Fly Fishing

Tenkara USA Iwana – Conquer Any Size Stream!

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Product: Tenkara USA Iwana 12’ Carbon Fiber Fly Rod & Level Line Outfitter

Product Dimensions: 6” x 6”x 36”

Product Weight: 2-lbs

Guarantee: Lifetime Warranty

My Rating: 9.3 Out of 10

Tenkara USA Iwana Review

Interested in learning about the Tenkara USA Iwana fly rod? Well, you have come to the right place! I have done a full review of this product, and all I have to say is if you are into Tenkara fly fishing you will want to take a close look at the Iwana fly rod. They build this rod out of carbon fiber which makes it strong and sturdy. But at the same time, it is lightweight and compact the way a true Tenkara fly rod should be.

It is 12’ long which is the perfect size for any stream or river that you will be fishing. The Iwana fly rod comes with an outfitter kit of 3.5 orange level line, three-pack of Ishigaki flies, and line holder. Everything you need to get out there and start Tenkara fly fishing! A simple straight forward no reel Tenkara fly rod. What more could you ask for?

Breakdown of Everything Included In This Package:

Iwana Fly RodTenkara USA Iwana Fly Rod

The fly rod is the most important part of this product package. Tenkara USA brought the sport of Tenkara fly fishing to the western world around 2006. From there this Japanese form of fly fishing caught on. It has become very popular especially in America.

The Iwana fly rod is 12’ long and 6:4 action ratio which makes very precise. It’s perfect to fly fish any size stream or river that you find yourself at. The fly rod is made out of carbon fiber which makes it strong yet light and compact.

Ishigaki Kebari Flies

Along with the fly rod, you get a pack of 3 sizes 12 Ishigaki Kebari flies with this outfitter. These are the perfect flies for Tenkara fly fishing.

Ishgaki Kebari FliesLevel Line

65 feet of orange Tenkara level line comes with this outfitter. Very little memory, easy to see, and strong enough for casting.

Line Holder

The Tenkara line holder lets you easily wind your line when you are done. The foam insert allows for drying of the line when it’s wound up. The flies are held in cut-out areas.

Pros

  • Perfect size for any stream or river
  • Made of Carbon Fiber for durability
  • Lightweight
  • Precise
  • High Quality

Cons

  • Not meant for large fish over ten pounds

Is The Tenkara USA Iwana Fly Rod For You?

If you’re looking for a Tenkara fly fishing rod that is lightweight, just the right length for fishing any stream and durable then you will want to give the Iwana fly rod a try. And the fly rod is made of carbon fiber which makes it durable. It’s a very precise fly rod that will get that fly right to the spot you want it to be.

The Iwana fly rod comes with 3 Ishigaki Kebari flies, Tenkara level line, and Tenkara line holder. This fly rod is made from the company that introduced the western world to Tenkara fly fishing. This is a high quality, easy to use, and simple as it gets Tenkara fly rod.

I recommend the Tenkara USA Iwana fly rod for anyone getting started in the sport of Tenkara fly fishing. I hope you have enough information from this review to make an informed decision on whether or not to purchase the Tenkara USA Iwana fly rod.

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comments section below. As always Happy Fishing!

 

Tenkara Rod Review | Tenkara USA Sato Fly Rod

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Man fly fishing and the words tenkara sato fly rod review 
Product: Tenkara USA - Sato Fly Rod & Accessories Kit
Product Dimensions: 32” x 6” x 6”
Product Weight: 4-lbs
Guarantee: Lifetime Warranty
My Rating: 9.6 Out of 10


>> BUY NOW ON AMAZON

Tenkara Rod Review

Today I’m doing a Tenkara rod review on the Tenkara USA Sato fly rod and accessories kit. If you haven’t heard of Tenkara fly fishing, I have written an article called “What is Tenkara Fly Fishing?”; that explains all about this Japanese form of fly fishing. That article will get you up to speed on this style of fly fishing.

The Sato fly rod is named after Ernest Satow who was a diplomate, Japanologist, and British Scholar. He was the first person to write about Tenkara! The Sato fly rods are the most versatile of the Tenkara fly fishing rods.

A Sato fly rod is a compact Tenkara fly fishing rod that you can put in your backpack. They are very lightweight at only four pounds. When you are fly fishing and hiking through the wooded areas that are around the streams and rivers that you will be fishing this compactness and lightweight is very important. You don’t want to be dragging a heavy one-piece fly rod with you in this terrain.

The Tenkara USA Sato Fly Rod Has 3 Different Lengths To Fish By

The Sato Fly Rod is very versatile as well with three different lengths you can fish at depending on what type of stream, river, and terrain you are fly fishing at. You can fish wider streams and rivers when the Sato fly rod is at its full length, and if the stream is more closed in and the banks are closer together, the shorter length will work best.

Two Patent Pending Features

There are two patent-pending features that the Sato fly rod from Tenkara USA has on it. The first feature is called the Triple-Zoom feature which is the three different lengths that I explained earlier. The shortest length is 10’8”, the middle length is 11’10,” and the longest length that the Sato fly rod can extend to is 12’9”. So suffice it to say this fly rod can be used in just about any fly fishing situation you find yourself in.

The second patent-pending feature on the Sato fly rod is called Keep your Plug system. It’s a common occurrence to lose the plug to your telescopic fly rod. So Tenkara USA came up with a simple system so that you can avoid this from happening to you. They put a hole at the bottom end of the Sato fly rod so that you can stick the plugin while you are fishing. All you have to do is take the plug out of the tip when you are ready to use the Sato rod and stick in the hole at the bottom of your rod.

And when you are done fishing and ready to collapse your rod at the end of the day put the rod plug back on the tip. This is a simple fix for losing your rod plug but very useful as long as you remember to put the plug in the spot at the end of your Sato fly rod. The Sato fly rod also comes with two plugs so if you lose one you will have the other plug as a backup.

What Comes In The Sato Fly Rod & Accessories Kit?

  • Tenkara USA Sato Fly Rod
  • Level Line
  • Line Keeper
  • Universal Rod Cap
  • Ishigaki Kebari Flies
  • AvidMax Clip-on Retractor with Nippers
  • AvidMax 5” Forceps
  • RIO Powerflex Plus Leaders

Sato Fly Rod

This fly fishing rod from Tenkara USA is lightweight, compact and has three adjustable lengths to make fishing in any stream or river as easy as can be. The Sato fly rod comes with two-rod plugs. As they say, two is better than one especially with fly fishing rod plugs which are easy to lose and another feature the Sato fly rod holds is a spot on the handle end of the rod where you can stick the rod plug when you are fishing.

Level Line 

This is a type of Tenkara fishing line. Level lines are lighter than your regular fly fishing line and easier to see because of the brighter colors. This kind of fishing line is also easier to adjust the lengths with the telescopic Tenkara rods.

Line Keeper

Tenkara line keepers hold Tenkara line and tippet or two Tenkara lines. It also holds a rod 

plug and up to 12 Tenkara flies. There are two walls that catch the line as you wind. This helps from keeping your fly fishing line from getting all tangled up while you wind it.

Universal Rod Cap 

Allows the line to remain attached to the Sato fly rod and also helps protect the end of the handle.

Ishigaki Kebari Flies 

These are size 12 Tenkara flies used by Dr. Hisao Ishigaki who is a renowned Tenkara angler. You get three flies per set.

RIO Powerflex Plus Leaders 

These are extra strong trout leaders. They have high knot strength, and the tensile strength is 20% more than your regular fishing leader.

AvidMax Clip-on Retractor with Nippers 

This fishing accessory comes in handy when you need to nip your tippet end. When not in use clip it right to your vest or pocket.

AvidMax 5” Forceps

These forceps have a stainless steel finish and work well for removing hooks and for tying flies. They have a unique clamp lock system so they will stay closed when you need them to remain closed.

Pros

  • Highly Versatile Fly Rod
  • Lightweight
  • Compact
  • 2 Patent Pending Features
  • Extra Rod Plug

Cons

  • Your friends will envy You

Tenkara Rod Review Conclusion

As you can see by my review the Tenkara USA Sato fly rod with accessories kit is well worth the purchase. With the three adjustable lengths you can fish any stream or river you find yourself at. It’s lightweight and compact so that you can carry it in your backpack when you are hiking through woods to your favorite fly fishing spot.

With this fly rod, you also get a line keeper, level line, forceps, clip-on retractor with nippers, two-rod plugs, RIO Powerflex Plus leaders, three Ishigaki Kebari flies and a Universal rod cap. You get everything you need to get started in Tenkara fly fishing. I know you will enjoy this simple but effective Japanese style of fly fishing. And with the Sato fly rod made by Tenkara USA, you will enjoy it that much more.

I hope this Tenkara rod review has answered all your questions about the Sato fly rod by Tenkara USA. I also hope I have helped you in making an informed buying decision. Thank you for reading.

If you have any questions or comments, please leave them in the comments section below. And as always Happy Fishing!

Get Your Tenkara USA Sato Fly Rod At Amazon

What Is Tenkara Fly Fishing? | The Simple Way To Fly Fish!

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Man fly fishing and the words what is tenkara fly fishing

What Is Tenkara Fly Fishing? Tenkara is a Japanese type of fly fishing that became known outside of Japan around the year 2009. A man named Daniel Galhardo popularized Tenkara fly fishing with the founding of his company Tenkara USA.

テンカラ is Japanese for Tenkara which means “from heaven,” or “from the skies” according to Wikipedia.

Tenkara Japanese Style of Fly Fishing

Tenkara is the technique used in fishing for trout in the mountain streams of Japan. This technique is a lot like the fly fishing us westerners know, but the term Tenkara is strictly the Japanese style of fly fishing.

How Tenkara Fly Fishing Started

This Japenese style of fly fishing has been around for about 200 years and was introduced to the western countries around 2009. So it is a very new style of fly fishing comparatively. Tenkara is very popular in Japan, and we are just starting to find out the benefits of this type of fly fishing here in the West.

Tenkara was used initially in the mountain streams by professional anglers in Japan. This technique made it easy to catch the traditional fish found in Japan like the Amago, Iwana, and Yamama. Initially, they used long poles made out of bamboo which is abundant in Japan. They also didn’t need the use of reels as we use in the west because of the length of the poles.

How to Choose a Tenkara Fly Rod

Tenkara fly rod chart.

Choosing the right tenkara fly rod is important because the more comfortable when using the rod the better chance you will have at catching more fish.  I will now explain a few things to take into consideration when deciding on the right tenkara rod for you.

What is the best rod length for Tenkara?

Tenkara rods come in various lengths. The standard length of a Tenkara rod is 12 feet but the length you need will depend on where you are fishing. If you are fishing where there are a lot of overhanging branches and the stream is rather small then you will want to opt for a shorter Tenkara rod like a 10 or 11-foot rod.

But if you are fishing in a wide-open river where there are no obstacles in your way then I would go with a 12 foot or longer rod. The main thing other then where you are fishing is that you are comfortable with the length of the rod.

What is the best action for Tenkara?

Tenkara rods have come in two types of action you can choose from. They are soft and stiff. The action you choose is more of a preference than anything. Many tenkara anglers like a softer action rod because they are easy to load and easy to cast.

With a stiffer action rod, you get a stronger rod that’s great for catching large fish and you get more of a precise cast at shorter distances with the stiffer rods.

Most tenkara rods have a soft action because they are designed to fish for smaller species of fish like trout that are 8″ to 18″ long. I would recommend a soft action tenkara rod for the ease of use and because most of the time you will be aiming to catch smaller sized fish. But in the end in all comes down to personal preference and the kinds of rivers and streams you will find yourself fishing at.

Tenkara Fly Fishing Essentials

Tenkara Fly Fishing RodTenkara is an easy and effective way to fly fish. The equipment need for this style of fly fishing is minimal compared to the way we fly fish in America. You don’t even need a reel when you are fly fishing Tenkara style! The following is what you are going to need to get started in Tenkara fly fishing.

Tenkara Telescoping Rod

You will need a long rod so a telescoping rod will work best unless you can get a traditional bamboo rod, but this would be difficult to transport. Especially if you are fishing in wooded areas where the streams would be. Tenkara rods are available that are specifically designed for Tenkara fly fishing. These rods are on average about 12 feet long. Prices vary depending on size and brand.

Tenkara Line

Next, you will need a Tenkara line. This line comes in two different kinds. There are Tenkara level lines and Tenkara tapered lines. These lines can be used by themselves or with a 4-foot tippet at the end of the line which you tie your fly to.

According to Tenkara USA, tapered lines are the easiest to set up and cast with, and they come in a fixed length. The level lines come in a spool with about 65 feet of line and can be cut to length. Try both and whatever one works best for you, go with that one. A 5X tippet is recommended if you are going to use tippets.

Tenkara Flies

Tenkara FlyOf course, you will need to use a fly when Tenkara fishing. Any type of fly will work with this type of fly fishing. Tenkara USA recommends using Sakasa style fly because they work well in most conditions that you will find when you are out fly-fishing. Sakasa Kebari flies are a reverse hackle wet-fly.

The hackle refers to the hair or fur that is tied to the fly. The hackle is tied facing forward unlike traditional western flies where the hackle is facing the other way on the fly.

Along with the Tenkara rod, line, tippet, and fly you will want to have needle-nose pliers to get the hook out of the fish. Some sort of cutters to cut your line and a holder for your Tenkara line. All of this can be bought in kits that are sold online.

Setting Up a Tenkara Rod

Setting up a Tenkara rod is simple and straight forward. The rod comes with a plug on the end of it. First, remove the plug. Then you want to pull out the braided tip or Lillian as it is called. Make sure to leave the hard tip that the Lillian is attached to in the rod. Next, you want to tie your line to the Lillian. When you have the line tied on you will hold the rod with one hand and slowly slide out the segments of the rod one by one until they are all extended.

How To Close a Tenkara Rod

Now that you know how to set up a Tenkara rod properly you will want to learn how to close it. When collapsing the Tenkara rod you want to start at the base pulling the first segment of the rod in and pull each of the segments in until you have the last one in. You can leave your line tied to the rod and when the entire rod is collapsed you wrap the line around the line holder. If you are done for the day pull the tag from the end of the line and put the rod away.

 

Conclusion

Now that you have the answer to the question What is Tenkara fly fishing? You will be able to go out and try this simple and effective form of Japanese fly fishing. There are only a few things you need to remember to in order to Tenkara fly fish. You need

  • Tenkara telescoping rod
  • Tenkara line
  • Four-foot tippet
  • Tenkara Flies
  • Line Holder
  • Pliers of Fishing Tool
  • Cutters to cut your line

That’s about it. A lot fewer things to remember then your traditional western form of fly fishing. The best part of Tenkara fly fishing is that it is the easiest way to fly fish and a very effective way to fly fish for trout, bluegills, or whatever stream fish you may want to fish for. So the next time you go fly fishing, give Tenkara a try. You might never go back to the old way of fly fishing again!

I hope you enjoyed this article and got some useful information from it. If you have any questions,  comments, or have a good fly fishing story to share please leave them in the comments section below. And as always Happy Fishing!