Tenkara USA has just released two new rods that are a complete departure from any design they’ve done in the past. So much so, that when I first laid eyes on them after opening the package, I had to double check the sender’s address to make sure they weren’t from a different company! Forget everything…
I was recently interviewed about tenkara by Joel Ede of Kings Canyon Outdoors. If you’re an experienced tenkara angler, you might not hear a lot of new information but beginners will probably learn a few things. Regardless, it was a great conversation and will hopefully help spread the word about tenkara. Be sure to check…
Say that 10 times fast! A while ago, I wrote a post about a titanium line I got from Tenkara Times (click here for that review). In case you missed the memo, titanium lines slice through wind like a lightsaber through butter making them an excellent choice when the gales make it nearly impossible to…
When I started tenkara and first learned that many tenkara flies were tied with sewing thread, I was appalled. I mean, anything other than 8/0 Uni thread was sacrilege! And sewing thread was just plain crude. This was mostly because I was used to tying more complicated flies where sewing thread would be too thick.…
One of the main reasons the sakasa kebari style fly is so effective is because the hackle moves underwater making it look alive (click here for an underwater video to see one in action). Like most flies, tiers use feathers for the hackle on their sakasa kebari. This is because the fibers are usually soft…
The other day, I was wondering where tenkara was most popular outside of Japan. I had a few suspicions and did some quick research on Google Trends to see if I could get any insights. What I found wasn’t shocking, but I must say I was pleased. According to Google Trends, the U.S. tops the…
In 2010, I introduced an on-the-rod tenkara line management system using EZ Keepers. At the time, I was really only trying to come up with a line storage solution for myself. But three years later, I now see pictures of people using EZ Keepers on their tenkara rods all over the internet so it’s pretty…
When RIGS fly shop introduced their floating tenkara line and tenkara nymph line last year, they answered the prayers of many tenkara anglers who fish outside the “tenkara box” that were craving specialty lines. The floating line made from an actual PVC running line (same stuff your regular fly lines are made of) was a…
There’s a healthy online debate on fixed-line rods that have a cork grip vs. no grip (essentially, a flared extension of the blank). I prefer cork grips because they’re just more comfortable to me. Contrary to popular belief, it has nothing to do with weight for me. Rods without grips are just too thin and…
I was talking to a tenkara gear designer the other day about the problem of trying to accurately describe rod action. The conversation was especially interesting to me because this is a problem I face every time I write a tenkara rod review (and one I’ve often been criticized for). Part of the problem lies with the…
In his book Purple Cow, Seth Godin wrote the following: While driving through France a few years ago, my family and I were enchanted by the hundreds of storybook cows grazing in lovely pastures right next to the road. For dozens of kilometers, we all gazed out the window, marveling at the beauty. Then, within…
Ever since Tenkara Rod Company launched their wildly successful Kickstarter campaign, I’ve been eager to get their rods on the water. Today, I finally got the chance to field test their two initial rod offerings: the Sawtooth and the Teton. Here is my side-by-side comparison from unboxing to stream. The Sawtooth Open Length: 12ft (360 cm)…
The first thing I think of when I hear “silk fly line” is bamboo. Some say that there is no smoother combination than a bamboo rod and silk line. And since the action of tenkara rods is often compared to bamboo, it would seem like silk and tenkara would go hand in hand. After my…
In my last post, I put up some pictures of my tenkara office. Shortly after, fellow tenkara angler and Holga Master Brian Schiele suggested that it would be fun to see pictures of how other tenkara anglers store their gear or where they tie their flies. I agreed, and thought it would be even more fun…