Tenkara vs. Micro Fishing: The Differences, Overlaps, and the Right Gear for You
🏕️ Introduction: What’s the Confusion?
If you’ve been around the micro fishing scene, you’ve probably heard people mention Tenkara and Tanago fishing as if they’re all the same thing. Spoiler alert—they’re not!
While both originated in Japan and involve fixed-line rods, their purpose, species, and techniques are completely different.
- Tenkara was created to catch trout in mountain streams using flies and a long, flexible rod with no reel.
- Tanago fishing is a technique focused on catching tiny bitterlings (a type of small fish in Japan) with the smallest hooks and lightest tackle possible.
- Micro fishing is not tied to one species or technique—it’s a broad term that means catching small fish of all kinds, anywhere, using ultra-light tackle.
💡 So why do people mix them up? Some anglers use Tenkara rods to catch small fish, and since Tanago rods are specialized for tiny species, people lump it all together. But using a Tenkara rod to catch a bluegill is not Tenkara fishing—it’s just using a fixed-line rod creatively!
So, let’s break this all down properly.
🪶 What is Tenkara Fishing?
Tenkara is one of the oldest forms of Japanese fly fishing and has become wildly popular in the West due to its simplicity and effectiveness. Unlike Western fly fishing, which uses reels and long casting techniques, Tenkara focuses on precision, drift, and presentation in small mountain streams.
🎣 Tenkara Gear & Setup
✔️ Rod – Tenkara rods are telescopic and long (typically 10-15 feet).
✔️ Line – A fixed-length fly line (not traditional fishing line).
✔️ Flies – Traditional kebari flies designed to drift naturally.
✔️ No Reel – Everything is managed by hand, adding to the challenge.
🏞️ Where is Tenkara Used?
🔹 Cold, fast-moving streams with rocky bottoms.
🔹 Mountain creeks with clear water and small trout.
🔹 Regions where delicate fly presentations are necessary.
Can You Use Tenkara for Other Fishing? 🤔
Absolutely! Many anglers adapt Tenkara rods to other styles:
- Bass fishing – Shooting poppers under overhanging cover.
- Panfish fishing – Catching bluegill, crappie, and other small sunfish.
- Even micro fishing! – Using smaller flies or natural baits to target tiny species.
💡 But here’s the catch: If you’re not fishing for trout in mountain streams with flies, you’re technically not practicing traditional Tenkara—you’re just using a Tenkara rod in a different way.
🐟 What is Tanago Fishing?
Tanago fishing is not a method—it’s a species-specific technique. Tanago refers to a group of bitterling species in Japan, and Tanago fishing is all about catching them using the smallest hooks, thinnest lines, and most delicate bait possible.
🎣 Tanago Fishing Gear
✔️ Rod – Extremely short and flexible (often under 4 feet!).
✔️ Hooks – Micro hooks, sometimes so small they fit on a grain of rice.
✔️ Line – Ultra-thin line to present bait without spooking fish.
✔️ Bait – Tiny bits of algae, plant matter, or micro worms.
🪴 Where is Tanago Fishing Popular?
🔹 Stillwater ponds, rice paddies, and irrigation ditches.
🔹 Slow-moving canals where Tanago fish live.
🔹 Areas with thick vegetation where tiny fish hide.
💡 Why the Confusion?
Because Tanago fishing is focused on small fish, English-speaking anglers incorrectly started using the term for micro fishing in general.
In reality, Tanago fishing is just one niche form of micro fishing—focused on one type of fish.
🎯 What is Micro Fishing?
Micro fishing is a broad term that refers to catching small fish species with specialized ultralight tackle. Unlike Tenkara or Tanago fishing, micro fishing is not limited to a specific species, method, or gear setup.
🐠 Micro Fishing Species
✔️ Native micros – Shiners, darters, madtoms, killifish, pygmy sunfish.
✔️ Juvenile sportfish – Baby bass, tiny bluegill, young crappie.
✔️ Invasive species – Cichlids, guppies, plecos, and other aquarium escapees.
🎣 Micro Fishing Gear
✔️ Micro hooks (#30 or smaller) – Designed for fish under 3 inches.
✔️ Ultra-thin line (1-2 lb test) – Nearly invisible in water.
✔️ Small floats & split shots – Helps present bait properly.
✔️ Tiny bait – Bits of worm, micro jigs, insect larvae.
🛶 Where Can You Micro Fish?
🔹 Freshwater creeks, ponds, and ditches.
🔹 Saltwater estuaries and tidal pools.
🔹 Urban canals full of aquarium fish.
🤝 Where Do Tenkara & Micro Fishing Overlap?
🚀 Many micro anglers use Tenkara rods—but that doesn’t mean they’re doing traditional Tenkara fishing!
✔️ Tenkara rods are great for micro fishing because they’re sensitive and long, allowing easy placement of micro baits.
✔️ Micro hooks and light line can be used with a Tenkara rod to target tiny fish instead of trout.
✔️ Fixed-line fishing concepts work well in micro fishing, but that doesn’t make it Tenkara.
💡 So what’s the best gear for micro fishing? If you want to target true micro species, a shorter, more sensitive rod with ultralight tackle is the way to go.
🛍️ The Best Gear for Micro Fishing (AOMF Tackle!)
If you’re serious about micro fishing, using the right tackle makes a huge difference.
✅ Micro Fishing Hooks (#30) – Designed for fish as small as 1 inch!
✅ Ultra-Light Line (1-2 lb test) – Invisible to small fish!
✅ Small Floats & Weight Putty – Keeps bait in the strike zone.
✅ Fixed-Line Fly Line and Rods Designed for Micros – More sensitive than Tenkara rods for small fish.
👉 Upgrade your micro fishing gear today with The Art of Micro Fishing! 🎣
Final Thoughts: Which Fishing Style is Right for You?
- If you love fly fishing for trout → Try traditional Tenkara.
- If you’re after tiny native fish like darters & pygmy sunfish → Use micro fishing tackle.
- If you want to use a Tenkara rod for bait fishing for small fish → That works too! Technically, it’s not Tenkara.
🔥 No matter what style you choose, AOMF has the perfect gear to help you catch more fish. Start your micro fishing adventure today! 🚀