Reel Repair by Alan Tani

I bought a tenkara fly rod to carry in my flight bag for those times when we land next to a stream or lake. I needed one that collapsed to about a foot and finally found one that wasn't too expensive so I figured I'd buy it and try out another way to fish.  The rod I bought extends to 10'6" and stores at 13", perfect size for my fight bag, fire gear or truck console.

I tested it out today on the middle fork of the Kaweah River just inside Sequoia National Park. I did a bunch of research on proper technique and combine that with my experience in western fly fishing I picked up the technique quick.  On my 3rd cast I caught my first rainbow,  decent 8" fish.  Over the next few hours I landed another 7-9 rainbows!  I'm really liking the simplicity!

awesome!!!!

Beautiful!!!

That's really cool.  How about a photo of the rod for us.

Great job man,,,,

Quote from: oc1 on September 09, 2025, 06:15:17 AMThat's really cool.  How about a photo of the rod for us.

Here ya go. The rod came with an extra tip section as well. The cord at the top of the rod is where you connect the line. 

:0)

Nice rod! Does Tenkara mean "Bream Buster" in Japanese 

Tenkara fishing (Japanese: テンカラ釣り, literally: "fishing from heaven", "sky fishing", or "empty sky fishing" as ten = "sky" and kara = "empty") is a type of simple rod angling traditionally practiced in Japan. Primarily used for mountain stream trout fishing, tenkara is still a fairly rare method even among freshwater anglers in Japan, and was largely unknown outside Japan until 2009, when the company Tenkara USA,[1] founded by Daniel Galhardo, introduced and popularized tenkara outside Japan.[2]

I use a small slip bobber/stop,preferably the rubber football shaped bobber stop & #10 truturn gold hook for bait fish. With all the nice rods & reels we all have, to me this method fishing is the most fun !  I might have to get one myself.

PJ where did you get it ,Amazon doesn't show the 7:3 version?
Thank you,
James

Quote from: jgp12000 on September 09, 2025, 03:25:54 PMNice rod! Does Tenkara mean "Bream Buster" in Japanese 

Tenkara fishing (Japanese: テンカラ釣り, literally: "fishing from heaven", "sky fishing", or "empty sky fishing" as ten = "sky" and kara = "empty") is a type of simple rod angling traditionally practiced in Japan. Primarily used for mountain stream trout fishing, tenkara is still a fairly rare method even among freshwater anglers in Japan, and was largely unknown outside Japan until 2009, when the company Tenkara USA,[1] founded by Daniel Galhardo, introduced and popularized tenkara outside Japan.[2]

I use a small slip bobber/stop,preferably the rubber football shaped bobber stop & #10 truturn gold hook for bait fish. With all the nice rods & reels we all have, to me this method fishing is the most fun !  I might have to get one myself.

It's super fun and make catching smaller fish more of a challenge. I bought the rod and accessories kit (3.5 line, 5x tippet, couple flys, and line holders) for around $100

Quote from: jgp12000 on September 09, 2025, 04:02:51 PMPJ where did you get it ,Amazon doesn't show the 7:3 version?
Thank you,
James

I did get it at Amazon but it's showing out of stock. You can also order direct from their website.

Here is a link to the line kit also available at Amazon
https://dragontailtenkara.com/products/dt-starterkit

I occasionaly fish for 4"-8" native trout is small brushy and weed filled streams and this would work well.

Quote from: Keta on September 09, 2025, 04:11:10 PMI occasionaly fish for 4"-8" native trout is small brushy and weed filled streams and this would work well.

Lee you'd want a rod weight of 6:4 for that size fish

Quote from: pjstevko on September 09, 2025, 04:38:23 PM

Quote from: Keta on September 09, 2025, 04:11:10 PMI occasionaly fish for 4"-8" native trout is small brushy and weed filled streams and this would work well.

Lee you'd want a rod weight of 6:4 for that size fish

I have a "short" 4wt.

Thanks for the great report PJ.  How cool to discover a new way to fish (at least for us), and new gear from halfway around the world to do it with!