It's been a few years since I did a post on my favorite gear. Many of the items have remained unchanged, but a few have been removed or replaced. Overtime, some skills and physical limitations, preferences, goals and gear technologies change, and I have made a few updates in my favorites that reflect these changes.
I still focus on modern-traditional Japanese tenkara techniques for my fishing. That includes rods, lines and kebari. I use modern carbon fiber telescoping rods, fluorocarbon level lines and impressionistic flies (kebari). No split shot, indicators, bobbers, or other non-traditional gear. That said, I do use a sighter on my lines and I will resort to euro-nymphing in the winter. It's not traditional tenkara, but I tolerate it. I also try to focus on salmonid species in mountain creeks and streams. I choose not to use tenkara gear on still waters. There's nothing wrong with doing it, I just choose not to.
These are my favorites, as of January 2025. I have other rods and gear that I like and use, but these are what I currently prefer to use more frequently. Red lettering indicates a hyperlink.
Rod Comparison/Characteristics References:
Rod Flex Index - I use this table to compare rods to each other, and to categorize rod flex action.
Rotational Moment - I use these data when the rod is ≈4 meters in length or longer.
Favorite Travel Rod:
TenkaraBum Traveler 39 - Modest sized fish. Modest sized waters. Favorite travel rod, if I have room.
Shimano Pack Tenkara 31-34 ZW - Compact rod. Small waters.
Favorite Small Creek Tenkara Rod:
DRAGONtail Mizuchi - All around. Tight canopy. Larger fish. Power rod.
Nissin Air Stage Fuijryu 330 5:5 - Finesse fishing. Smaller fish.
Shimano Pack Tenkara 31-34 ZW - Pack rod. Finesse fishing.
Favorite 360 cm Tenkara Rod:
TenkaraBum 36 - All around. Confidence rod.
Anglo & Co. Wasabi 36 - Hand-crafted, very special rod.
Nirvana Kokoro 360 - High quality rod by an American tenkara company.
Nissin Air Stage Fuijryu 360 5:5 - Finesse fishing. Easy to pack.
Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu 360 6:4 - Larger fish. Easy to pack. Contact nymphing. Windy conditions. Faster currents.
Favorite Multi-length (Zoom) Rod:
DRAGONtail Mizuchi - Larger fish. Fast water.
Shimano Pack Tenkara 31-34 ZW - Pack rod. Finesse fishing.
Shimano Keiryu Tenkara 34-38 ZL - Intermediate size fish. Moderate size streams.
Gamakatsu MultiFlex Suimu EX 5.0 - Large fish. Strong currents. Big water.
Favorite 390-400 cm Tenkara Rod:
TenkaraBum 40 - All around. Confidence rod.
Tanuki XL-1 - Finesse fishing. Similar to the Oni Type-I, but I find I lose fewer fish than with the Oni T-1.
Nissin Zerosum Oni Honryu 395 - Finesse fishing. Used interchangeably with TB40.
Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu 410 6:4 - Excellent rod for larger fish, windy conditions.
Favorite 450+ cm Tenkara Rod:
Gamakatsu MultiFlex Suimu EX 5.0 - Large fish. Large waters.
Nissin Air Stage Honryu 450 - Large waters.
Favorite Contact (Euro) Nymphing Rod:
Nissin Air Stage Fujiryu 360 6:4 - Easy to pack. My favorite contact nymphing rod.
DRAGONtail Mizuchi - Excellent euro nymphing rod for smaller streams.
Tenkara Prim Professional 400 - When I want a longer rod for euro-nymphing. Larger fish.
Favorite Large Fish (20 in./ 50 cm) Tenkara Rod:
DRAGONtail Hellbender - Large fish. Strong currents.
Gamakatsu MultiFlex Suimu EX 5.0 - Large fish. Strong currents. Big water.
Favorite Line:
Dual Color Level Line - I mostly use a #3 fluorocarbon level line, but will occasionally use a #3.5, or #3.5-#3.0 80:20 tapered level line, if windy.
Favorite Tippet:
TroutHunter Fluorocarbon 5.5X - used most of the time. I change to 4.5X when larger fish possible.
Favorite On-stream Line Management:
Snap-On Line Winders - Used a lot of the time. When they don't fit the rod, I use a spool.
Favorite knot for tippet to fly:
16-20 Pitzen Knot - I use now more than my old standby, the Clinch knot.
Wading Staff:
T-top Wading Staff - My most important fishing accessory. I can't fish without it.
Wading:
Simms Freestone Wading Boots - I've used these for years. Basic boot, but they work. I use a rubber sole with Rocktreads or home-made aluminum bars.
Simms Men's Guide Guard Wading Boot Socks - I prefer wet wading, when possible. These keep my feet warm enough.
Wader Gaiters - I use these to protect my knees and legs.
Lost Creek Men's Xti Wader Pants - When I do wear waders, I prefer these wader pants.
Chest Pack:
Zimmerbuilt Tenkara Strap Pack - It carries what I use.
Favorite Fish Release and Net:
Ketchum Release Tool - Used most of the time now. Doesn't fit large bead head nymphs without changing tool size, which can be a bit annoying.
Shimano Folding Damo Keiryu 25 net - when I use a net, which is not very often anymore, I usually use this one.
Favorite Flies and Kebari:
Flies and Kebari Collection, Volumes 1 & 2 - These are the flies and kebari that I use on most of my creeks and streams.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.