Tenkara gear is so light and compact, it can fit into just about any adventure. My Yonah Tenkara Pack is about as dialed in as I can think I can get in terms of tackle, but sometimes, you need to carry more. Here is a Facebook live video I made showing how I incorporate…
Necessity may be the mother of invention, but sometimes, the best innovations come from the humble junk drawer. Yesterday I was rummaging through (one of) mine and stumbled across two pieces of clutter that inspired me to improve my experience at the bench. They’re extremely simple, but worth a share. You can probably replicate them…
After more than three decades of trying countless carry systems, I think I’ve found my Holy Grail. It’s everything I want: light, compact, ergonomic, and provides quick, easy access to everything I need exactly when and where I need it. All systems are prone to evolution if the right opportunities come along, but this one…
For years, I’ve dreamt about walking into my local fly shop one day and seeing a section specifically dedicated to tenkara gear–they way they do in Japan. Well, it’s been well over a decade now and it still hasn’t happened. Buying a rod (especially if it’s a first rod) is a big decision for most…
I just got my new Seido GL fly box from Fairy River and couldn’t be happier with it. Fairy River is based in Serbia and specializes in wooden fly boxes and accessories as well as conventional leaders and tenkara lines. If you’re thinking it looks familiar, that’s probably because the base has a similar layout…
An old adage says that lighter colored flies work best in the spring. Whether you call them “PMDs”, “PEDs”, or just plain “Sulphurs”, I think trout get keyed in on a lighter color during this time of year. This fly works well even though it doesn’t exactly “match the hatch” and is quick and easy…
This contest has ended Spring is upon us and for many, that means the beginning of trout season. So to celebrate, I’m giving away a little swag. To enter all you have to do is leave a comment below with your #1 tenkara tip to share with others. Winners will be chosen at random but…
Recently, there’s been a lot of discussion online about using data to choose a tenkara rod. This is driven by the fact that someone new to tenkara can’t walk into their local fly shop and test cast a variety of brands like they can with conventional fly rods–they just don’t stock them. In fact, you’d…
Asking a fly angler to pick their favorite fly pattern is a little like asking a mother to name her favorite child. We love them all for different reasons. But if pressed, most anglers will be able to come up with at least a short list. So, I thought I should put together mine. These…
I’ve always had a fetish fro fly boxes–their design, their secret contents, the patina they eventually show from streamside adventures untold. Today’s modern fly boxes have no soul. They’re too practical and ugly–all plastic, foam, silicone, and gaudy graphics. I prefer a good wooden or aluminum box. One that would be fitting in the background…
As a young fly fisher just starting out, it seems everyone wants to give you advice. Some of it is helpful but some of it is just downright absurd and you develop a sense of how to discern between the two the deeper you get into your fishing career. One tip though that was gifted…
In 2014, I came up with a pattern that became my go-to fly for many years: the Japanese Lantern. It was just a simple sakasa kebari, but instead of thread for the head, I used pearlescent Mylar to give it a little flash. The fly performed swimmingly and I had the utmost confidence in it.…
People often share which kinds of music they listen to while they’re tying flies. Music and tying just seem to go hand-in-hand for many. For me though, it was always listening to A Prairie Home Companion on NPR. This is back when it was still hosted by Garrison Keillor who left the show in 2017…
In my interview with Ruben Garza, the owner and founder of Wasatch Tenkara Rods, we discuss rod design theory, new products, tenkara flies, ice fishing (gasp), and more. I hope you find it as interesting as I did to get a little inside the mind behind one of tenkara’s most up-and-coming gear companies. Jason: …