When I was 15, I got my first fly box. I can’t recall exactly what it was, but I remember it being just a cheap plastic box from K-mart (probably a Plano). Back then, I was too preoccupied with learning how to cast and the basics of fly fishing to be concerned with what kind…
You won’t get far in your research on tenkara without coming across the Tenkara Bum website. It’s one of the best resources for learning about tenkara and one of the most popular online stores with a wide range of gear. But many might not know much about the man behind it. Chris Stewart was one of the…
I’ve always been drawn to unique gear and have a special penchant for interesting tenkara line holders. I have a wooden line spool that I got at the Tenkara Summit that was handmade by Dr. Ishigaki’s friend. It’s gorgeous (see it here) but there’s one small drawback. The hole in the center is too large…
In case you missed the memo, the world’s first tenkara-only magazine is here! Created by Tenkara USA, the magazine is a very high quality 112-page publication featuring well-written articles and great photography from a lot of names you’ll recognize if you’ve been fishing tenkara for any significant amount of time. The wide range of topics…
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…