Recently I received a request for help from a tenkara angler who was struggling with generating an effective hook set. As I responded to his email, it got me thinking that I hear a lot of other anglers describe a similar struggle, especial when they start out. I figured what I had to say might be useful to others as well. The customer was fishing with a Zen Suzume Tri-Zoom Tenkara Rod. He also was utilizing a Zen Performance Tip that typically makes setting a hook easier since it is a faster action tip. I found the scenario interesting and counterintuitive so I asked questions to get more in ..read more

We often ship Zen Tenkara rods and products to our neighbors in the way north, as in Canada. There is some great fly fishing there and many rivers and water ways that are very suitable for tenkara. And now there is even a tenkara guide. That’s right. Fly Fish PEI will now be offering guided tenkara trips. We are proud to also announce that they will be using Zen Tenkara rods. Owner, Craig Ono will be launching the Tenkara Experience on his website Fall 2024. If you’re looking for a tenkara destination trip, consider PEI. Escape the chaos, embrace the tranquility in the flow of the river and i ..read more

By Karin Miller, Owner/Founder Zen Tenkara/Zen Fly Fishing Gear When people hear mention of tenkara, they typically think of small streams and creek fishing for fish in similar size categories. Most anglers would not consider using a tenkara rod for a float trip, but I encourage you to continue reading. By the end of this article, you might consider otherwise. Tenkara, if you’re not familiar, is the Japanese method of fixed-line fly fishing. Tenkara rods are ultralight, collapsable, have no guides, and use no reel. The rods come in different lengths but traditionally are long. A 12ft tenkara ..read more

In Western fly fishing, an angler’s fly box is a treasure trove of options: dry flies, nymphs, midges, streamers, terrestrials with literally thousands of patterns falling within these categories. On top of that are the other thousands of patterns that aren’t “official” fly patterns but instead are individual creations of personal artistry and expression. When you really take a moment to reflect, it’s mind-blowing and a bit overwhelming, particularly to the beginner fly angler. Over the last decade—yes tenkara has now been in the US for over a decade— “tenkara flies” have been added to this mi ..read more

Spey Casting is fun but often thought of as complicated and hard to learn. Like all things tenkara, practicing spey casting on a tenkara rod simplifies it.  Yes that’s right. Tenkara rods are the perfect (and less complicated) tool for learning how to spey cast. In fact so much so that I was spey casting and I didn’t even know it. At least that’s what a guide in Alaska told me one particularly windy day while fishing for fresh silvers coming in from the ocean. I was struggling to cast this large and heavy fly out as far as I could on a long line tenkara setup, and I was casting almos ..read more

It’s March and temperatures are slowly warming up. January and February were a whirl wind of expos. Wintertime is fly fishing show season and each year for the past twelve, Zen Tenkara has been exhibiting at many of them around the country. This year was different. Attendance was noticiably down. It felt like the first year after the world opened up after the Covid Pandemic. Aisles were often near empty and at times, it seemed like the only conversations happening were between vendors. There was only one exception, the Denver Fly Fishing Show. The vibe and energy at this event was through the ..read more

This article was written by Steve Hudson and published in FlyLifeMagazine.com. He and his wife have been exploring tenkara and landed some incredibly impressive fish. His wife Trish Hudson just might be the Fish Whisperer. We thought we’d share their fun here. Read on: Little fish, big fish – tenkara style! By Steve Hudson / November 20, 2023 Steve Hudson, former field editor for Fly Life Magazine.com, at a local North Georgia fly shop – promoting fly tying. A Trent Sizemore image. We are standing ankle-deep in a small stream in northern Georgia, or maybe it was western North Carolina, and ..read more

As the leaves change colors and the air turns crisp, fall fishing in 6 Mile Canyon offers a unique opportunity to hone your skills and target brown trout like never before. Let’s delve into effective tenkara fishing techniques, essential American Tenkara tips, and fall fly fishing strategies designed to help you land those elusive brown trout in this picturesque location. We’ll also cover fly patterns and how to maximize your 6 Mile Canyon adventure. So grab your waders, gather up your gear, and read on to learn the secrets of fall fly fishing success in one of America’s most captivating cany ..read more

I’m home from Alaska. It was amazing and never seems to stop offering up glory, wonder and awh. Once again, Rapids Camp Lodge took incredible care of us and Mother Nature was in full cooperation mode as tempuratures were mild and pleasant. The only rain we had was on the morning we left to return home. Talk about luck! Five out of the six days we fished were remote destinations where hiking several miles was a requirement. This is something that I enjoy and appreciate. It ensures we’ll run into no other anglers (even fly-out programs), the fish are wild and the river pristine. Those are all r ..read more

With less than a day to go before I leave, I’ve pulled my rods, flies and all the terminal tackle I need for these two trips. In Alaska at Rapids Camp Lodge, this gear is provided for you, unless you prefer to bring your own. This makes packing easy, light and indulgent. In Part 1, I talked about rods and leader/tippet size. A 6wt fly rod and the Suimenka tenkara rod cover most everything in Alaska. So what about clothing and any other gear? Lets take a look at what else you might need if traveling to these two location. If you are staying at a lodge like RCL, as I just mentioned, they usually ..read more