It adds up. I think moving very slowly into position, and freezing if necessary until trout relax, also help too. Basically, if there’s an advantage, I’ll try to use it. I find the ex-Army clothing gets uncomfortable on the really hot days - that’s when i’ll use a purpose-made vented fishing shirt, preferably in a nice drab sand/tan.
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Hello Ben, welcome to the forum.
To elaborate on Nick’s advice to move slowly.
Years ago a tenkara angler from Japan, Eddie Yamakawa, frequently posted to forums here or interacted with people in different ways. He wrote a pdf document, about 12 pages. With various tips for tenkara fishing.
One of the tips he called the “10 cm rule”. Which meant that if you do not move any faster than 10cm/sec (~ 4in/sec) the fish will not notice you. 4 inches/sec works out to moving no faster or less than 5 feet/15 seconds.
Other stealthy rules were more obvious: such as avoid casting your shadow over the fish from the sun being behind you, and avoid wading if you can. As either one will set off the spooked fish sounding the alarm to the other fish that a predator is on the stream.
The guys at tenkaraguides used to have Eddie’s booklet of tips on their website to be downloaded. But I do not think they still have it on their website. But if you would like to have a copy, If you email them they will probably send it to you. Or maybe I can find a copy on my HD and send it to you, if you’d like to have it.
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Anyone interested in downloading a copy of Eddie (Eiji) Yamakawa’s pdf booklet, “Basics of Tenkara for Beginners” - a 10 page pdf file he wrote and distributed at the 2012 TUSA summit. Should be able to get it here:
http://www.tenkaraprim.ru/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Basics-of-Tenkara1.pdf
If you don’t recall seeing Eddie before -
An interview by Jason Klass:
https://tenkaratalk.com/2012/10/interview-with-eiji-yamakawa/
Maybe Adam Trahan has interviewed him too.
Yep, it is here:
http://www.tenkara-fisher.com/2017/01/interview-with-eiji-yamakawa.html
Eiji’s blog, though it doesn’t appear he has added any new content since 2007.
After his trip to the 2012 Tenkara Summit many people were interested in his method of making a twisted taper line, that he demonstrated at the summit. The information is on his blog. page006 - お役立ち情報 / Useful /helpful information.
http://www.eonet.ne.jp/~tenkara/index.html
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Thanks for sending the links, including Eddie’s PDF. Found some of the tips very helpful!
Definitely, the 10cm rule is key to me, as is trying to eliminate my shadow spooking fish.
Good to know. I try to move into position slowly and low, but I need to do something about those sudden slipping on rocks movements! It’s mostly boulder/slab where I fish, not so much wading up the river. I’ve been wondering about this cream coloured full brim hat that I wear when hiking/fishing - probably no good!
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Eiji’s pdf is one of the best and most concise documents and such a valuable resource.
I made a permanent location for people in the reading section.
whenever I introduce someone to tenkara I send them that pdf. Such a wonderful document for beginner and expert. It is like a mantra.
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Thanks for the advice @dwalker
I do find that when I scare fish it’s most often when I’m wading.
The 10cm rule is a good one! I just timed the movement with a tape measure, and that’s about 4 steps …per 15 seconds!
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Not necessarily…Luong Tam, head of Tanuki Tenkara, wears bright orange on the rivers and he catches fish…but, try wearing a dull coloured hat or visit Aussie Disposals and get a cheap cammo hat and try it…if you catch more fish, then perhaps on your waterways, it’s a factor…