Change Youtube setting to HD for best quality In my 2015 article, I wrote about the virtues of Tenkara no Oni’s hand carved bamboo grips. Most people think they’re merely for aesthetics, but as you’ll see in this video, these grips have beauty and brains! They have a very unique (and practical) feature that…
“A pocket rod that doesn’t feel like a pocket rod” For many of us, one of the things that first caught our attention about tenkara was how compact the rods are. I know the first time I saw one closed, I couldn’t believe something so small scoped out to 11 feet. And I certainly didn’t…
Change the Youtube player settings to the highest quality for best viewing Confession: Whenever I visit the home of a fellow fly tyer, I can’t help but snoop around their desk. I find it interesting to see how they’ve arranged everything, which tools and materials they have, what kind of lamp they use. Is…
Kris Franqui and I explore gear obsession and the specific characteristics we look for when buying a new tenkara rod.
Each season carries with it a certain type of fishing that marks the passing of the year as predictably as a fine timepiece. Winter is “midge o’clock” on Mother Nature’s clock, with chironomids being a reliable food source for trout while the hatches of summer go into their hibernation. Mayflies, stoneflies, and caddis are still…
This episode is dedicated to those who already fly fish and are thinking of trying tenkara. Two veteran anglers discuss why they think it’s woth a look for any serious angler.
Get 20% off Zen Outfitters braided tenkara lines & wax! Code: TENKARATALK Ah, the age-old question: furled line or level line? Each have their pros and cons, and of course, we want all the advantages of both (without their respective disadvantages). Enter: braided level lines! Braided lines strike a balance between the two: they’re thicker…
Over the last several years, DRAGONtail Tenkara has hit home run after home run with their new rod models and, in my opinion, has really become the frontrunner in American tenkara rods. It seems I can’t go on any social media site these days without seeing a smiling angler holding their catch with a DRAGONtail…
This is a little thread cutting trick I figured out a long time ago when I was tying for a fly shop. Like so many great ideas, it was forgotten, only to be recalled after some triggering event. In this case, it was re-watching how Tenkara no Oni cut his thread this video at 03:43:…
Over the course of the 2023 Tenkara Guides Oni School, I was fortunate to observe all sorts of Masami-san’s presentation techniques, casting styles, streamcraft rituals, and of course, his fly tying. Specifically, his famous peacock and pheasant kebari. He’ll be the first to admit that his flies aren’t works of art. Any competent tyer…
In the photo below, there are five #14 hooks. Can you pick them out? If you had trouble picking them out, you wouldn’t be alone. In fact, there are actually more than five and by now, you’ve probably already figured out that this is a trick question. All of the hooks in this photo are…
An Unexpected Journey … “What the hell, why not‽” That’s as good of a reason as any for justifying a spontaneous fishing trip. It’s Mid-July and I was planning a trip to the Frying Pan the following week. But that was looking more and more like it was going to fall through and a…
I recently got a Fujino Soft Tenkara line from Tenkara-Ya which is exactly the same as the other Soft Tenkara Lines I own, but, it’s “white”. I was curious to know what “white” meant. Is it 100% opaque? Is it really just clear? Before I ordered, I asked Keiichi-san (owner of Tenkara-Ya) and he said…
Every angler new to tenkara will inevitably face the age-old question: should I use a level line or a furled line? Often, it’s phrased, “which one is better?” My answer is (of course) it depends. But that answer can seem somewhat dismissive and disappointing. Instead, I thought I’d offer a more definitive answer–outlining the pros…