To date I have only fished 6:4 rods and only with level line.
But I was thinking of trying a 7:3 rod this year, and I keep seeing references to 7:3 rods with tapered lines. For example, Tenkaraya only suggests 3.0–4.0 level line for the 6:4 Models of the Nissin Royal Stage, but recommends tapered lines for 7:3 models of that same rod.
Does anyone on this forum use tapered lines with 7:3 rods? Or even with 6:4 rods? If so, why?
I have the 7:3 360 Royal Stage and it casts a 3.5 level line beautifully.
Of course, I DO practice casting a little, and I do mean a little. (Usually just 15-20 minutes a day before I go fishing.)
I cannot fathom the reason for that recommendation.
Pleasure of the tapered line is there to this video
Thanks, Todoroki! I just found those videos on YouTube thanks to one of your posts here. They’re excellent.
I’ll pick up a tapered line and will try it this coming year. Maybe with a 7:3 rod, maybe with one of my old 6:4 rods…
I should have been more clear: Tenkaraya recommends either level line OR tapered line for the 7:3 rod, but only recommends level line for the 6:4 version. I’m just curious why. I have no experience with tapered line yet.
You should just ask him directly.
Tapered will turn over easier…but i also recall most tapered lines being nylon whitch i am not a fan of.
Recommended line :
6:4 Models :
NO.3.0 to 4.0 Level line7:3 Models :
NO.3.5 to 4.5 Level line
3.5m to 5.0m Tapered line
Furled Taper lineSunline Buttobi Tenkara Level Line
Daiwa Toughron Tenkara Level Line
Fujino Line Tenkara Midi Tapered line
Shimotsuke “Mai Line” Fluorocarbon Furled Taper Line
Daiwa Tenkara Fly Line
I think the recommendation is because it is a stiffer rod, so extra weight/help is necessary to turn over a fly. Tapered leaders are going to generally more expensive…and you will have fewer length choices.
I fished furled leaders, which are tapered, a lot when I started but now for the past year have only been fishing spiderwire invisibraid. It is heavier than the LL but without memory.
Furled leaders are much heavier than LL. Both Furled and Nylon lines tend to be thicker and less dense than the flouro LL. The furled leaders.
I do not like using furled leaders…these days. And only break them out when I need heavier lines.
The only line I like a lot is the fujino straight line. It is heavier than #3 LL but without any memory. It also has a flouro maker section at the end. You noted nymphing and deep presentations. The marker is great for that as it drives the tipped under quick.
I would ask Keiichi directly about what lines he recommends. He is so helpful and it will confidence in your purchase.
I have used the heavy Fuji fluoro tapered lines on the Daiwa Expert LT and Nissin Seikon Becchou 7:3 rods for windy conditions, but mostly use fluoro or nylon level lines. Just about any decent 6:4 or 7:3 tenkara rod will cast and fish even #2 fluoro or #3 nylon just fine, just takes a little (okay lots) of practice, but firmer 6:4 and 7:3 rods handle heavy tapered lines better.
One of my small stream rods the Tenkara USA 6:4 Iwana cast the #3 nylon just fine but is not over lined with the heavy Fuji tapered lines which can be explained by T-Bums penny rating of 23 for the Iwana as apposed to the Oni Type I which is still a 6:4 rod in action but only has a penny rating of 13 making it more of a level line rod, one is a firm 6:4 and the other a soft 6:4 tenkara rod.
What it boils down to, if you would like to fish with light level lines you will not be handicapped with any good 7:3 rod and will have an easier time casting in the wind with both level and tapered lines. Even if wind isn’t a consideration firmer 6:4 or 7:3 rods make it easier to cast accurate tight loop cast in tight spaces if need be. For me personally the Nissin 7:3 rods are a better match, in the Oni lineup the Type I, 395 and new Itoshro work better than the Type II and III 5:5 rods.
The Daiwa level line rods are softer more mid flex rods like the Nissin Airstage/Royal Stage honryu rods but have stiffer hollow tip sections. The Nissin 380/390 honryu are very smooth casting rods but the wind pushes them around from the soft mid section, I sold mine for this reason. The new Daiwa Master L LL series sounds really nice, I will likely get one by next season, with the stiffer hollow tip section it may handle a breeze on my smaller streams just fine, if its really blowing something firmer like the Daiwa LT 7:3 would most likely work better.
So many rods so little time and money to try them all but I will keep powering through until perfection is achieved.
It is not possible to decide the recommended line only by balancing the fishing rod.
When choosing a fishing rod or a line, you have to think about the style of tenkara.
Certainly the level line is said to be adapted to both 7: 3 and 6: 4.
However, it is possible to cast a taper line with a 6: 4 fishing rod. If you were a downcast tenkara you should be able to get a better catch than 7: 3 with a 6: 4 fishing rod.
Fishing rods are not always bends of 7: 3 or 6: 4.
The degree of bending of the fishing rod will change with your power adjustment.
Rod does not decide the line, your tenkara style decides the line.
土屋大輔説明をありがとう、そしてフォーラムへようこそ。私たちは常に新しいメンバーを迎えることを嬉しく思います。ここであなたの参加を楽しんでください。
Daisuke, thank you for the explanation and welcome to the forum. We are always happy to have new members. I hope you enjoy your participation here.
土屋様
ご参加ありがとうございます
私にとって、このフォーラムは非常に興味深い知識の宝物です
又、自分自身の釣りに対する見直しも有ります
よろしくお願いいたします
Thank you for your participation
For me, this forum is a treasure of very interesting knowledge
Also, I am reviewing my own fishing
We appreciate your continued support.
HI Daisuke, thanks for that. (And thanks for making those great videos.)
I’m resolved to branch out and try tapered lines this year. If I have any success, I’ll post the evidence in Fish Photos.
This is invaluable, Paul. Thanks for sharing.
Evan,
Take different lines 2.5 - 4.0 and different furled lines and see what feels the best for your style of fishing.
Try casting in your yard or even a pond with no tippet or kebari. Sometimes even companies with the same
size (such as 3.0) are different in how they respond to your casting. Even the rods that have the same ratings can differ greatly.This is what I do when I get a new rod to fish.
I hope this helps. Stay flexible and fluid and enjoy the journey. Thank you for starting this discussion. I’m always learning, thinking, and experimenting. Happy New Year.
Hi Evan,
The method of casting the taper line and the level line is different.
Please try practicing the casting method I introduce in the movie “半月振り/Hangetsu-cast” or “八ノ字振り/Hachinoji-cast”.
Flexible use of wrist Generate maximum forward cast power with minimum backcast.
Furthermore, the trajectory of the line is correct and the wind knot does not occur.
In Japan, the level line became popular since about 1990, so the casting technique unique to the taper line has been forgotten.
Even tenkara fishermen called masterpeople do not know the technique.
You will be able to master the wonderful casting technique of the taper line.
I am looking forward to it.
Tenkara casting movie.
Thank you for welcoming me to the forum.
I am having a great time at this forum.
このフォーラムはとても素晴らしいです。
皆、純粋にtenkaraを楽しんでおられます。
tenkaraへの情熱と探究心は今の偏った情報に縛られた日本以上かもしれません。
よろしくお願いいたします。
This forum is very wonderful.
Everyone is enjoying tenkara purely.
Passion and inquiry towards tenkara may be more than Japanese now.
It is a pleasure to have you on this forum. The videos you shared are awesome. Thank you.
What tapered line do you recommend? Thank you for your help.
I am using the taper line sold at GROUNDSTORE. That line’s name is “GT Line”. Especially I like 5.5 m long. It is “GT 550” and color is type 1.
All this taper line is made by my hand in a special manufacturing method.
By using this “GT Line” my casting is possible.