Kid's Tenkara Rod

A Kid's Tenkara Rod should be light enough for a kid to handle and have an action that will teach proper casting form.

I've offered kids' rods for years, and for years I have been at least mildly dissatisfied with them. Up until now, I've offered rods that were short and inexpensive. Short because a shorter, lighter rod is easier for a small child to handle. Inexpensive because a lot of parents don't want to spend a lot of money on a rod that a kid will soon outgrow.

However, I now think a better approach is to not focus on a "Kid's Tenkara Rod" at all, but instead to choose a rod that is light enough for a kid to handle, but one that is long enough and nice enough that a kid isn't going to outgrow it. For that matter, one nice enough that if kid eventually decides that fishing isn't as much fun as baseball or barbie dolls, you'll be quite happy to use the rod yourself. Light weight is always good, and a shorter length means the rod will be ideal for smaller streams.

The Nissin Pro Square rods, which I carried for years, are entry level rods that offer good value for the money. They are not as cheap as the kids' tenkara rods I have offered in the past, but they are much better rods.

The Nissin Pro Square 320 6:4 is 10'4" long. If that seems a bit long for a child, consider that the rod is only 1/10 of an ounce heavier than the 9' Tenkara Gen 9' rod that was my most recent choice for a kid's rod.

Even younger children, if they use a two-handed grip, won't find the rod to be too heavy. In the first few years after tenkara was introduced to the US, an outdoors program in Oregon taught children tenkara with 13' rods. They taught a two-handed grip and the kids had no problem casting or catching fish.

And catching fish, which for a kid is what it's all about anyway, is a lot easier with a 320 length rod than it is with a 270 length rod.

The action of the Nissin Pro Square 320 6:4 is also better for teaching the proper timing and casting form, which in the long run is more important. With the longer, softer rod, it is easier to feel the rod load. 

The longer, softer rod makes catching fish more fun, too. All in all, the Nissin Pro Square 320 6:4 is just a better rod for teaching a kid tenkara. I should have offered it as a kid's tenkara rod from the very beginning.

Kid's Tenkara Rod Features

The Nissin Pro Square grip is a cork veneer over foam. In the years that I sold the rod, and the years since, no one has reported any problems with the grip. No one has reported any cracking or delamination. If this construction was a problem I would have heard about it by now. It provides a secure non-skid grip and it definitely keeps the cost down.

The grip screw cap is metal and is knurled for easy tightening or removal. It is larger than the grip screw cap on most rods, and it is shiny - which means it is harder to lose! Check it before fishing. Once tightened it shouldn't come loose by itself. However, if it does come loose, it will rattle so you can notice it and tighten it before it is lost.

The lillian is glued directly to the rod tip. It is thin enough to pass through the second section.

The tip plug is fluted so that the line can be keep on the rod when the rod is collapsed. I would highly recommend inserting the tip plug as soon as the rod is collapsed. Then and only then wrap the line around a line holder. Doing it that way will prevent unsteady hands from breaking the rod tip. Similarly, unwrap the line from the holder before removing the tip plug.

The rods come with a rod sock. Replacement parts are available.

It may sound a little convoluted, but the fact that the Nissin Pro Square 320 6:4 isn't a "Kid's Tenkara Rod" actually makes it a better choice for a kid's tenkara rod. It is a good tenkara rod (that is suitable for kids).

---

---

Line and Tippet

The rods do not come with line and tippet. For the line, I would recommend a size 4 level line if you are purchasing it for a child. If you are buying it for yourself (I know that happens) a size 3 line would be fine.

---

Shipping

Domestic shipping is between $10 and $15, depending on package weight and destination, via USPS Ground Advantage (2-5 day delivery).

Please note: All packages are shipped via USPS. If you have a PO Box, please list ONLY the PO Box in your address, not the PO Box and your street address.

If you live in an apartment, please put the apartment number in the same box as the street address (as in 123 Main St. Apt 45).

Please do not put anything in the box for "Company" if it isn't absolutely necessary. Not "self", not "none" not "--". It wastes your time to put it in and it wastes my time to take it back out. Please just leave it blank.

International Shipments

International purchases may be subject to import duties and taxes. I cannot keep track of all import regulations in all countries written in all languages. Understanding and paying import duties and taxes is the responsibility of the buyer.

EU

TenkaraBum.com no longer ships to the EU.

Russia

TenkaraBum.com no longer ships to Russia.

UK

TenkaraBum.com no longer ships to the UK. The new VAT regulations are too onerous for a one-man shop that rarely ships anything to the UK anyway. I apologize. 

---

TenkaraBum Home > Rods > Kid's Tenkara Rod