How to make a DIY Fly Box
A Simple Tenkara Line Management System from Jason Klass on Vimeo.
If you’ve ever wondered what to do with your Tenkara line when you collapse your rod to move from spot to spot, here’s a simple, cheap DIY solution that might work for you. BTW, if you’re not fond of the red color, the Fuji EZ Keepers are also available in orange, blue, purple, and black. I prefer red or orange just in case the O-ring fails and I drop one in the field (it will be easier to find and the O-rings are cheap to replace). Let me know what you think.
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Nice! I’ll give it a try.
GENIUS! Thanks for posting this.
To paraphrase my 8-yr old son, “This idea is full of awesomeness!”. I will do this. This is the best line management idea I’ve seen so far. Thanks for sharing.
Yeah, that is a damn nice solution!!!
This is a GREAT idea! Thanks for posting this, I’m going to have to look for these hook keepers. By the way fantastic blog. Added you to my blogroll.
Jason, I have been using this solution for a couple months myself (you can see it in this tenkara video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXpuqvKv5kk if you look closely) however I couldn’t figure out what to do with the hook and tippet and have been using a hair elastic on the grip. You’re brilliant!. Your solution works nicely. I get a bit more line memory with the fluorocarbon level lines that makes me still lean a bit towards the spool, but for most situations this is the best I have found. Congradulation and keep up your blogging and tweaking.
Nicely done Jason, will give this a try as soon as i can find the EZ keepers. Thanks for posting it.
Hi Kevin,
Are you using the exact same E-Z Keepers? It looks like in the video you have tape wrapped around the rod to hold whatever you’re using in place.
Jason,
Yep Fuji Hook Keepers. I use the black ones. No tape. Just the big O rings. I have been teaching tenkara classes here in Virginia and have equipped an Ayu, Iwana 11 foot, and Yamame rods and have been using the system in classes. I have a book coming out in the next no later than October 1 (Lyons/Globe Pequot Press) titled “Tenkara: Radically Simple Ultra-light Fly Fishing” which talks about the system. I may include your tippet anchoring solution with your permission.
I have found that if you first unwrap the tippet and fly and let them hang, you can then put your hand through the line loops and collapse the hook keepers. with the loops then over your hand you can telescope the rod while feeding line off you hand. If you keep the tippet in the loops I seem to tangle.
Jason,
Yep Fuji Hook Keepers. I use the black ones. No tape. Just the big O rings. I have been teaching tenkara classes here in Virginia and have equipped an Ayu, Iwana 11 foot, and Yamame rods and have been using the system in classes. I have a book coming out no later than October 1 (Lyons/Globe Pequot Press) titled “Tenkara: Radically Simple Ultra-light Fly Fishing” which talks about the system. I may include your tippet anchoring solution with your permission.
I have found that if you first unwrap the tippet and fly and let them hang, you can then put your hand through the line loops and collapse the hook keepers. with the loops then over your hand you can telescope the rod while feeding line off you hand. If you keep the tippet in the loops I seem to tangle.
Kevin,
I know about your pending publication and would love to discuss some Tenkara stuff with you whenever you want. Give me a call!
Jason, this is a really good idea… I use these little plastic cleats on my Kayak and I thought about using a rubber band to tie one to a rod for the same purpose. I think your Idea is much better. can’t wait to try it out.
GREAT IDEA!! Will be a great addition to the AYU, I bought from you last year. Thanks for the great vid’s!
That’s a pretty slick solution. I’ve been using the foam core blue spools that Tenkara USA sells and have gotten pretty proficient at winding up the line, but this seems like a great option as well. I acutally use them on some spinning rods I have, I’ll have to steal them off and give your system a try to see which I like better.
I’m going to post this video over on my blog, what a great solution. I’m also going to add you to my blogroll so I’m reminded to stop back often.
GREAT solution! Will pick that up tonight on the way home. If you wrap the line in a figure eight it will not twist the line (figured that out with the vacuum cleaner power cord).
David,
Thanks for the tip about the figure 8. I didn’t think of that.
thank you. I’d come up with a similar idea driven by the very same needs and frustaration with the line spools, even the blue ones of daniel’s are fiddly. Spent a lot of time “inventing” a home version of the same thing – lo and behold, some else’s thought of this before me. Another guy here in Aus came up with the idea of bluing cork on the rod, same concept. But the EZ keeper is much neater than my DIY with real line keeps or cork bits glued on. Very elegant and more effectie, as it snaps down out of the way. I’ll see if I can get them in Australia.
mucho thanks.
Fantastic! … I first used flat head tacks in the cork … then used pipe cleaners wrapped around with a tip bent out … but this looks like the answer. Thanks – db
Good job, Jason Klass. This is a sure winner. I never thought of that before. Thank you for making this blog. I enjoyed every detail in it, quite helpful.
So did you give up on the EZ-keepers for the Tenkarausa line spool?
cheers
Hi Tim,
Yes, I did. Not because it isn’t a good idea, I just like the spool better. Some people prefer the EZ Hook keepers and some people prefer the spool. I came up with this idea before I ever tried the spool so I had nothing to compare it to. But now I prefer the spool. I just wanted to put this idea out there to give people different options for line storage and let them figure out what works best for them. What are you using?
Hi Jason,
Thanks for sharing this. I’ve been using the EZ Keepers for a few years and love them. I always was at a loss as to where to put the tippet/fly until I saw your post about slipping it into the little O rings – problem solved! Thanks!
They work great! I’ve used them for years. Thanks, Jason.