Don’t be a snob when it comes to the fish you target with tenkara tactics!
The Tenkara Guy
September 2025
By Zane Jacobs
More often than not, tenkara is thought to be only for trout in mountain streams. Viewed as a specialized tool, taking a tenkara rod elsewhere is not usually heard of. To some people it could be seen as using a golf club in a tennis match. I think it’s more akin to using only a 7 iron for an entire round. It’s not necessarily the best for every job, but it can get a lot of jobs done.
When the weather gets too hot for trout, warm water tenkara can be just as fun. There’s no reason to shy away from waters that hold all manner of panfish. Many of the bass that I’ve tangled with have put up a fantastic fight. Most of them have been caught in streams where trout are stocked. For those creeks, I generally skip over the stocking areas and head straight for the deep slow holes I know contain bass.
Redbreast sunfish and bluegill are bountiful in southern creeks too warm for our beloved salmonids. These sunfish tend to be less easy to spook than trout. You can get much closer than you normally would to your target. This is excellent for fishermen, like me, who choose not to sneak. I have also found that sunfish are more likely to come back for a meal they missed. In general, that equates to more time fighting the fish and less time casting.
Warm or cold water makes no difference in the techniques used with a tenkara rod. The differentiating factor is where in the creek you cast to. Rather than drifting the current, you cast to the shaded calm holes. If a bush is hanging down on the surface that’s even better. Most fish seem to like undercut banks in calmer areas, and I’ve witnessed many redbreast rockets come from such cover.
When you hook up with warm water fish it is business as usual. Keeping tension on the line and the fish away from sticks doesn’t change. You tend to get less airborne acrobatics, so it may not be as visually stimulating, but bass will generally make the line sing while cutting quickly through the water. In my experience sunfish are quite erratic once hooked. It increases the excitement not knowing where it might head next. Smaller sunfish are just along for the ride. Simply drag them to the net or hand and send them on their way.
Purists are welcome to disregard this entire article. I care not for the purity of tenkara, but I enjoy the accessibility of it. It’s the idea that anyone can use such a simplified method of fishing that makes me want to take it everywhere. If tenkara is fun in cold mountain streams, why wouldn’t other waters provide the same joy?
