Episode 4: Anxiety-Free Fly Selection
“Scratch the Hatch” or “Match the Hatch”? Jason Sparks and Jason Klass explore strategies that will help you decide.
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.
Episode 3: Living The Tenkara Lifestyle
Jason’s longtime friend Dennis Vander Houwen gives us a crash course in taking tenkara beyond the stream.
Episode 2: A Day in the Life of a Tenkara Guide
Veteran Tenkara Guide Paul Vertrees gives us a glimpse behind the scenes of this most esoteric profession.
Buyer’s Guide: Best New Gear of 2023 (April 1st Edition)
It seems like every year, there are so many new innovations in tenkara and fly fishing gear it’s hard to keep up. This year is no exception, with several leading manufacturers coming strong out of the gate with a raft of breakthrough designs employing the latest cutting-edge technologies and gynecological philosophies. It can literally take…
Episode 1: What Determines a Rod’s Action?
Tenkara Tanuki Founder Luong Tam explains exactly how and why our tenkara rods perform the way they do.
Umpqua River Grip Open Clamp
I love Umpqua tools because of their smart designs, solid construction, and comfort. The River Grip Clamp is a popular one among fly fishers and I’ve had a pair for a while in the standard 2-finger hole model. They’re great, but I’m always looking to improve streamside ergonomics and recently saw that they have a…
The St. Patrick’s Day Kebari
It’s the time of year again when “everybody’s Irish”. I must admit, though I’ve never been to Ireland nor have any heritage from the old sod, I do feel a certain affinity towards all things Irish. One of my favorite authors (Oscar Wilde) is Irish. My favorite pipes and tobaccos (Peterson and Erin go Brah)…
Tenkara Tanuki Pocket Ninja Headwaters 240
It’s no secret that I’m a fan of Tanuki rods. They’ve become an icon in the tenkara industry and I own several, including a Pocket Ninja, Snow 325, and Ninja. Their rods are known for being incredibly light, sensitive, and visually unique–instantly recognizable from afar. I’m also a good friend of the owner, Luong Tam,…
Where to Buy Tenkara Flies
It’s one of the questions I hear the most … “where can I buy tenkara flies?” I usually preface my answer by breaking the news that local fly shops don’t really carry tenkara-style flies so that means they’ll have to be purchased online. Fortunately, there are a number of talented tyers selling their flies on…
Kura-San’s Handmade 8-Compartment Hinoki Fly Box
This is one of my two new wooden fly boxes that arrived today from Japan. This box is handmade by Japanese woodworker Kazuo Kurahashi (AKA “Kura-san“) and is constructed of hinoki (Japanese Cypress)–a popular wood in Japan used to build everything from furniture to shrines and temples. Hinoki has a very high strength-to-weight ratio making…
ESZ Rivermaster Z1 10′ Tenkara Rod
If you read my recap of the 2023 Denver Fly Fishing Show, you may recall that I discovered a company called ESZ. If you’ve never heard of them, don’t worry. Neither had I! Naturally, I had to investigate. I ended up talking quite extensively with the owner Ziye Zhang (who goes by Ethan). It turns…
Occam’s Razor: A Study in Designing “Unassuming Flies”
In pop culture, the concept of “Occam’s Razor” is commonly understood as, “the simplest explanation is usually the best.” This isn’t quite right. I believe it’s more accurate to say, “when faced with differing theories, you should pursue the one that requires the fewest number of assumptions.” In other words, it’s more prescriptive than descriptive.…
Tenkara Tanuki Insulated Flask
Is a travel mug an “essential” piece of fly fishing gear? It is for me. Coffee gets you going the morning of a trip, makes the long car ride seem shorter, helps you endure your fishing partner, and stimulates creativity at the tying desk. Without apology, I’m one of those people you don’t want to…
Simple Embroidery Thread Tenkara Flies
One of the drawers in my fly tying desk is labelled “Special Threads”. It’s an eclectic collection of top-secret oddball spools I’ve collected over the years and also where I keep any specialty threads such as silk, Kevlar, 17/0 Trico thread, etc.. I consider this my “inspiration” drawer because I like to rummage through it…