Ep. 16: Tenkara Styles: the Maximizer, Satisficer, & Middle Way
We all take different approaches to tenkara and in this episode, Jason and Keegan Uhl explore some of the more common ones.
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.
Tenkara on the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast
A few months ago, I was interviewed on the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast by Christian Bacasa. I met “CB” at the 2023 Denver Fly Fishing Show and after a quick conversation, he invited me to do an episode. I thought it would be good exposure for tenkara since his audience is mostly mainstream fly fishing.…
Ep. 15: Destination Japan: What To Know Before You Go
Special Guest: Go Ishii Audio-only Version There probably isn’t a tenkara angler in the U.S. that hasn’t at least entertained the idea of fishing in Japan (someday). As those who have made the journey will attest, it can be complicated and challenging, but not impossible (if you know the right way). My guest Go Ishii…
Bamboo Waste Tippet Tamer
No matter your level of experience, every fly angler out there faces the same dilemma: what to do with waste tippet? And, what to do when you come across a bird’s nest of old line dangling from the branches? The truth is, our disgarded lines are a menace to the riparian environment and detrimental to…
OneStar Leather Tenkara Spool Cases
As my collection of wooden spools from Kura-san and TenakraPath has grown over the years, I’ve sometimes thought about doing a better job of organizing and protecting them. I feel that if you’ve invested in a beautifully crafted spool, it’s probably worth investing in protecting it. Handmade and bespoke tackle deserves care, and many of…
Oni Itoshiro 340 Tenkara Rod Review
Last year, the stars aligned and I finally added the Itoshiro 340 to my lineup of Oni rods. I’d been thinking about it for a long time but was waiting for the bamboo handle version to become available. I already owned the Type III and while they’re the same length, they’re quite different actions. The…
3 Why Reasons I Love the Oni Style Coco 290
“WOW!” I could probably end this review right here with that one word, and to me, it would be sufficient to describe how I feel about this rod. But you probably want to hear a little more than that! So, spoiler aside, here are the reasons why I fell in love with the Oni Style…
Ep. 14: North Country Spiders for the Tenkara Angler
“Connecting the dots between the Japanese kebari & English soft hackle traditions” Special Guest: Jonathan Antunez Dark Watchet by Jonathan Antunez About a month ago, I became enamored with a particular style of fly called the North Country Spider. I immediately recognized that these ultra-minimalist flies have many parallels to tenkara and soon discovered…
Ep. 13: The Lost Art of the Basics in Fly Fishing
Video Version Audio-only Version In our world of instant gratification, it’s easy to get ahead of ourselves when we begin a new endeavor. We want to take shortcuts, skim the literature, ignore details that seem insignificant (or boring). But in this episode, Jason and his guest, Chuck Kaminski, explain why it’s crucial to have a…
Ep. 12: Tenkara Fly Fishing for Mental Wellness
Jason talks with licensed therapist Tony Parmenter about the mental health benefits of fishing and why tenkara is the ideal choice for “fishing therapy”.
How To Re-Wind Any Thread To Fit Fly Tying Bobbins
When I received my early education in fly tying from the old troglodyte cronies at the fly shop, the use of any thread other than one specifically designated for fly tying was as unthinkable. The mere mention of “sewing thread” would produce an awkward pause, followed by a terse, but forcibly polite, “no”. Then, a…
Jisaku-ya Yaki-sugi 6-Compartment Wooden Fly Box
Tenkara-ya is one of my favorite tenkara shops; not just because they have a solid lineup of high-quality Japanese products, but also because they carry a variety of esoteric tackle–things you can’t find here in the U.S.. And in particular, they offer several gorgeous wooden fly boxes (all of which I now own). I recently…
How to Fish Invisible Flies: Perimeter Strike Detection
There’s “fishing blind” (casting when you can’t see the fish), and then there’s “fishing blindfolded”, which is how many people might describe midge fishing. Sub-#20 flies can be invisible on the water and seemingly impossible to detect a strike with them. But I’ve been using this simple method for many years, and it’s become my…
[Video] Beltpack Update: Version 3 (V3)
Here’s the latest incarnation of my beltpack. I think it’s a significant upgrade in ergonomics that will allow me to conduct my streamcraft more efficiently (and more comfortably). If you’re not familiar with my “beltpacking” system watch this video for an explanation of why I think this is the most liberating way to carry your…