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Tenkara Rig for Tightline Czech Nymphing

Updated: Jan 9, 2021


tenkara tightline czech nymphing rig
Tenkara Czaech Nymphing Rig

Czech nymphing with a Tenkara rod is a method of fly fishing that allows an angler to present nymph patterns to fish holding in deep water. It's designed to increase strike detection by maintaining a direct connection between the angler and the fly.


After many experiments and modifications to my Tenkara nymphing rig, I’ve come up with the following that I believe does the best job of addressing the three essential aspects of tightline czech nymphing:


  1. Getting your fly deep quickly

  2. Maintaining constant contact between you and your fly so you can detect subtle takes that are often missed when using an indicator nymphing system

  3. Being able to manipulate the fly so you have multiple presentation options


Materials needed:


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  • 3 ½ft of conventional fly line, anything from 3-8 wt will work, 5 wt being my most preferred.

  • Two 1ft sections of 3X (.008 diameter) colored mono tippet in two different colors. I prefer one orange and one neon green, but any contrasting colors will work.

Click the link below for pricing

  • One tippet ring, the smaller the better. I prefer #1 mm.

Clink the link below for pricing

  • 4-6 ft of 6x fluorocarbon tippet

Click the link below for pricing


Visual Step-by Step Instructions for a Tenkara Tightline Czech Nymphing Leader


To explain this rig, we’ll start with the connection to the lillian (string hanging from the tip of the Tenkara Rod) and work our way down to the point fly.


Step 1

Start with 3 1/2 ft of conventional fly line. On one end tie a slidable slip knot, this will be the end that is attached to your lillian. I’ve tried various methods of connecting my line to my lilian, and this slidable slip knot is by far my favorite. It’s quick, easy, and holds up much better than any other method I've tried. (click here to learn about the slip knot and how to attach it to your lillian)


Tenkara Leader Step 1
Tenkara Leader Step 1

 

Step 2



On the other end of the fly line tie a SMALL perfection loop. (click here to learn the perfection loop) *NOTE: 20lb mono can be substituted for the conventional fly line section in a pinch, but it does not cast nearly as well as conventional fly line does*


Tenkara Leader Step 2
Tenkara Leader Step 2

 

Step 3

Take your orange 1ft 3X section of mono tippet, and with a clinch knot, tie it to the fly line’s perfection loop you created.


Tenkara Leader Step 3
Tenkara Leader Step 3

 
 

Step 4

Take your green 1ft 3X section of mono tippet and attach it to the orange section with an infinity knot. (click here to learn the infinity knot)


Tenkara Leader Step 4
Tenkara Leader Step 4

 

Step 5

At the other end of the green tippet section, attach the tippet ring with a clinch knot.


Tenkara Leader Step 5
Tenkara Leader Step 5

 

Step 6

Attach your 4-6ft of fluorocarbon tippet to the tippet ring. It took me awhile to get on the tippet ring train, and for dry fly fishing I’m still agnostic, but it gives you the ability to change tippet lengths very easily witch is a huge plus when tightline nymphing with Tenkara.


Tenkara Leader Step 6
Tenkara Leader Step 6

The overall length of your czech nymphing leader should be VERY LITTLE, if any, longer than your Tenkara Rod when it is fully extended.


 

It really is that easy. In 15-20 minutes you can build two or three of these and they should last you multiple seasons. In a future post, I will include my system for adding a dropper to this baseline nymphing rig.


To learn how to cast this leader click here


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Noses Up Fly Fishing is brought to you by two brothers and their passion for chasing wild trout on spring creeks with dry flies. We created this site to share our knowledge, catalog our adventures, and tell a few white along the way. Thanks for joining!

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