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ZEN'S HAPPY CUSTOMERS!

I want to thank you for the rapid response you gave me regarding my new Zen Tenkara Zako Rod I bought at the fly fishing expo! I got the new tips the next day after we talked! Thanks again for caring about a customer!

- James Franklin

Quality rods and gear designed to push the boundaries of tenkara by someone who enjoys pushing the boundaries and wants to share the experience

- Douglas, Alberta Canada

Loving the Zen experience

- Harold, Oregon

F*ckin’ tremendous

- Burt

I am delighted with my Sagi rod. I took it to Mexico last year and managed to hook a couple baby tarpon

- Anonymous

I'm sold on the rod and your company

- Frank, SC

Best Customer support experience that I've Ever had! This is a great company with great products!

- Jim, CO

I really appreciate the incredible customer service.

- Tyson, CA

Thanks once again for your personal amazing pointers you’ve provided on this page. This has been really unbelievably generous of you to give without restraint.

- Gremer

Great Gear!

- Anonymous

WOW ! You totally caught me off guard with the Suzume rod. I was speechless

- Richard, Denver

Your enthusiasm for pushing the limits of what can be done with tenkara is contagious

- Doug

My wife loves her Zen Tenkara rod and has caught trout throughout Colorado. We have a wonderful opportunity to go to El Faro Lodge in Cuba. Thanks for a great product and all your leadership in the field.

- Mike West

Love the Sagi. Really apparent when I had to use my “other” rod yesterday. Thank you for making such a great product.

- Ron Wedemeyer

Own 3 of your rods!

- Tracy

Such an exquisite, in depth and open sharing for an answer to an email inquiry. I did not expect it. I loved it. The kind of company, answer and owner one seldom experiences today

- Robert, Chicago

The Sagi rod is the bomb!

- Anonymous

Used your floating line today for Golden trout in the Kernville, CA watershed – was I impressed! Casts easily with good control even in windy conditions, floated well without causing drag. Great line – worth the price.

- Art

Guaranteed to put many smiles on many faces!

- Robert, Denver

It was an absolute treat to get to hear Karin Miller (Owner, Zen Tenkara) present and discuss tenkara

- Matt, Colorado Springs

About Zen Tenkara

At Zen we're all about the duality of finding balance on the water and defining American Tenkara.

The yin: We strive for optimal balance between elegance and practicality, strength and beauty, uniqueness and tradition so that customers can truly experience peace and pleasure from their purchase.

The yang: Zen has taken traditional Japanese Tenkara where it hasn't gone before, testing limits, breaking boundaries and defining American Tenkara so that customers can push their skills to achieve a thrill like no other.

Learn more about Zen Tenkara's Story.

Zen Destinations

Make each day an adventure to remember—and leave the crowds behind. The key to an unforgettable fishing adventure is location, prime location.

From Alaska to Mexico to Argentina and beyond, get ready for a trip of a lifetime and a Tenkara experience like no other.

Introducing our latest destination: Costa Rica.

Zen Community

Zen is committed to helping you find your balance on the water. Simplicity and functionality drive the innovative designs of our products, but we care equally about your experience on the water. Whether you desire the tranquility of a small stream or the high thrill of saltwater species, we're here to offer guidance and support. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for regular updates. Connect through our Zen Blog for stories and articles. And Subscribe to our monthly newsletter for tips, information sharing and Zen specials.

Zen Tenkara / Fly Fishing Gear

5.0

Based on 40 reviews

See all reviews Write a review

Zen Tenkara/Karin Miller - exceptionally generous and supportive. Me - total beginner, I am not yet qualified to share an opinion about the performance characteristics of the gear, perhaps a few years from now I can contribute some more substantive and meaningful feedback.

Gregg Russo

00:24 25 Jan 23

Donald Earley

04:25 24 Jan 23

Why would I ever want to shop Tenkara anywhere else?

Ken Merkelbach

02:49 24 Jan 23

These are the best Tenkara Rods and floating lines on the Planet! Great products, great service, great company! The big rods, the Taka and the Kyogin will handle anything including Bone fish, Red fish, Golden Dorado,Salmon, Char, Alaskan trout, etc. The smaller rods, the Zako, Susume, and Hachi are premier trout rods depending on your stream. Do yourself a favor and buy a rod that will bring a smile to your face for a lifetime!

Bob Miller

19:37 02 Jan 23

Well-made products, reasonable prices and GREAT Karma !

Simeon Grater

18:42 22 Dec 22

John Chambers

17:40 11 Nov 22

Good fast service, answers email questions, what's not to like!

David Massey

23:53 08 Oct 22

I bought the rod for my wife. She broke the tip on her first trip. I ordered a new tip and was happy to know you had one and sent it out, I got it a few days.Bill

Bill Maypole

22:46 13 Aug 22

Great for small streams NM & CO.

Sylvia FV

21:13 06 Jul 22

Unable to supply a review via Google. Don't have a Google account, nor do I want one.But, review-wise, your Tenkara Rod Case is actually quite nice and a good value: priced right, well made, looks good and functions well. I am using it to store the "spare short butt" for a competitor's 12 foot rod that shortens in to about 9 ft. By the way I have that competitor's new imported rod case for their 12 foot rod that was shipped years back with just a clear plastic tube container, but when the new case came the screw cap was jammed on impossibly tight and required some aggressive "persuasion" with a butter knife edge and channel lock pliers to break it open, leading to some edge knurling damage.Your products are all great and I will be visiting your on-line store again soon!

Zen Tenkara

23:22 06 Jun 22

I have never done much fishing but had stumbled upon some information about Tenkara and it seemed like exactly what I was looking for. The problem was, not being a fisherman, I was really flying blind and was in need of a ton of info. I reached out to Zen Tenkara and not only did I get the exact info I was looking for but it came from the owner of the company. She was personable and answered all of my multiple questions/emails quickly and thoroughly. I cant give a review of the rods I bought yet cause I have yet to use them, but I thought everyone struggling to get information should know what a great company this is to work with! Cant say thank you to Zen Tenkara enough!

Craig Koenig

17:39 09 May 22

Wonderful experience w/ Zen Tenkara. I recently purchased their Suzume and Suimenka rods. They work perfectly on some of the smaller waters I fish. Also, the performance tip is a must have accessory. It gives you extra options on the water by slightly changing the action of the rod.

William Kloiber

14:45 29 Dec 21

Excellent company. I purchased the Sagi rod and love it. Outstanding customer service as well. Would certainly buy from Zen again. Karin is super helpful if you have any questions.

Ryan Kimball

19:23 14 Dec 21

Communication and customer care are exemplary. I can warmly recommend the quality of the products.Thanks Karin & Co!

Ari

16:45 20 Nov 21

So having fished the Suzume extensively since the other review posted on August 31, 2021 where it compared favorably to the Rhodo, I wanted to say that the rod continues to perform remarkably well at all 3 lengths. It is evident that the carbon fiber utilized is top notch. The rod is a bit more stiff (as expected) at its shorter length which works since I use this in tight cover situations. I do love the mid and full length as well extending whenever cover allows. The castability and play of the rod are great. It is very well balanced. It is my “just right” triple zoom tight cover rod (ala Goldilocks). I definitely give it 5 stars *****

Ana Echenique

22:51 22 Sep 21

Highly recommend this company! Not only are the products super quality but the business is female owned, which is rare and especially cool for an outdoor company. I reached out to Karin because I am a learn-by -doing type of person and she took hours out of her day to go over all things tenkara with me. This is information you’re just not going to get at your local outdoor store in the fly fishing section. I am forever grateful and excited for some of their upcoming new products to hit the market!!

E G

02:10 06 Sep 21

I just purchased a rod and other items from Zen Tenkara. The owner included a product from her website which she thought I might need at no cost along with a very nice handwritten card. You can't go wrong purchasing a product from Zen Tenkara...

JJ JJ

00:10 12 Aug 21

Great Service, love the products.I have the Suzume and the Zako Rods, I own nearly all the accessories, so my shopping experience, customer service experience on replacement parts, and sales has been excellent. I landed several Artic Grayling this last weekend with both rods, and I just love the simplicity and performance or the rods, and Tenkara Fishing..

Brett Evans

17:43 12 Jul 21

It is often I find someone passionate about fly fishing. It is rare that I find someone passionate and willing to purely enjoy someone else loving this sport. Karin and Zen Tenkara are that rare mix. From catching bluegill with my grandchildren and teaching them to watch the fly, to a trip of a life time and a Amazon Golden Dorado on a Kyogin Zen Tenkara has been apart of my team. I can't wait to get my next rod with Zen Tenkara.

mike west

02:45 11 Jul 21

My husband has been tenkara fishing for years and has always purchased another competitor’s equipment. I began fishing with his equipment, but did my own research when I decided to purchase my own equipment, and I found zen tenkara and purchased the sagi. I love it!! My husband loves it and insisted on purchasing his own sagi, we look forward to having a whole quiver of zen tenkara rods!!

connie Wedemeyer

14:26 10 Apr 21

amazing gear , Top Quality can be used for Salt or fresh water. Customer service sets a new industry standard for Great - I love my ZenTenkara Rod!

Paul Ridgway

15:04 12 Mar 21

John Carey

14:29 12 Mar 21

Zen Tenkara / Fly Fishing Gear is an exceptional business that should be proud of itself in its forward thinking approach to Tenkara fishing, customer education and satisfaction with a emphasis on having fun. I first met Karin Miller on the TU member forum in a discussion about Tenkara. Karins explanation of Tenkara and descriptive, knowledgeable replies to questions really peaked my interest. She went as far as to reach out to me directly and offered to loan me a demo rod for a couple weeks just to try out! Thank You Karin you've opened up a new door for me within in my favorite pastime of Fly Fishing.The inner 8 year old kid in me says "Waa Hoo"!In kid speak that means; You have a new life long customer and friend!Gerry Quigley

Gerry Quigley

04:50 04 Nov 20

Fantastic quality rods, even better quality flies (believe me I’d know). I believe I got the medium sized rod, I don’t remember the exact name. And it is just outstanding, being that it is my first tenkara rod I am definitely being spoiled for the quality of it.The traditional flies look great, and they do great out on the water. I highly recommend any of their products

Ryan Spence

17:13 15 Oct 20

My wife Judy and I are participating in the Western Native Trout Challenge. Like the better-known state sponsored Wyoming Cutt-Slam and the Utah Cutthroat Slam where the angler is required to catch 4 native cutthroats, provide documentation, and is then rewarded with a certificate, the Western Native Trout Challenge is sponsored by the Western Native Trout Initiative and 12 western states. The ultimate goal is to catch 18 different species of salmonoids in their native waters in 12 western states. Last year Judy and I achieved the lowest reward level – Expert Caster - by catching 6 trout from at least 4 different states. This year we continued with the challenge to achieve the next reward level – Advanced Caster – which would include, in addition to Montana, Nevada, and Idaho, a trip to Alaska for several Alaskan species on the Challenge list. One of my concerns was going after large, strong Alaskan fish on our usual tenkara gear; most of our tenkara fishing is for twelve inch and under trout from small streams using typical tenkara flies and level fluorocarbon lines. For Alaska we would need stouter equipment that would handle larger fish and be able to comfortably cast robust Alaska style terminal tackle.We knew of Karen Miller and her Zen Tenkara company from attending the annual Denver Fly Fishing shows and her attempt to Americanize tenkara by wedding the fixed line tenkara rod to conventional terminal tackle. It may not be strictly how tenkara is practiced in Japan, but as we found, it works well.During the 2020 Fly Fishing show we had long discussions with Karen about our goals, tackle, tactics, and fishing lodges. After much discussion we finally selected a Zen Tenkara Sagi, as most suitable to our targeted fish – Alaskan Rainbow, Arctic Char, Dolly Varden, and Arctic Grayling. Salmon are not part of the Challenge. The Sagi is a 13.5-foot rod with a 13-inch handle and weighs in at 3.5 ounces that under the load of a fish has a smooth bend from tip to butt – the power curve. The only negative that I can offer is that after a day of catching large Alaskan fish we often had a stuck tip. This issue is overcome by using a bit of shelf liner to enhance your finger’s grip on the tip where it goes into the butt section; apply some pressure and the tip will release tip back into the rod’s larger sections. Incidentally, Karen also helped us to decide on Rapids Camp Lodge in the Bristol Bay region for three reasons. They could provide access to all four species that we were fishing for, they had back up western gear in case we could not accomplish our goals with tenkara, and they were the only lodge that supported tenkara.Our first day on the stream I girth hitched the 15-foot yellow line I constructed to the rod tip; handed the line to my guide Teddy and he rigged up a typical Alaskan set up consisting of a leader, tippet and big yellow strike indicator and a pegged egg. Turns out this was the only line I used during our 6 days of fishing in Bristol Bay. The casting was instinctive, the rod performed beautifully, and on my second cast I was into an 18-inch grayling. Remembering Karen’s admonishment to maintain a “power curve” -- a smooth uniform bend in the rod from butt to tip -- I easily controlled the fish which was soon landed, photographed, and released. Judy eagerly took the rod and cast into the same pool, but a bit higher up, and on her second or third cast she was fast to a 19-inch Dolly Varden. The Sagi quickly became Judy’s favorite tenkara rod because, unlike typical tenkara rods, the more massive line allows her to feel the back-cast load which improves her cast timing.The Sagi is a great large fish rod and exceeded our expectations in its casting and fish fighting abilities. For our targeted fish it is hard to beat. By the second day we landed all four of our Alaskan Challenge fish and later in the summer we successfully completed the Challenge’s Advanced Casting Level.

Mark Cole

23:31 08 Oct 20

What an amazing rod and company. I live in AK, and have been fishing a little 3wt tenkara for the past couple of years, but have been very interested in going after salmon, which meant I’d need something with more power. After a lot of research, which included a phone call with the owner, I settled on the Zen Kyojin to target Silvers and Chum. Unfortunately, the night before I was slated to leave for a silver trip, I broke a rod section. This leads me to the repair policy — all I had to do was order the section, not send it all back like a most normal fly rod manufacturers would require. So, within days, I was back on my rod and I’m happy to say that I landed a jack King and Silver on it, fishing in very right quarters, last weekend. The silver was a tail snag, so I got as big of a fight as I was going to get with that fish, and the Kyojin handled it incredibly well. My only complaint is that this rod is so exciting to fish, you might forget to secure your phone, which I did, and resulted in me losing my phone to Montana Creek. Worth it, frankly. If you want a tenkara for big fish, and the associated adventure, I’d call the Kyojin AK-(and rookie fly fisher-) approved.

Matthew Komatsu

13:57 10 Sep 20

Arthur and I just returned from a three week central traverse of the Brooks Range, Alaska. We backpacked and packrafted with tenkara fishing stops in between.Our Sagi rods and gear from Zen Tenkara fit well with our lightweight approach. At under 4 oz for the rod and about 10 oz for all the gear we needed to fish a variety of conditions, we felt that our Zen Tenkara rods, line, and flies added a whole dimension to our trip at a minimal weight cost. In addition, the lightweight carbon fiber travel case kept our rods clean and dry despite us being in the backcountry for three weeks.The Sagi rods that we used are known for their craftsmanship, combining strength and flexibility. Each section of the rod is made from high-quality carbon fiber and has a cork handle. Karin, the owner of Zen Tenkara, spent over an hour before the trip giving us personalized instruction on how to best cast and bring in fish with Zen Tenkara rods.The Sagi proved itself to be a capable all-around rod, having the versatility to fish for grayling high in alpine streams and chase salmon in the larger rivers and tributaries as we exited the range. Versatility was paramount in pursuing our fishing objectives on this expedition. We spotted fish ranging from eight-inch grayling to Chum salmon weighing around 20 pounds. The Zen Tenkara Sagi made it possible for us to target them all, with a single 13.6 foot rod! Even though it is rated a 7-weight equivalent, the Sagi was a pleasure to use, whether fishing for grayling in six-foot wide alpine streams or casting to salmon from the packrafts in major rivers like the Alatna or the Koyukuk. Adjusting line and tippet length reinforced this fish-all ability.We liked how easy it was to switch our different sized lines using the lillian at the tip as we moved from casting for grayling to salmon, and from casting from shore to casting from our packrafts. The Zen Tenkara lines have a loop at the end that is girth-hitched to the lilian. Switching lines took under a minute.Our Zen Tenkara setups offered us the ability to stop en route for fishing sessions as short as ten minutes, because they are easily extendable, collapsable, and capable of being stowed with the line and fly still attached and organized. We particularly appreciated using the EZ Keepers combined with the Universal Cap, which made setting-up and breaking-down our rods take seconds. In anticipation of a day of walking up or down a stream, we would rig a 10-15” line with a 3-4” leader and a size 12-14 dry fly and be ready to stop and fish all day. We felt that the ability to take shorter breaks and present flies to a large number of fish allowed us to get the best of both worlds. We treated ourselves to some of the best grayling fishing one could hope for, all the while still pursuing a challenging traverse of the range.The Sagi was our favorite tenkara rod that we have used. We would recommend it to anyone looking to buy a strong rod with craftsmanship that stands a step above its competitors; a rod that can be trusted on long trips; a rod that is reliable for targeting eight inch grayling as well as twenty pound salmon, as we have done.

Noah Larsen

22:24 08 Sep 20

Great products and great customer service!

Nick Girardi

14:14 03 Sep 20

I have the Zen Tenkara Sezume rod and it is perfect for backpacking. A very versatile and extremely light weight rod to put in your pack. The best part is catching plenty of fish in the cold streams up in the high mountains. The customer service at Zen Tenkara is also outstanding! Extremely responsive with answers to your questions and orders on all their gear are shipped very promptly.All in all, a wonderful package and highly recommend Zen Tenkara to all, a truly very positive experience from customer care to high quality gear!

Phil Burden

21:33 31 Aug 20

I've just received my first Zen Tenkara Zako rod and I'll have to say I'm very impressed! The quality was beyond my expectations.I especially liked how well it stores in my pack and how fast and easy the rod can be ready for fishing! It literally takes seconds and you're ready to fish.I plan on purchasing more gear for myself and will definitely be purchasing another for my son!Thank you!

Derek Smotherman

03:19 29 Aug 20

Zen Tenkara is an awesome company that provides high quality products. I used a Zen Tenkara rod for my first time fly fishing, and don't even need to bother trying anything else. It was very easy to learn and I caught a fish within 15 minutes!

Britton Smotherman

02:40 26 Aug 20

The Zen Tenkara Rods were perfect for our first fly fishing experience. It’s simple to use and a great way to properly manage landing your fish. When my daughter and I went on a guiding tour with Karin, I fished with the Zako rod and my daughter used the Suzume rod. We loved these rods because it made our first experience fly fishing so simple and enjoyable. We had a fantastic day catching fish after fish and Karin was just as excited as we were! After our awesome day, I ordered my rods and lines and they arrived quickly. I see us taking these rods on hikes because they are so compact (collapsed is 20”)and I definitely will have them packed with me on all my future fishing trips. Note, part my anxiety is tacking up, but the Zen Tenkara floating lines are so easy to use because they come with a ready to-go connection loop and I didn’t have any knot issues when casting. It was a “Zen” day of fishing!!

Meagan Braun

15:21 16 Aug 20

Fantastic rods that really can tackle any fish. And, Zen's customer service is second to none. True story: I broke the tip on my Zako (thru my own negligence) and happened to run into Karin that same day. I thanked her for including the extra tip with the rod because I needed it. She went to the back of her truck and gave me another extra tip; no questions, no charge. It's no wonder Zen Tenkara has become the pre-eminent tenkara rod company!

Tom Mulvahill

01:00 14 Aug 20

Zen Tenkara is an industry leader that continuously prioritizes the customer's experience and fun factor in all things they do. No other tenkara fly fishing company creates so many rods and products uniquely designed for different epic fishing experiences. Their owner, Karin Miller, loves to connect with customers, sharing stories and education. She provides unparalleled customer service, a priceless value.

Aaron Estevez

13:54 09 Aug 20

Zen Tenkara provides not only high-quality rods and gear but also impeccable customer service. And owner Karin Miller is knowledgeable, accessible, and so much fun!

Wendy

22:01 08 Aug 20

Zen Tenkara is the best...I received my order by mail within a couple of days and in time to get on the river early Saturday morning. Three strikes and a catch (beauty of a brown) within the first 1/2 hour! Love the Zen Tenkara 12' Zako rod w/setup kit...balanced, light and oh so responsive. Fun to cast!

Pat S.

15:04 20 Jul 20

Karen is a rock star! Customer service the way the good Lord intended, impressive extraordinary effort, it was an absolute pleasure. I'm now a Zen Tenkara customer for life.

Bruce In Denver

14:42 18 Jul 20

I end up in spots all across the world and once I started bringing the Kyojin around I never looked back. Fighting big fish on it has completely changed the way I look at fishing and fighting. It brings me back to when everything in fly fishing was new. Now I’ve got small tarpon, juvenile GTs (I like to just call em ts) Barramundi, Queen fish, Carp (my favorite local fish) and a bunch of others. It feels like breaking new ground. I never know what’s going to happen and that is as good as it gets for a dude like me.

jay johnson

20:44 17 Jul 20

A great selection of rods. Professional and courteous customer service. Zen is a great company and Tekara fishing is just plain FUN!

Jay Baichi

20:34 17 Jul 20

I could probably come up with five eye-catching words, that are both powerful and applicable that would best fit Zen, but words sometimes are not enough. Really you need to experience who they are and what they offer. I honestly doubt that you’re going to find any other Tenkara company like them. You get some of the most personable people to deal with and they make high-quality, boundary pushing products. Every rod in their lineup has a purpose. Within a few minutes of talking to the owner, you can easily understand their arsenal and, how personal you as a client are treated. They dont offer cheap, thoughtless products, but everything they put out is meticulously researched and developed before coming to its final stage. This is a company that pushes limits, delivers world class results, and is committed to their customers. Again, words are not enough. Try the Kyojin, try the Suzume, try the Zako, try them all! These are all top of the line products!!!

Adam Hanna

17:39 17 Jul 20

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Finding Balance on the water.

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I want to thank you for the rapid response you gave me regarding my new Zen Tenkara Zako Rod I bought at the fly fishing expo! I got the new tips the next day after we talked! Thanks again for caring about a customer!

Quality rods and gear designed to push the boundaries of tenkara by someone who enjoys pushing the boundaries and wants to share the experience

Loving the Zen experience

F*ckin’ tremendous

I am delighted with my Sagi rod. I took it to Mexico last year and managed to hook a couple baby tarpon

I'm sold on the rod and your company

Best Customer support experience that I've Ever had! This is a great company with great products!

I really appreciate the incredible customer service.

Thanks once again for your personal amazing pointers you’ve provided on this page. This has been really unbelievably generous of you to give without restraint.

Great Gear!

WOW ! You totally caught me off guard with the Suzume rod. I was speechless

Your enthusiasm for pushing the limits of what can be done with tenkara is contagious

My wife loves her Zen Tenkara rod and has caught trout throughout Colorado. We have a wonderful opportunity to go to El Faro Lodge in Cuba. Thanks for a great product and all your leadership in the field.

Love the Sagi. Really apparent when I had to use my “other” rod yesterday. Thank you for making such a great product.

Own 3 of your rods!

Such an exquisite, in depth and open sharing for an answer to an email inquiry. I did not expect it. I loved it. The kind of company, answer and owner one seldom experiences today

The Sagi rod is the bomb!

Used your floating line today for Golden trout in the Kernville, CA watershed – was I impressed! Casts easily with good control even in windy conditions, floated well without causing drag. Great line – worth the price.

Guaranteed to put many smiles on many faces!

It was an absolute treat to get to hear Karin Miller (Owner, Zen Tenkara) present and discuss tenkara

About Zen Tenkara

Zen Destinations

Zen Community

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