara (And What To Do About It)
May 13, 2017
Tenkara Rod Flex Numbers
Tenkara Rod Flex
February 17, 2015
11 Comments
  1. December 15, 2018 at 11:24 pm
    Darío Martini

    0:39= it could be any line you want
    What are you? The equivalent of a tenkara Jedi master? Talk about mind opening!
    Great post! Your friend from Argentina surely appreciates this one! 😉

  2. December 16, 2018 at 7:29 am
    Jason Klass

    LOL Dario! Well, originally, I was just going to make a quick video for you, but figured other people might find the same connection useful so I decided to post it. Good luck in the Andes and let me know how the T-line works out. Pictures please!

  3. December 16, 2018 at 11:38 am
    Karl Klavon

    Jason, thank you so very much for making the video. Making a simple overhand knot with both lines at the same time is a much more simple and elegant solution to this minor problem than the way I have been doing it – girth hitching the backing loop to the T-line. I was putting a stopper knot in the T-line anyway, so your way is a much cleaner, quicker and a lot easier solution to the problem….Thanks again….Karl.

  4. December 16, 2018 at 12:18 pm
    Clyde Olson

    Great idea and thanks Jason. A suggestion: When removing a girth hitch, I never hold the rod below the lillian-rod attachment, but hold the lillian below the girth hitch thereby eliminating any tension that might result(its happened to me) at the lillian/rod tip connection as I pulled the girth hitch free.

  5. December 16, 2018 at 2:05 pm
    Martin

    Great, simple method. I like it!’

  6. December 17, 2018 at 4:52 am
    Darío

    But then the question arose… Is it true master? Is it true that there isn’t any ‘hinging’ effect to it? is the force running in me master and from my arm to my laser rod and line and fly??
    (Star Wars music score on the background)

  7. December 17, 2018 at 5:58 am
    Jason Klass

    Darío. ves demasiadas peliculas de Star Wars!

  8. December 18, 2018 at 8:56 am
    Frank Kohn

    Ignoring the visibility problem, would 12# fluorocarbon work diameter-wise as a level line?

  9. December 18, 2018 at 11:09 am
    Jason Klass

    Hi Frank. Yes. And I would consider either a sighter or this stuff for visibility: https://www.tenkaratalk.com/2018/09/tenkara-eso-line-wax/

  10. August 11, 2020 at 4:30 pm
    Ruben Rodriguez

    Can this be used with level line?

  11. August 11, 2020 at 5:23 pm
    Jason Klass

    Hi Ruben. Yes!

Leave Comment

Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

clear formSubmit

About Me

Jason Klass is a former fly fishing guide & casting instructor based in Colorado. He was an early adopter of tenkara in the West and has been fishing the method for a variety of species since 2009. Read more >>

TenkaraTalk Sponsors
Tenkara USA   Dragontail Tenkara     TAO Tenkara   Tenkara Tanuki Tenkara Fisher
Search by Category
Send Jason an Email
Search TenkaraTalk
Tenkara Talk Archives
Tenkara + Backpacking!
Is there any other sport that goes better with tenkara than hiking and backpacking? Be sure to also check out my ultralight and DIY backpacking gear blog.

Tenkara and Backpacking
Latest Posts
  • Tenkara Book
    Tenkara Today Book Review
    November 7, 2020
  • Tenkara Tanuki Retractor
    Tenkara Tanuki Retractor
    October 28, 2020
  • Hoo Rag
    The Hoo Rag
    September 23, 2020
© 2019 | TenkaraTalk by Jason Klass | All rights reserved