Posted: 7/4/2025 8:39:40 PM EDT
| Anyone have a preferred tenkara rod? Backpacking usage mainly. |
Dan_Gray: You're right
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I don't have a preferred rod because I just purchased and used my first rod, a Tenkara Rod Co. White Cloud. I bought it to fish small mountain streams in NM. I caught so many fish with it this past week, I want to buy another longer rod for other waters. I'm thinking maybe the DRAGONtail Mizuchi. The one thing I need to get better with is being able to net without having a reel to take up some of that extra line. Maybe I just need to shorten up my line. The simplicity of Tenkara fishing is awesome. Tenkara Rod Co and DRAGONtail both offer discounts through Expertvoice if you qualify for an account. |
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I stated about 15 years ago with a Dragontail Shadowfire. We didnt have as many choices back then. But there wasnt really anything I couldnt do with the Shadowfire. I used it so much it doesnt have any writing left on it. So not even 100% its the Shadowfire. I eventually "upgraded" to a longer, lighter, softer and stronger 13'(maybe) foot rod. Its a smaller kind of limited company. I think it is Tanuki Tenkara. The rod says "Apls Tanuki Special" and it is mint green. I spent a lot of time talking with the owner when he was first developing the rods and thought he was a really nice guy. The Tanuki is a really nice, sensitive but precise rod. But it cost 3 times what the Shadowfire cost. There is 100% no need to buy a fancy rod at first. As a matter of fact if you want my Shadowfire PM me and I will sell it to you cheap. It is WELL USED but functionable. At least back when I was using them more Dragontail was a really good company to deal with. Sevral times I lost parts or snapped the tip and they always helped me out. About 5 or 10 years ago I started using a traditional (US style?) fly rod and prefer it. But I still love the Tenkara, I just grab my fly rod every time I head out. My Tenkara rods just sit unfortunately. PS. If i remember correctly, My Tanuki "Alps" was a short run he did in the beginning. I think it was similar to his Snow 375 or Black 375 but had a different color and maybe a slightly different flex in the blanks. But in regard to your original post, they all work for backpacking. But different rods work for different types of water or different sized fish. If you let us know what water you will be fishing we could give you a better recommendation. In regard to shorter roda or "zoom" rods for tighter water. At one point I had something a little shorter, think it was from Tenkara USA. I dont remember what it was but it was marketed for small tight little water. Personally I didnt like it even on really tight water. I felt a 12" rod with shorter line was more usefully than doing a 10' rod with longer line. That was just my opinion. |
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Originally Posted By dana: But in regard to your original post, they all work for backpacking. But different rods work for different types of water or different sized fish. If you let us know what water you will be fishing we could give you a better recommendation. Well I'll be fishing in Glacier NP in a couple of weeks. 
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Dan_Gray: You're right