With a nod to tradition and a passion for Tenkara Americana, the Tenkara Talk Blog features hundreds of gear reviews, fly tying tutorials, DIY hacks, and presentation techniques.
When it comes to lines, perhaps nothing is more iconic of tradition than the horse tail line. To me, its mere mention conjures images of picture-perfect days and buttery smooth casts to discerning trout worthy of a presentation with such classic tackle. In 2011, I made a few of my
At the 2023 Denver Fly Fishing Show, I got to see some of the newer Tenkara Tanuki models in person. I recently wrote about the Headwaters 240, but the other one I was curious about was the Barebones Nymphing Rod (mostly because I wanted to see exactly what earned it
Since the day I first picked up a fly rod, I’ve been trying to figure out the ideal way to carry my gear. Like many, I’ve run through the gamut of vests, hip packs, chest packs, sling packs … you get it. In recent years, I’ve been using a kind
Anyone who spends 5 minutes scanning my site would probably diagnose me with a mild case of a wooden tackle fetish: fly boxes, tying tools, line spools–basically, if it’s wood it’s good. I normally write about and carry wooden spools made by my friend Dennis from Tenkara Path. His designs
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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,
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 Sign up to get updates about featured articles, tenkara news, contests, giveaways, and more.
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