Traditional Bamboo Tenkara Line Holder
While I certainly appreciate the advances in technology that have allowed us to have high-performance fishing gear, I have always also had a fondess for rustic, traditional gear. There’s something special about traditional, handmade gear that I just can’t resist. It could be nostalgia, but I think for me, it’s more about aesthetics.
Read MoreNissin Tenkara Line Spool
Tenkara line spools seem simple enough. After all, they’re basically just spools. And this might lead on to believe that they’re all pretty much the same. But I’ve found that some actually better than others. I’ve mostly been using spools from Tenkara USA and Leica and have been very happy with them but when I saw these Nissin line spools on eBay, the gear junkie in me just had to try them to see if they were any better.
Read MoreHandmade Bamboo Tenkara Line Spool
Bamboo Tenkara Line Spool by Masami Tanaka
I’ve written before about some unique line tenkara holders such as the bamboo line holder I got on eBay and the wooden line spool Dr. Ishigaki donated for an auction at the Tenkara Summit and the moose antler line spool made by Chris Kulhow. At the summit, I was able to add to my collection thanks to a gift from Masami Tanaka, one of the Japanese tenkara anglers who attended the event. Tanaka-san makes his own line spools from bamboo which are not only unique, but also carry a bit of wisdom with them.
Read MoreRaji Leica Tenkara Line Spools
Not too long ago, I posted about some Oni tenkara line spools I got from Japan. I like them a lot but I also like line spools that have a metal bar inserted in the center for storing the fly. On eBay, I recently found a spool that has the best of both worlds–a spool identical to the Oni spools but with the metal bar.
Read MoreTenkara Line Spools
Tenkara line spools make both long-term storage and moving from spot to spot more organized and convenient. But just like every piece of gear, people will have their own preferences and demands. Today, we’re lucky to have a few different designs we can choose from to suit our individual needs. In this video, I cover just a few different designs and where you can buy them.
Read MoreFeeding the Tenkara Gear Addiction
Today, I came home to a small stack of packages on my doorstep. If you’re an unapologetic tenkara gear junkie like me, you know what such a site causes: an adrenaline fueled, single-minded mission to find the closest box cutter.
Read MoreMoose Antler Tenkara Line Spool
Today, I got my moose antler tenkara line spool hand carved by Chris from The North River Blog. This spool is a work of art reminiscent of Dr. Ishigaki’s wooden line spool and I just wanted to share a few photos…
Read More20 ft. Furled Line & DIY Line Spool Mod
20 ft. tenkara furled Line
Today, I got my long awaited Nissin Prosquare tenkara rod in the mail (review coming soon). A friend in Japan who bought and sent the rod to me was kind enough to also include a 20 ft. furled line he made himself and one of his flies. Thanks Eiji! The line looks a lot like the horse hair tenkara lines I recently made, with different snoods knotted together. After reading Daniel’s article on long line tenkara, I am really excited to try it out. I was a little surprised to see that he sent it on the same Meiho mini line spool Tenkara Bum sells. But upon closer inspection, I noticed an even better surprise.
Read MoreTenkara Bum Line Spools
Tenkara Bum is now offering their own line spools and I got my order for 3 of them today. They’re essentially identical to the Meiho blue spools sold by Tenkara USA but are a shrunken down version.
Tenkara USA spool (left) is 2.73". Tenkara Bum spool (right) is 2.25"
The smaller diameter would be good for a tenkara minimalist or the backpacker who wants the convenience of a spool with the absolute minimum in weight and bulk.
Left: Tenkara USA Spools, Right: Tenkara Bum Spools
While the outer diameter of the spool might be smaller, the inside diameter of the hole is the same as its larger cousin, meaning that you can still carry the spool by slipping it over the blank and handle of most tenkara fly rods:
Tenkara Bum Spool on a Tenkara USA Iwana 12 ft. Rod
And, as an added bonus, the Tenkara Bum spools come with stickers to help you keep track of line lengths and weights:
While both spools are good, as a backpacker, I can see the niche appeal for this smaller and lighter convenience item. If you’d like to try the smaller spools, you can get them here.
And, oh…you might be wondering if the smaller diameter of the spool increases coils and line memory on level lines. Well, not any more than on the larger T-USA spools. You still have to stretch out your line either way so I don’t see it as a problem. Think of it more as a pre-fishing ritual you have to go through anyway than a chore.
How do you store and transport your tenkara line?
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Tenkara USA Line Holder Review
Tenkara USA Line Holder
If you’ve been following this blog, you might know that I’ve been playing around with some different methods of line management for Tenkara lines. I’ve tried more traditional gadgets such as aged bamboo line holders, cheaper solutions like foam spools, and even some outside-of-the-box ideas like adapting add-ons from the spinning and bait casting realm. They all have merit to some degree but I have recently decided that the “blue spools” from Tenkara USA are the most practical. Here’s why…
Read MoreBamboo Tenkara Line Holder
While I appreciate (OK, drool over) innovation and technological advances, sometimes, tried-and-true traditional gear has a certain allure that I just can’t resist. I recently posted about a tenkara line management system that is very practical and functional, yet lacks the quaintness and charm of what I got in the mail today–a pair of bamboo tenkara line holders that marry practicality with aesthetic beauty.
These tenkara line holders are made from bamboo that is aged, then lacquered to improve strength and resistance to warping. At just 0.1 ounces each, they’re perfect for UL fly fishers and backpacking fly fishers (something their ancient designers probably inadvertently thought of before UL was even a concept).
You can store 4 level monofiliment or fluorocarbon lines, or 2 furled lines on one holder and the cross bars in the middle allow you to pre-rig your tenkara lines with tippet and flies meaning you can store different rigs for different situations and implement them easily. I probably won’t use them much in the field aside from luxury trips or photo shoots but they’re pretty cool to play with.
Which line management system are you currently using?
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About Me
Jason Klass is a former fly fishing guide who now exclusively fishes Tenkara for trout in the streams and lakes of Colorado...Read More