The Tenkara Rods, Lines, and Flies that I Use (TenkaraBum 40 and Zen Tenkara Suzume)

[@franklinmarchman3541]

Great video on your setup. I am a novice Tenkara user at age 67 and appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge. Thank you!

[@wingandhog]

Been fly fishing for over 50 years but bought my first Tenkara a week ago. From Tenkara Rod Co. I have the Sawtooth model and tried it for the first time last Saturday on the SanJuan in New Mexico. Within two hours, I pulled in 5 rainbows, averaging 12” and lost 3. What a hoot fishing with a Tenkara.

[@kennywelch2393]

Met two guys on a NC stream yesterday fishing Tenkara rods and ordered me one overnight. This is an exceptional video to help me get started! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience.

[@sreiman1]

I just ordered my first Tenkara rod today. I finally decided on the DRAGONtail Shadowfire 365 with there starter kit, some extra flies and a few accessories to get me started. I have found your channel very helpful with getting started. Thank you for all the info!

[@TenkaraAddict]

Nice! I think that's a great kit to start out with. Have fun.

[@danlynch7061]

Thanks! Very helpful . Long time fly fisher but new to Tenkara

[@RETCAP10]

I began my Tenkara journey with this video. It led me to other sources, such as Tom Davis and Chris Stewart. Many thanks!

[@petersmith6974]

I just got a tenkara rod and can’t wait to use it in 3 months time.I normally use a 6’6” 2w rod and dry fly.I got this tenkara rod for many spots I can’t cast the fly rod into.Hoping to have a good time with this new way of catching wild browns in Yorkshire England

[@PeterNordBushcraft]

I would say you are a Tenkara Master if you are making up your own one fly! Awesome I will try that fly this summer! I live in the Adirondacks of New York. There are mountain streams full of brook trout!

[@TenkaraAddict]

Yep, give it a shot and let me know what you think

[@CinemaSasquatch]

Very good and I picked up several tips that I think will make my Tenkara fishing more enjoyable. Thank you.

[@TenkaraAddict]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching, Mike.

[@joekaiser7512]

good video...plain and simple is the way I like things...you seem to be that sort also...I have a rhodo tenkara rod and a badger bad axe...might get another sometime soon...I liked your video...thanks for producing it...

[@richromano1093]

When you mention your line lengths, does that include tippet or is that just your level line and then you add 2-3' of tippet?

[@zenrhees9083]

I fish the same areas you do, Northern Utah. Using a few daiwa and suntech rods. Keep up the vidoes they are a joy to watch.

[@reaganwiles_art]

I am going to get into Ten-ka-ra, lol!, soon as I can afford to do anything again. It's your fault TA. Your channel is just so good.

[@gloria5873]

Thanks Tristan for putting out this video.

[@CallMeJazz]

Been enjoying watching you fish... Down here in Texas we don't have many trout, lots of bass, crappie, and perch.

[@TenkaraAddict]

I'm a trout guy, for sure!

[@mr.f2087]

I really appreciate your videos, they taught me a lot as a newbie！Thanks.

[@JL-iz8dt]

Thanks for the tip about line cards. I ordered some from dragontail. Like them so much just ordered more!

[@jgrenshaw13]

Just had the Wild Water delivered yesterday. Doh!

[@TenkaraAddict]

Well, at least once you move to a better rod, you'll have something else that you won't mind loaning to people 😁

[@llewdis]

What did you end up buying for the short rod? I have the UNC and have really enjoyed it.

[@rockmunkey1981]

Just come across Tenkara. Being a keen bushcrafter and hiker its quite interesting for me. I'm just wondering, what are the benefits / downsides of level line vs furled tapered line?

[@ericinouye803]

I may start shopping for a Tenkara rod to fish a small creek near my home.

[@wherewomenwander2921]

I have been waiting for this video. ty

[@frankstiltner7898]

Good practical video full of information 👍

[@stevewalcott9546]

I’ve been using furled lines mostly, in my experience with level lines, the memory has been a pain. Maybe I was using low quality level line. I just started to try the new floating lines from Zen and Tenkara Co. and am very happy with those so far.

[@jaypible5640]

Steve Walcott you might try a leather line straightener for using level line. it will completely eliminate line memory !

[@zzp100]

Just a heads up, don't click on the pocket water fishing link. It seems to be corrupted.

[@TheDude1776]

Hey Tristan, are you still using the same 3.5 orange level line with 5x tippet? Funny looking back on this video hearing you say about the 2 rods you had, "i dont see myself needing more than what i have in these 2 rods" (loosely quoted). Now that you have the Tenkara arsenal of all time.

[@petrolfever]

Very helpful. Thanks!

[@royramdeen8864]

Awesome info, great Vlog.

[@djordan7979]

Have you ever considered the TenkaraBum Traveler 33? Seems to be a versatile rod too. I'm looking at that one for my first Tenkara rod. Also looking at the Dragontail Mizuchi and also the Zen you have there. Can't decide what one to get yet 😂

[@K3Flyguy]

I have fly fished for 50 years. I'm not being a smart ass in any manner but I have a question. Why could I not use a 10-12 ft extendable carbon fiber crappie rod and do exactly what your doing? Please enlighten me, as being retired it's harder to come up with a few hundred dollars of expendable income. I like the idea of what your doing, but would like to "try it before I buy it".

[@ScottHz]

Go for it! That's really the tenkara ethos - working with what you have.

[@davidrosset8930]

Crappie rods are not designed for repetitive casting. If you want to get a tenkara rod, take a look at the Shadowfire by DragonTail tenkara.

[@williambranham6249]

Along those same line, a length of bamboo might work as well except for the convenience of compaction.

[@christianfarris1298]

For you tipper section, what is the general length you like to use when fishing the small creeks? Also, once you cut down that tippet section a ways, do you go ahead and add to that section to make it the desired length (just like tradition fly fishing) or do you go ahead and remove that tippet section and add a whole new section? Thanks for the help and content.

[@TenkaraAddict]

I use 2-3 feet of tippet on small creeks. If it's just the fly-end section of the tippet that breaks off, I'll keep tying new flies on until the tippet gets too short. I never add to a section of tippet. If I want to make it longer, I just tie a new section on.

[@TheoriginalPbSlinger]

Please tell us more about the elastic on your grips.

[@user-rr8dn5yl7d]

I'm a new subscriber and I've been enjoying binge watching all your videos. I really appreciate you sharing your Tenkara setup. At 9:33 you mentioned using an orange 3.5 level line but when you show that nifty backing loop you use at 11:45 it looks like you tie it directly to your lillian. Is that correct? When I watch you fish I always look to see what kind of line your using and I don't think I've even seen an orange level line. It always looks clear like you're not using level line which now makes sense since. Could you shed some light on this?

[@TenkaraAddict]

I don't use the backing loop anymore. I basically just do a variation on the standard level line attachment method. I always fish with an orange level line. You can't see it very well in the videos because it simply doesn't show up well. But I'm always using the #3.5 orange level line. Definitely not clear.

[@dinkaboutit4228]

Watching video about Japanese fishing equipment. Thinking about how I would go about composing a painting of the background. Pastels or oils? I neither fish nor paint. It's time for bed.

[@davidcopple8071]

Do you ever fish for other fish besides trout? I'm a panfish fanatic. I've been into ultralight fishing for years and now I'm looking into tenkara. I fish mainly for brem. Sunfish and smaller bass.

[@fuquaysteve271]

Funny you should mention it...just got my first tenkara rod and tried it out at a neighborhood 100 acre lake and caught a ton of brim, Sunny's and crappies in an hour or so. I had some issues 'casting' but it improved as time went on. Not ready for the tight streams but will get there.

[@TenkaraAddict]

I'm a trout guy, simply because I like fishing small mountain streams, and trout live there. But I've also caught bluegill, perch, bass, etc.

[@bertkelly7650]

Thanks, wanted to know what a "utah killer bug" looked like. : ) That's not weighted is it? Do you use float spray?

[@Gribley]

Thanks for this vid! Do you use any weight to help the flies sink, or floatant to make them float?

[@TenkaraAddict]

I fish the fly in both weighted and unweighted versions. The weighted versions have some copper wire wrapped around them. I don't use floatant.

[@DeeMoback]

Yup

[@MiddleEarthTenkara]

Solid work!

[@BassMaster.454]

I'm an experienced fly fisherman and tier, but am new to tenkara. I'm thinking about the dragon tail shadow fire 365 for a starter and mabey the tiny ten later. Either get those two or get one more expensive dragotail foxfire for its multiple sizes.

[@billwolfram412]

Many Thanks !!

[@lukemetzger212]

Can you please .ame a video on how to make a utahe killer Kabari

[@saginawdan]

Thanks 🌲🌲🌲

[@JohnDrach]

What's the net that you use in some of your videos with the measurement markings inside the net? I like the size of that net. I've been looking for one. I usually find I don't need one but now I need to net my fish so my dog doesn't get to it first

[@TenkaraAddict]

It's the Measure Net in size medium. Great net!

[@donze52]

I paid $18 for tenkara from Amazon-- no not a great rod but it did well, top fish I caught with it was 3 1/2 pound catfish-- but hundreds of bluegills -- catch and release of course-- it finally broke -- bought another and it broke but my third is held up-- but if I break a $200 rod that would hurt this poor man--

[@TenkaraAddict]

Hey, as long as it works 👍

[@guybaumgartner4244]

thanks

[@serfish101]

I appreciate too much your review

[@chadrizzo2838]

Do you use a Tippet ring in between the mline the level wine and the TripIt

[@chadrizzo2838]

Sorry my question is do you use a Tippett ring between the level line and the Tippett

[@Charsept]

Just starting out. Is it fine that my total line length is 1.6 times my rod length? Not sure if that'll be an issue

[@TenkaraAddict]

You'll find it much easier to fish and keep the line off the water if your line is the length of the rod

[@taylorutah]

do you use any type of indicator? if so do you have a video on that setup?

[@TenkaraAddict]

No, generally no indicator is used in tenkara. You basically just keep an eye on the end of your line.

[@taylorutah]

@@TenkaraAddict thanks!

[@cdesfusa]

Thank you for not promoting permanent skin scribbles (tattoos)

[@BeefNEggs057]

People graffiti.

[@TERRYBIGGENDEN]

Excelent. -)

[@coreyf.3307]

Do you think that fly would work up in Wisconsin

[@TenkaraAddict]

Yes

[@coreyf.3307]

@@TenkaraAddict thanks

[@corporalpunish6089]

Where are the zen tenkara made? Their website keeps throwing g around the word American, but pulls up short of saying that the current line up is actually made in America. I am guessing Cina made while they try to build American manufacture capability?

[@TenkaraAddict]

Made in China. I believe they're trying to be the first company to make tenkara rods in the US, but they're not there yet.

[@crswro1690]

found myself out and about with my rods but no lines. forgot them back at the house. i had my bass bag with me though and decided to try out some 40 and 65lb braided PE line as a level line with a 4lb mono tippet, and it was actually pretty great. the heavier 65lb stuff casted a bit better than the 40lb did. slightly more mass there to make more accurate casts maybe. line floated extremely well. all i had at the time was some dark green spiderwire, but i plan on trying some of the bright green #3 rapala PE braid for a little better visability. hell, it worked so good that i may just end up using it instead of branded tenkara lines.

[@es0x]

Yeah, I once used high vis 80lb spider wire on a makeshift tenkara setup because my fly reels got left at home once. Basically took my 3wt rod, tied a good 7ft piece of 80lb onto the end eye, and then used a super light 6lb braided line as my tippet. Worked a lot better than it had any right to

[@martyisabeliever]

Casting tutorial... please.

[@TenkaraAddict]

Nah, my channel here focuses on filming my fishing videos. I don't really do instructional content. There's plenty of that out there. Thanks for watching.

[@ThePlasticJedi]

"I'm fine with spending money on rods" ... "I am going to use these [2] rods every week for years" - This video has aged well, eh? :)

[@benthephilosopher]

"I have two rods" famous last words