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Tenkara Rod Reviews

Based on 2242 reviews
93%
(2089)
5%
(121)
1%
(32)
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I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Larger size fish (16-20" / 40-50cm)
I like using my tenkara rod in: Very small streams, Mountain streams, Larger streams or rivers, Stillwater, Backpacking and remote waters
Easy to setup portable handles bigger fish still

Fast shipment in time for a planned fishing trip. Landed a 20+ in rainbow on the new tip! Thanks!

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Tenkara Rod Replacement Parts
RAYmond EATMON (Havelock, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Medium size fish (12-16" / 30-40cm)
I like using my tenkara rod in: Larger streams or rivers, Stillwater
slow moving river and estuary salt water

Thank you so much for the wonderful warranty service.

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Warranty Claim
Cole Mitchell (Austin, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Smaller size fish (say 8-12" / 20-30cm), Medium size fish (12-16" / 30-40cm), Larger size fish (16-20" / 40-50cm)
I like using my tenkara rod in: Very small streams, Larger streams or rivers, Stillwater
Any body of water I can find. From downtown creeks in Austin, TX to the jetties along the coast.

The rods are amazing and the customer service is unparalleled.

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Warranty Claim
RAYmond EATMON (Havelock, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Medium size fish (12-16" / 30-40cm)
I like using my tenkara rod in: Larger streams or rivers, Stillwater
slow rivers and ponds

love the warranty and service support.

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Warranty Claim
R.S. (Rapid City, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Smaller size fish (say 8-12" / 20-30cm), Medium size fish (12-16" / 30-40cm)
I like using my tenkara rod in: Mountain streams

Simple replacement.

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Tenkara Kit
Joel Porter (Standish, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Smaller size fish (say 8-12" / 20-30cm), Medium size fish (12-16" / 30-40cm), Trout, Other species
I like using my tenkara rod in: Larger streams or rivers, Stillwater, Backpacking and remote waters
Lakes , small ponds and streams

This is my first rod fortenkara use, but I have fished tenkara before

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UKIYO™ 9ft10in (300cm)
Paul Stonehouse (Cullowhee, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Smaller size fish (say 8-12" / 20-30cm)
I like using my tenkara rod in: Very small streams
Tight Rhododendron-lined streams in NC

While I could go on about TenkaraUSAs quality gear and robust warranty commitments, I’d like to speak to their customer service. Work with TJ for the past decade has been a dream. TJ’s been positive, kind, fair, and prompt in very instance I’ve reached out. Honestly, this is a major reason for my long-term commitment to the company.

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Little Olive Soft Hackle (size 18, 3 flies)
thomas anderson (Michigan City, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Medium size fish (12-16" / 30-40cm)
I like using my tenkara rod in: Very small streams
trout streams in the Driftless

excellent for dry/dropper or nymphing…great for beginners too

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UKIYO™ 9ft10in (300cm)
Craig (Melbourne, AU)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Smaller size fish (say 8-12" / 20-30cm), Medium size fish (12-16" / 30-40cm), Larger size fish (16-20" / 40-50cm), Trout
I like using my tenkara rod in: Very small streams, Mountain streams, Backpacking and remote waters
Mountain streams for trout

Edited post - earlier one had a lot of typos

Overall - great small backpacking rod where a very short length is acceptable

I really like the keiryu-style grip over cork on the ukiyo. Daiwa and Suntech have done this for many years on better quality non-Tenkara rods. I’ve been fishing Japanese keiryu and seiryu corkless rods for nearly a decade and prefer the feel - and the sensitivity is far greater (you can feel a beadhead when it taps a rock and you can feel fish take your fly much better). After many years of using both I wish I could more rods like this - even euro nymph rods please ? However the market in Japan and the US likes cork handles so I guess Tenkara will remain corked for some time.

The ukiyo has nice graphics on the handle and tube. The finish is high quality; the rest of the rod sections have less resin which lowers weight and you can see the carbon weave slightly, but just enough to protect the sections, a good manufacturing technique.

It is a little shorter than I prefer - I often use longer rods (12’ or even 13’) in very tiny streams for their reach to pockets over boulders (and stealth)

The ukiyo’s action is quite nice for the shortness though - it feels softer in the top than the 11ft iwana (I have two of the first release iwanas still) which is surprising for such a short rod that is advertised and looks like all carbon rather than a carbon-fibreglass mix. It’s also surprising as the tip sections is quite thick at 1.0mm (cf an iwana at 0.78mm). So I imagine the tip will also be robust. As a result it uses heavier Lillian than the iwana or most Japanese rods. The Lilian is 35mm long - but the end isn’t melted just cut, so you need to carefully melt it with a cigarette lighter or it will fray. An unadvertised bonus - I think the cord in the two tip plugs is actually the same Lilian, so you have spares. The Lillian is glue direct to the tip end, no rotating swivel - again, having used many high end Japanese rods with swivels, I’ve found this to be inessential and fail point with wear and tear. I think the direct glue onto the tip is a more long term robust solution (I don’t see any line twist and so don’t see the need for a swivel).

It casts an unweighted Kebari/wet/or dry fly with a 9’-13’ #3 (0.286mm) fluorocarbon level line - but it needs an assertive wrist snap for this weight line to deliver the fly accurately. It casts better with a #3.5 (0.30mm) line where the rod just pushes the line out easily for a waft down to water. (Note - check your line diameters yourself as Japanese Tenkara line manufacturers have a wide range of tolerances, and note whether the line is pure fluorocarbon or a mono fc mix - this drops the effective weight by a half).
The ukiyo also casts weighted nymphs with 2.5mm tungsten beads really really well, and only struggles a bit with beads 3.5mm and over which needs lobs - however as it is short it can do it easily and accurately

The short length also allows for very effective hook sets.

It has strength in the butt for playing fish, but I felt this rod starts to max out on >12” feisty rainbows- larger rainbows become a challenge - and also require a net (below 12” a net isn’t essential but helpful).

The butt plug is plastic and it looks like the screw thread in the handle is plastic or carbon (not metal). Extra weight in the handle is not needed as this rod is well balanced and light - it feels like it has very low rotational mass. The tip plug holder in the plug is a really great idea and innovation that was long overdue - once you use it on a Tenkara USA rod, it’s hard to not have it now.

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The Keeper™
thomas anderson (Michigan City, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Trout
I like using my tenkara rod in: Very small streams

love using my tenkara gear, The Keeper is a great enhancement to an already top rate product line

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UKIYO™ 9ft10in (300cm)
James Taylor (New York, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Smaller size fish (say 8-12" / 20-30cm), Trout
I like using my tenkara rod in: Very small streams, Mountain streams, Stillwater, Backpacking and remote waters
Small mountain streams

The feel, finish, color, graphics, and presentation of the UKIYO are all excellent. We have more than 2 feet of snow here in Vermont now and I'm not fly fishing anytime soon, but I will keep you posted when I do

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Tenkara Level Line
gary davies (Melbourne, AU)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Smaller size fish (say 8-12" / 20-30cm), Larger size fish (16-20" / 40-50cm), Trout
I like using my tenkara rod in: Mountain streams, Stillwater

Perfect for Tasmanian central plateau

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The Keeper™
Robert Catrone (Columbia, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Smaller size fish (say 8-12" / 20-30cm), Medium size fish (12-16" / 30-40cm), Larger size fish (16-20" / 40-50cm), Trout, Other species
I like using my tenkara rod in: Very small streams, Larger streams or rivers, Stillwater
Tenkara fishing is simplicity in motion.

I have the TenkaraUSA AMAGO pole. I love using a longer pole that can handle not only larger fish but is sensitive enough to feel the strikes of smaller fishing as well.
Fishing tenkara poles is simplicity in motion, the angler is present in the here and now without distractions of dealing with rod/reel and stripping extra line.
Pole line fly and reading your environment.
That's it simple really.

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Tenkara Kit
Michael Staggs (Portsmouth, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Smaller size fish (say 8-12" / 20-30cm), Medium size fish (12-16" / 30-40cm), Trout
I like using my tenkara rod in: Very small streams, Stillwater
Small streams, ponds

Everything works!

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Tenkara Rod Replacement Parts
Agustin Garcia Garcia Rodriguez (Avilés, ES)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Smaller size fish (say 8-12" / 20-30cm)
I like using my tenkara rod in: Mountain streams

Tenkara Rod Replacement Parts

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Tenkara Fishing Cap
Robert Catrone (Orlando, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Smaller size fish (say 8-12" / 20-30cm), Larger size fish (16-20" / 40-50cm), Very Large fish (>20" / 50cm), Other species
I like using my tenkara rod in: Very small streams, Larger streams or rivers, Stillwater, Backpacking and remote waters
Beautiful simplicity in motion.

It's amazing how quickly one learns how to fish with the tenkara fly rod. In just one week I went from the standard Furled line to the 3.5 level line w/#5x teppet, using #8#14 fly.
My tenkara rod is a TenkaraUSA AMAGO 17.5'.
This rod suprized me, sensitive enough small bluegill and strong enough to land larger fish like bass and carp (with the proper techniques and patience). I came from a 15+yrs. of western fly fishing to tenkara after loads of YouTube tenkara fishing/how to videos. So, I gave tenkara a go.
Tenkara is so much more relaxing not to mention a hell of a lot less gear to bring and significantly lighter as well. With using the same ideas of reading the waters and basic fly presentation and placements this is now my go to.
Just relax and KISS= keep it simple stupid philosophy tenkara is life changing.
Personal note, I am a disabled veteran with PTSD.
After experiencing how much tenkara fishing has helped me, I've been bringing other veterans with me out and showing them tenkaras simplicity, with just focusing on the here and now does wonders for the mind body and dare I say soul.
Enjoy everyone, Carpe Diem!

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Shipping Protection by Route
Kiley Appleton (Durango, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Smaller size fish (say 8-12" / 20-30cm), Medium size fish (12-16" / 30-40cm), Larger size fish (16-20" / 40-50cm), Trout
I like using my tenkara rod in: Very small streams, Mountain streams
Na

Na

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Shipping Protection by Route
John Hall (Chicago, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Smaller size fish (say 8-12" / 20-30cm), Medium size fish (12-16" / 30-40cm)
I like using my tenkara rod in: Very small streams, Stillwater

Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri.

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Shipping Protection by Route
john edman (Kamas, US)
it was a gift

what is shipping protection by route?

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Tenkara Strap Pack
Bill Wedelich (Dolores, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Medium size fish (12-16" / 30-40cm), Trout, Other species
I like using my tenkara rod in: Very small streams, Larger streams or rivers, Stillwater
Different types of water

Very good pack & fishing tools

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Tenkara Kit
John Hall (Chicago, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Smaller size fish (say 8-12" / 20-30cm), Medium size fish (12-16" / 30-40cm), Trout, Other species
I like using my tenkara rod in: Very small streams, Stillwater
Oklahoma/Arkansas

Love my Tenkara. It's a wonderful piece of equipment. I cannot wait to get to use it more in the future.

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Warranty Claim
Jamie Lewis Hedges (Grand Rapids, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Larger size fish (16-20" / 40-50cm), Trout
I like using my tenkara rod in: Very small streams, Larger streams or rivers, Backpacking and remote waters
I like fishing with a tenkara rod becasue I’m not a uber-flyfisher. I’m just a basic angler...

I’m just a basic angler who’s tagging along with my son, who is an avid flyfisher. Tenkara is approachable and all I need. When I reached out to Tenkara USA about a broken segment, I really loved how I seemed to be emailing with another human being in real time. They made certain I was ordering the correct part. And they under promised and over delivered! Realistically and understandably, they confessed they could not have it to me inside of five days. Most likely two weeks. And I had it in seven days.

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Tippet (5X)
John Konopasek (Miami, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Trout
I like using my tenkara rod in: Mountain streams, Backpacking and remote waters

Tippet (5X)

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AMAGO™ 13ft6in (410cm)
Robert Catrone (Orlando, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Larger size fish (16-20" / 40-50cm)
I like using my tenkara rod in: Larger streams or rivers, Stillwater
I live in Florida i mostly fish the lakes by me.

I recently used my new tenkara amago on the lake by me bank fishing to test the action and response,
putting this longer rod through it passes.
This amago rod passed all tests with flying colors so far. I mostly caught pan fish and a medium size bass unexpectedly. The rod held up beautifully.
I can highly recommend this tenkara rod.
Just an idea, If TenkaraUSA could develop a rod stronger and longer then the Ito, like Wasatch Phoenix Rising 20'24" with 8:4 action or larger with the backbone stroganoff for game fishing like larger mouth I'd be very interested.

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Tenkara Kit
Olivia Turner (Powell, US)
I like using my tenkara gear to catch: Smaller size fish (say 8-12" / 20-30cm)
I like using my tenkara rod in: Backpacking and remote waters

I ordered a couple of things for Christmas and got an email saying they were out but would have more in 2 weeks. The communication was great because I would have time to decide if I wanted to cancel or just wait the 2 weeks. I decided to wait but a few days later I was informed they received them and I got my order with plenty of time for Christmas. My boyfriend said the quality was better than previous supplies he’d ordered before. Highly recommend for yourself or as a gift