Welcome to Tenkara by way of Bluegill

Written by Ivan Zoot

If we are trying to build a bigger tent and welcome more people to a seat at the tenkara table, there is no better way than by way of a bluegill. Bluegill are the gateway fish. They are easily accessible and fun to catch. Dare I say, even easier with a tenkara rod than any other gear choice or fishing style.

For the purposes of this article, I will use the term “bluegill” as a catch-all (pun intended) for all varieties of panfish.

Fishing novices and experienced anglers alike will find joy in the simplicity of tenkara for bluegill. You just might find well-seasoned fly fishers setting aside much more complicated (and expensive) gear once the tenkara/bluegill bug has bitten. I can be counted in that group. I have had great fun introducing fixed-line fishing to folks at local ponds and as I expand my fishing adventures with my tenkara gear.

Following are my top five tips for fishing for bluegill with a tenkara rod.

1. Approach With Stealth

Bluegill are frequently found up shallow. Tromping up to the shoreline can scare and scatter fish that would otherwise very much enjoy participating in your fishing adventures. Take a page from classic Japanese tenkara - stay low and move slowly and quietly as you approach the water. Avoid casting your shadow on the water. Make an initial cast from ten to twelve feet back from the water’s edge. A ten-to-twelve-foot rod with an equal length line and 36” of tippet will put a fly in the “golden zone” easily. You might just hook your best fish of the day before you get close to getting wet.

2. "Sky Drop" Your Floating Flies

One of the common translations you'll see for tenkara is literally "sky fishing." The practice of “sky-dropping” floating flies onto the water’s surface is perfectly suited to slamming these eager eaters. The line is kept off the water as you are perfectly able to mimic the natural landing of a bug on the surface. I fished nearly an entire summer season with a single size 14 foam floating damsel fly. If placed softly on the surface you barely have time to think before the blow up. Fishing can’t get much more fun than this.

3. Cast Parallel to the Shoreline

In still water, ponds, lakes, etc. bluegill hang out in what I call the golden zone. This is a band approximately eight feet wide beginning about 3 feet from the shoreline. If the pond drops off quickly this zone can be narrower or even have some combination of depth with structure. This is perfect for tenkara tactics from the shoreline. It is well within reach of even mid-length rods and lines. When working parallel, keeping your fly in the golden zone longer will dramatically increase your chances of a catch. I would estimate 90% of the bluegill I caught last year were hooked within 12 feet of the shoreline -  within this “golden zone”.

4. Pause and Pull Sub-Surface Flies

Kebari and north country spiders in sizes 12 and 14 are perfect sub-surface choices that

incite bluegill mania. Cast them out, allow them to settle in the water column, and then apply

a short pull to move them towards you and up a bit. Then pause and allow them to settle

back. Bluegill will side swipe them as they drop. They cannot resist this move, pause, move

pattern. Experiment with depth to sort out where the fish are suspended.

5. Run With An Indicator

 I am willing to take the heat for this tip, but if the whole point is to have fun and catch fish it is hard to deny the effectiveness of a nymph suspended beneath an indicator. I prefer the

XS size Oros (not sponsored promotion. Just what I really use.). These small indicators, or

bobbers if you will, do not hamper your ability to cast a tenkara rod and line. They can be a

huge help in placing the fly where the fish are… and isn’t that the point of tenkara(/fishing)

anyway? It is easy to experiment with depth through slight adjustments. It can also keep a

wet fly or nymph out of the bottom muck as one learns to control the line and the fly depth.

6. (Bonus Tip) - Swap the Fly

If you are casting and not catching fish that you can see, it might be time to swap the fly. If they simply do not want what you are offering up, it is best to just offer something different. I have found myself in situations where I have a nymph below an indicator and the bluegill have zero interest in my nymph, but are going crazy for that indicator. The message here is to switch to a surface fly like a small foam beetle and start hauling them in. I have also been fishing on the surface, frustratingly watching bluegill examining my fly from below. A fast swap to a kebari and I am holding fish I had been simply admiring a moment ago.

If you are new to using a tenkara rod, bluegill are a great way to build skills while having a

blast. If you are a tenkara enthusiast already fully committed to the techniques and culture do not overlook the opportunity to have a blast close to home in a local pond. Bluegill are built for fixed-line fishing and a tenkara rod feels ideal for bluegill. All in all, a worthwhile combination.

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About the Author

Ivan has been a tenkara enthusiast for about four years, targeting mostly bluegill, various

sunfish and small, large-mouth bass. Ivan is an active member of the Northern Illinois Fly Tiers and a recent new member of the Buckeye United Fly Fishing Club. Ivan splits his fishing time between Northeastern Illinois in Lake County and Hamilton County in Southwestern Ohio. Ivan’s big goal for 2026 is to tie a fly, cast that fly, catch a trout, fillet that trout and eat it - the complete experience.