Tenkara Fishing Blog

Oct 16, 2024

Introducing the TenkaraBum Traveler 32++ and Traveler 36++

OK, I confess. The TenkaraBum Traveler 32++ and 36++ are not new rods. They are new, outside-the-box views of existing rods.

I was doing a final pre-shipping quality check of a TenkaraBum Traveler 44 and a TenkaraBum Traveler 39. Suddenly it struck me that I may have been thinking of the rods the wrong way all along. What hit me was that the Traveler 44 is not a nice 4.4 meter rod that can be fished at shorter lengths when on smaller streams. Instead, it is a truly wonderful 3.6 meter rod that can be fished at longer lengths when on wider streams. Similarly, the Traveler 39 is a superb 3.2 meter rod that can be fished at 3.6 and 3.9 meter lengths when a longer rod is needed.

Thinking about the rods that way, I would not be surprised if you decided the TenkaraBum Traveler 44 was the best 3.6m rod you have ever fished. Sounds strange to say it, but it's true.

The TenkaraBum Traveler 39 might be the best "small stream" rod you have ever fished - even though no one would think of a 3.9 meter rod as a small stream rod. Think of it as a 32++ and the perspective changes completely.

Continue reading "Introducing the TenkaraBum Traveler 32++ and Traveler 36++"

Dec 03, 2023

This Just In...

Odds and ends.

Used Fishing Books and DVDs The books are largely but not entirely on bait fishing, steelhead fishing and spin fishing. The DVDs are a mix of tenkara and European nymphing.

3 x 5 Photo Tanks (imperfect) The tanks have always come from the factory with minor scratches. These are scratched just a bit more. They'll still keep the fish alive and active while you photograph them.

Pototype Rod Cases Very light weight, semi-rigid cases with nylon or polyester fabric inside and out.

Daiwa Sagiri 54MC and 63MC Light, soft, smooth, zoom seiryu rods. Excellent for fish from 6 to 16 inches. (Discontinued, but at least for now, replacement parts are available.)

Jan 22, 2022

This Just In...

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Suntech Keiryu Sawanobori 53 Excellent keiryu rod for smaller to medium width streams. Back in stock.

Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu 5:5 330 Designed by a Japanese Master. Wooden grip. Excellent rod. Back in stock. (Just one rod.)

Marukyu Gluten Bait Pretty much the standard bait for tanago fishing in Japan. Back in stock.

Rodio-craft .5g Silver spoon Light weight fly rod spoon. Limit 2 per customer. Back in stock. (Very few in stock.)

Daiwa Micro Lumion .6g spoons A bit smaller than the Blinde Flanker but .1g heavier. Back in stock.

Dec 24, 2021

This Just In...

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu 5:5 and 6:4 tenkara rods Designed by a Japanese Master. Wooden grips. Excellent rods. Back in stock.

Suntech Fine Power NP66 Truly wonderful light weight zoom keiryu rod. Back in stock.

Dec 16, 2021

This Just In...

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Nissin Fine Mode Kosansui 270 Fairly short (9'), fairly stiff (19 pennies) keiryu rod ideal for small streams that hold not-so-small fish. Back in stock. (Just one rod)

Wide Eyed Hooks Size 12 barbless hook with absolutely huge eye (makes it easy to tie onto tippet when the light is bad or if your vision is not what it once was). Back in stock.

Owner Tanago Floats Extremely small floats for extremely small fish. Back in stock.

Daiwa Iprimi 56XXUL-S The best spinning rod I've found for micro fishing, for those who prefer a spinning rod to a fixed line rod. Back in stock.

Dec 14, 2021

This Just In...

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Medium and Long Rod Cases Light weight, semi-rigid plastic rod cases. Back in stock.

Daiwa Tenkara/Keiryu Net Round 30cm (12") diameter Keiryu Damo. Back in stock. (Just one)

Dec 12, 2021

This Just In...

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Daiwa Seiryu X 45 Midflex seiryu rod rated for 5X tippet. Back in stock. (Just one rod.)

3x5 Photo Tank Very handy for identifying and photographing micros. Back in stock.

Fuji Rod Caps More secure and less likely to be lost than standard tip plugs. Back in stock.

Owner Pro Markers (card) Pre-cut keiryu marker yarn with several colors in each package. Back in stock.

Daiwa .6g Micro Lumion spoons The smallest spoons I've found. Only 3/4" long. New items.

Nov 26, 2021

This Just In...

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Please note: Sale prices apply to these rods, too!

Nissin Zerosum Tenkara 7:3 360 Clearly one of the best 360-length tenkara rods available anywhere. Back in stock.

Nissin Pro Square Tenkara 6:4 360 I think this is the best choice for a "starter rod." Truly excellent value for the price. Back in stock.

Nissin Pro Square Tenkara 6:4 320 Over the years I have had several "kid's rods." This is the best. Back in stock.

Nissin Air Stage Hakubai 240 stiff For the last few years I have highlighted the Hakubai 240 medium. The "stiff" is only marginally stiffer. It has one big advantage over the medium: it is in stock! Back in stock.

Daiwa 1500SK Keiryu Line Holders A convenient way to carry up to 10 keiryu lines. Back in stock.

Nov 08, 2021

This Just In...

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Daiwa Hinata 3' and 5' tanago rods Inexpensive tanago rods for close in micro fishing. Back in stock.

Daiwa Figure 8 tool Multi-tasking tool that makes knot tying easier and will hold the smallest fly to make it easier to tie on the tippet. Back in stock.

Oct 23, 2021

This Just In...

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Suntech TenkaraBum 40 Tenkara rod that handles weighted nymphs as well as unweighted kebari. For larger streams than the TenkaraBum 36. Back in stock.

Suntech TenkaraBum Traveler 39 Extremely versatile light weight 3-position zoom rod 32-36-39 for a range of stream widths. Back in stock.

Oct 17, 2021

This Just In...

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Suntech TenkaraBum 36 Tenkara rod that handles weighted nymphs as well as unweighted kebari. Back in stock.

Suntech TenkaraBum Traveler 27 Light 9' rod that is ideal for smaller streams that have fish a bit too large for the Kurenai HM30R. Back in stock.

Suntech Keiryu Sawanobori 63 Excellent, light weight 6.3m keiryu rod. Back in stock.

Suntech Kurenai PROSPEC 33 Seiryu rod that is a bit more capable than the Kurenai HM33R. Bacak in stock.

Gamakatsu tanago hooks Gamakatsu Ultimate, Smallest and New Half Moon snelled hooks. Back in stock.

Varivas 2300 Ultra Midge hooks Eyed hooks, sizes 20, 28 and 30. Back in stock.

Aug 20, 2021

Suntech Kaname III FP

The Suntech Kaname III FP is the latest improvement in the Kaname series. My first keiryu rod was a Suntech Kaname. It was a wonderful introduction to keiryu fishing (although I think I fished it with weighted flies a lot more than with bait). New to the Kaname III FP line-up are two shorter rods, the 38 and the 43.

The FP stands for Fine Power, and similar to the Suntech Fine Power NP rods, the Kaname III FP rods can handle a wide range of tippet strengths. Suntech recommends tippets anywhere from 9X to 5X.

The 38 and 43 length rods will seem somewhat familiar to people who have fished with the TenkaraBum Traveler 39 or 44 at full extension. They are not made on the same blanks, though. The Kaname III FP rods are single length rather than zoom rods. They are also noticeably lighter than the Traveler rods.

Continue reading "Suntech Kaname III FP"

Jul 30, 2021

This Just In...

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Nissin Zerosum Tenkara 6:4 320 Light, responsive rod that is ideal for smaller streams. Back in stock.

Daiwa Hinata 5' Tanago Rod Fairly short, very sensitive rod for very small fish, from 3" sunfish to 1.5" mosquitofish. Back in stock.

Hi-vis fluorocarbon level tenkara line Sunline, Nissin Oni Line and Yamatoyo, all sizes. Back in stock.

Fujino nylon tapered tenkara line White, Soft (orange) and Midi (green). Back in stock.

Daiwa Tenkara Floating Line For honryu tenkara (in the mountains) and bass bugs (in the farmlands).

Owner micro fishing rig, 120cm Line, float, markers, weight and hook, rigged and ready to fish. Back in stock.

Daiwa Figure 8 tool Multi-functional knot tyer and hook holder. Back in stock.

Jul 16, 2021

This Just In...

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Suntech Kurenai Long 61 Wonderful, surprisingly light weight 6m keiryu rod. Back in stock.

Owner New Half Moon snelled tanago hooks Extremely small hooks for micro fishing. Snelled for ease of use. Back in stock.

Jul 04, 2021

Summer Sale

Daiwa Master Tenkara L LL36 - 10% off
Daiwa Expert Tenkara LT 39 - 15% off
Daiwa Expert Tenkara L LL45M - 25% off
Daiwa Expert Seiryu Rods - 15% off
Daiwa Kiyose 43 M-Y and 53 M-Y - 20% off

Shimano Keiryu Tenkara 34-38ZL - 15% off

Tenryu Streamwalker FSW733-4 - 20% off


Sale prices limited to rods in stock
Quantities are limited

Continue reading "Summer Sale"

Jul 04, 2021

Daiwa Expert Seiryu

I hereby nominate the Daiwa Expert Seiryu as the official rod for everyone who has been more than a little put off by the admonition that tenkara is only for trout and only for mountain streams.

Daiwa describes the rod as an "Adult Play" rod that you can use anywhere from the headwaters to the ocean and for anything from micros to mebaru (small sea bass).

Last I checked, most of America is between the headwaters and the ocean. Wherever you fish, it falls within the rod's description. Whatever you fish for is fair game (as long as it's appropriate for 5X to 10X tippets).

Continue reading "Daiwa Expert Seiryu"

May 31, 2021

This Just In...

New items and out-of-stocks that are back in stock.

Daiwa Kiyose 43 M-Y, 53 M-Y Very capable, relatively inexpensive keiryu rods. Back in stock.

Nissin Zerosum Oni Honryu 450 One of the best honryu tenkara rods ever. Back in stock.

Nissin Fine Mode Nagare 330 If you want to fly fish for micros, this is your rod. Back in stock (just one rod).

Owner tanago hooks Smallest and New Half Moon, snelled and loose, and Migen. Back in stock (no hoarding!).

Daiwa Figure 8 Tool Very handy tool for tying knots or holding flies. Back in stock.

Daiwa Keiryu Line Holders Ten small line winders in a convenient case. Back in stock.

Shimano Net Leash Keeps your net from getting lost. Back in stock.

Nakazima 3/8" Ball Floats Perfect size for micros. Back in stock.

Daiwa Worm Threader Threads a worm onto a hook (best for worms larger than Red Wigglers). Back in stock.

May 30, 2021

Tenkara Prayer

by William DeLanney
Tenkara has taught me so much. I want to share what I have experienced with tenkara.

May I be one with tenkara.
May I have confidence in tenkara.
May I have patience on the water.
May I have compassion for nature.
May I have enjoyment of simple pleasures.
May I have fun while learning.
May I do more with less.
May tenkara bring me peace.
May it be so.

Continue reading "Tenkara Prayer"