 Tension is generally thought of as “not a good thing,” particularly when it’s in our body like our neck or back. But tension on a fly line almost always is good. It means there is a fish on the other end and that makes anglers happy. But as the saying goes, “too much of a good thing”… can be bad. And that includes tension on your fly or tenkara line.
Learning how much pressure or tension to apply to your rod and line can be tricky, especially on a tenkara rod that bends much deeper than a regular fly rod. Tension on your line removes slack and reduces the opportunity for a fish to throw a hook while bouncing around. Tension on your line also tires the fish faster and allows for a quick landing and healthy release. Tension improves control over the fish’s movements and helps you steer and guide a fish into a more desirable position. And finally, tension keeps the fish from running – which is a no-no on a no-reel tenkara rod. Tension then is good.
However, apply too much tension and your rod can break by overloading a single section. Too much tension can also cause your tippet to break if using light tackle. Even worse, too much tension can harm a fish by tearing their lips and mandibular (lower jaw). So how much tension is the right amount applied and how do we know?
When you hook a fish, they struggle and fight to get away pulling on your line. In response, you the angler pull and apply force in the opposite direction that the fish is pulling. Two parties pulling in the opposite direction straightens the line and causes it to go tight. As you pull back and the line straighten, your rod bends. How deeply your rod bends will depend not only on the rod itself but on the payload or the weight and strength of the fish plus current.
If the fish moves towards you the line ceases to be straightened out and slack occurs. If the fish then runs opposite you, the slack is picked up and suddenly pressure is again applied to your rod. When these fast, sporadic changes occur, it can be difficult to apply pressure and tension evenly to your rod. When we have these knee jerk reactions, we often end up with a break – either in the tippet or in the rod. Tension then, is bad.
It’s a balancing act. Not too much, not too little. But just the right amount of tension is key to excellent fish management. It’s a give and take. A fish collaboration of sorts where you want each party to pull, but without overdoing it. This is when even distribution is critical. When pressure is spread across your rod it’s not as intense. Your rod flexes and actually becomes more stable giving you more control. The fish bounces and thrashes less reducing the possibility of injury. The fish isn’t gaining any headway, so they begin to lean into their fight rather than flail frantically and can be guided into a landing position faster. It’s as simple as that.
Next time you hit the water to reduce the stress and tension in your daily life, keep in mind, some tension is good and it’s even better when it’s applied with calm and steady pressure. Take a few deep breaths, remember a little tension can give you a lot of control.
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