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Tenkara USA Bamboo Fly Box

March 12, 20129 CommentsFly BoxesBy Jason Klass

I just got my Tenkara USA Bamboo Fly Box and it is beautiful.  I got to see a sneak preview of one at the Fly Fishing Show in Denver a few months ago and couldn’t wait until they were for sale.  I’m a sucker for wooden fly boxes so the day they went up on the Tenkara USA website, I bought one (I might have even been the first one).  Here are some of the things I really like about this box.

 

The Size

At 4.5″x3.5″x0.75″, this fly box is (in my mind) the ideal size for tenkara.  It will hold more sakasa kebari than you’ll need for a full day on the water, yet is very slim and will fit into a minimal chest pack (or a shirt pocket) easily.  I can’t stand thick, bulky fly boxes and really like how sleek and slim this on is.  The dimensions make it feel very ergonomic in the hand.

Ergonomic Design

The Look

 

Aesthetically, the box is gorgeous.  The bamboo is a rich color with nice grain to it.  And rather than a glaring, ugly logo turning you into a walking advertisement (ala The North Face), the laser engraved logo is a subtle katakana “te” character that gives the box a very nice “Japanese look” to it.

Tenkara USA Bamboo Fly Box

 

The Weight

 

While the Tenkara USA website lists the weight as 2.7 oz., on my scale, the box came in at 2.3 oz. Whenever working with a natural material, there is bound to be some weight variation but I was glad to see that they didn’t understate the weight as many gear companies do.  It’s always nice to find a piece of gear actually has better specs than promised.

Tenkara Bamboo Fly Box

 

The Foam

Unlike many foam boxes, the insert is raised and the edges are very shallow making it extremely easy to add or remove flies.  With most foam boxes, the edges are so deep that it can be difficult to access your flies–not so with this design.  And the lid features enough clearance to not fold flies down when closed.

Bamboo Tenkara Fly Box

 

The Finishing Touches

Aside from the beautiful exterior finish, this box also has a few nice touches in the hardware compartment. The brass hinges are inlaid so they’re not on the outside frame of the box giving an even more elegant appearance.  And a single, centered magnet keeps the box securely closed, yet easy to open.

Wooden Tenkara Fly Box

 

What I’d change

While I wouldn’t really change anything about this particular design, I would love to see it offered in a compartment version as well.  While foam is certainly very practical for a variety of reasons (especially noticeable when trying to dig out just the right sakasa kebari buried deep in a compartment on a windy day), I have come to favor compartment boxes.  Many anglers prefer foam because it’s easier to see and access your selection, but to me, high-tech foam somewhat detracts from the beauty of a wooden fly box. But that won’t stop me from taking this beauty on the water.  Now…I just have to hit the vise to fill this puppy up!

About the author

Jason Klass

Jason is an avid fly angler and backpacker. As a former fly fishing guide originally from Western New York, he moved to Colorado and became an early adopter of tenkara which perfectly suited the small, high altitude streams and lakes there. He has not fished a Western-style fly rod for trout since.

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9 Comments
  1. Reply
    March 12, 2012 at 8:13 pm
    Daniel @ Tenkara USA

    Thank you for the review and the feedback on what you’d change.
    For quite sometime I have also preferred compartments v. foam. However, on more than one occasion I have clumsily dropped the box, losing a couple of flies and having to pick the rest. Also, wind can make it tricky. And, sometimes flies come out connected to one another. Those are the main reason I started preferring foam to compartments recently, though I agree wholeheartedly with the look of a compartmentalized box.

    • Reply
      March 12, 2012 at 8:17 pm
      Jason Klass

      Hi daniel,
      Yep, it’s a tough line to walk between aesthetics and practicality sometimes.

  2. Reply
    March 12, 2012 at 8:47 pm
    Tom

    Good review Jason that’s a good looking fly box in will make a nice addition to my Rick Setina box.

  3. Reply
    March 12, 2012 at 9:03 pm
    Chris

    Got mine today. Love the compact size and minimal weight. Personally I like the ripple foam over compartments. More than once I have lost a fly down stream in the wind…

  4. Reply
    March 17, 2012 at 8:57 am
    Stephen

    Hey Jason,

    I was interested in one of your Trico Packs awhile ago but ended up with a Fishpond San Juan after your review. I was wondering if you or anyone else have seen this?

    http://www.antigravitygear.com/elemental-horizons-dragonfly-fishing-pouch.html

    Looks simple and nice but eerily similar to your Trico designed pack. Any thoughts?

    • Reply
      March 17, 2012 at 10:43 am
      Jason Klass

      Hi Stephen. It’s the same pack. Elemental Horizons sewed them for me and I agreed to let them also sell it under their own label.

  5. Reply
    March 17, 2012 at 9:29 pm
    Stephen

    If you are still in good standings with them I think another post about that pack will help out a lot of people! I think it’s a great looking pack and I’m considering picking one up for my trip out on the AT this year.

    • Reply
      August 23, 2012 at 7:42 am
      Paul

      I agree with Stephen. This is a great design. I bought the redesign when you had them and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this.

  6. Reply
    March 10, 2013 at 4:29 pm
    Chris "Critter" Sprau

    I bought this fly box and I am really happy with it. It is so lightweight, slim, I like that it is made out of bamboo, and the magnet to keep it closed is very strong.

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About Me

Jason Klass is a former fly fishing guide & casting instructor based in Colorado. He was an early adopter of tenkara in the West and has been fishing the method for a variety of species since 2009. Read more >>

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