The Science of Fly Fishing

As a small Colorado company, we love to collaborate with other local businesses to build relationships and support each other. It’s a great way to meet a number of wonderful, solid people and learn about other Colorado companies. Zen recently had a terrific night at Spirit Houd Distilleries, makers of…

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Are Trade Shows a Thing of the Past?

It’s March and temperatures are slowly warming up. January and February were a whirl wind of expos. Wintertime is fly fishing show season and each year for the past twelve, Zen Tenkara has been exhibiting at many of them around the country. This year was different. Attendance was noticiably down.…

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Zen Tenkara Heads to Greenland

Danish krones

I’m home from Alaska. It was amazing and never seems to stop offering up glory, wonder and awh. Once again, Rapids Camp Lodge took incredible care of us and Mother Nature was in full cooperation mode as tempuratures were mild and pleasant. The only rain we had was on the…

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Tenkara Float Tripping

This past week I headed to Montana after the Memorial Day crowds had packed up and headed home. Our destination was Forth Smith, Montana to be exact. A group of 6 of us were heading up to fly fish with Big Horn Anglers. We rented a three bedroom cabin that…

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The Low Down on Cuba

On October 21st I headed out on my very first adventure to Cuba. I was thrilled to travel there. Cuban culture is near and dear to me having lived most of my life in Miami, Florida. The food, the music, the Cuban ethos – it’s filled with warmth and passion.…

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Tenkara and the IFTD Show 2022

The IFTD Show, International Fly Tackle Dealers Show, wrapped up last week in Salt Lake City. This was the shows first return after two years of cancelations due to Covid. Zen Tenkara has participated in this show in the past and was an exhibitor again this year. The show is…

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Tenkara Line Options: How to Choose

Tenkara is all about simplicity but when it comes to line options it can get a little confusing. Let’s talk about the different kinds of tenkara lines that are available and how best to fish them. Generally, I like to categorize tenkara lines into 5 categories: level, furled or braided,…

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Tenkara Presentations: The Leisenring Lift 

The Leisenring Lift is a fly fishing presentation technique that’s been around for ages. It is not a Japanese or tenkara technique but rather one that was developed for use on the rod and reel. It just happens to lend itself to tenkara and Sakas Kebaris. The “Lift” goes back…

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Let the Shows Begin!

January 2022. We made it. We’re here and got through another year of challenges. I’m sitting in the lobby of a Marriot in Richmond, Virginia. It’s about 5am. I flew in yesterday evening. Today is “set-up” day for the Virginia Fly Fishing and Wine Festival taking place this weekend on…

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Tenkara Presentation: Pulsing Your Fly

The Pulse. It’s an easy and effective tenkara fly presentation that is a simple modification of the Dead Drift. The Pulse utilizes the unique reverse hackle design of the Sakasa Kebari fly to maximize movement. Without the pulsing motion this fly pattern is very effective but with it, the Sakasa…

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Tenkara Presentations: Pause and Drift 

In this write-up we’ll talk about the Pause and Drift. It’s as easy as it sounds, promise. Condensed down to the bare bones, a Pause and Drift Presentation is a dead drift in which you occasionally stop, to intentionally add action to your fly, then proceed again with another dead drift, repeating this…

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Tenkara Presentations: Swinging the Fly

This month we’ll review one of my favorite tenkara presentations, the Swing. It’s my go-to on several sections of my home water, the Poudre River, where there are some nice wide bends and undercuts banks, and the current is gentle and steady. It’s a very easy presentation and one that…

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Tenkara Presentations: The Dead Drift Explained

Zen Tenkara is often associated with extreme tenkara fishing, saltwater tenkara fishing and big fish on tenkara but at the heart of our company is traditional tenkara that targets trout in the crystal clear mountain streams of Colorado. While we design rods for big fish hunting, we also design rods…

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Sometimes Tenkara Isn’t the Best Tool: Understanding Why

I like a challenge. If someone tells me something can’t be done, I undoubtably will try to do it. If there is a short road and a long road to doing something, I inevetably choose the long road. Some would call this a personal flaw, others, a testiment to my strength and strong character. I don’t make these decisions to wreck havic on athority or tradtions. That’s not the intent at all. Rather, it stems from a curiosity, a yearning, a need, to understand why.

I have always been that person. As a kid, my favorite word was “why”. I didn’t just ask it to be annoying. I actually, really wanted to know, and waited patiently and attentively, for the reason. During my school years I was a participating and engaged student. Classes that were structured to allow discussions were my favorite. I never hesitated to challenge the teacher to provide a sound arguement for concepts we were learning or for rules and protocals we had to follow. When they made sense, they made sense, and I happily followed. I just needed to understand the thinking behind it all.

When I went to Army bootcamp in Fort Braggs, my wonderings and need to question resulted in a lot of extra push-ups but, it also highlighted me as a thinker. In no time, I was made a platoon leader. Understanding the reasoning behind ideas, helps me to understand not only the final goal but also the process and necessary components to getting it done. It sets the stage for a greater understanding and I use this same approach when I fish.

Recently I made a trip to Henry’s Fork in Island Park, Idaho. I was meeting up with a new acquantance who over the weekend became a friend, Steph Albano, Owner and Founder of Finatical Fly Fishing. She puts together and hosts trips to different global destinations and offers incredible fly fishing expereinces to anglers of all levels. She caters especially to the female fly fishing clientele. We were on a mission to connect, expose her to tenkara and just have some fun fishing together.

I had never fished the Fork but had heard it was very technical dry-fly fly fishing. During this time of year when the drakes and duns are hatching, the river would be full of anglers. Henry’s Fork is a wide river, unemcumbered by any trees or covering foliage. It’s realatively shallow and with the exception of just a few deeper holes, it’s completely wadable from one side to the other.

All of these river characteristics are both positive and negative for the fly anlger. The abundance of bugs and insects means lots of healthy fish that grow to good size, a positive. But with a plentiful food source, the fish can afford to be choosy. If one meal doesn’t like quite right, another one will float by in less than half a second. Lots of fish in close proximity to the road with easy public access and safe wadable water, is awesome. Except, every angler also thinks this and that’s why is draws in the masses. Fish get pounded. There are tons of them, but they are targets all summer long…making them shy and spooky.

Talk about shy and spooky, that wide, open water that is so easy to cast on, also makes fish easy pick’ens for birds of prey such as eagles, osprey, falcon, hawks, owls and the likes. So any shadow, movement or view of tippet makes these fish hunker down and wait for the clear. Picky fish due to an adundant food supply, that get fished alot, are easy targets for birds of prey and have no where to hide – well, that’s why Henry’s Fork is considered technical water. The final reason that Henry’s Fork is so tricky to fish, is that it’s clear as gin, or vodka, pick your poison. You get my drift. With neglagable wind most days and fairly even flows, you can eye those fish and they can eye you right back. Ah, the yin and the yang.

Well, on this particular weekend we were put to the challenge. Not only were the banks lined with evenly disbursed fly fishers, gazing steadfastly at the surface of the water for any sign of a feeding fish, but the wind was howling…not just blowing – but howling, all day long. There is no blind casting there. Anglers target rising fish. But no fish were rising all day long. Even into the evening, during the sunset hatch, the wind continued to blow hard, disrupting the water surface so the fish could see nothing and the rises just didn’t happen except for a very, very few. This was the way it played out for two days.

So here’s why I put my tenkara rod away and pulled out my rod and reel set up. To be clear, it wasn’t because the fish were too big or I wouldn’t be able to manage them. That was absolutely not the case. The problem was more about the conditions that were impacting the fish behavior.

  1. Fish were picky and skidish. 4x tippet would not work. 5x or 5.5X RIO Tippet was an absolute requirement.
  2. Because the fish were so spooky I initially thought a longer line and leader/tippet setup would be better. It would give me some distance and keep the tip of the line far away from the fish.
  3. Because the wind was blowing so hard bugs were not staying on the water surface and fish just weren’t able to spot their meals on the top of the water so, they just weren’t feeding. This meant shots or chances were very few and far inbetween.
  4. Because the river is so wide and consistant, there really weren’t any bubble lines, pools or much structure, the fish were/could be holding any and everywhere. This meant your required cast distance could abruptly change.

By the end of the first day, 2 fish were landed between the 3 of us that were fishing (my husband included). On the second day, we faced the same issues as the first and called in quits in the afternoon when things die down and turn off anyway. When we came back in the evening, I switched from my Zen Sagi to my Winston 9ft 5wt. We drove to a different location on the Fork that was a bit out of town and we hoped, a little less crowded. Steph called it right and we scored an unoccupied section of the river and spaced ourselves out around a nice bend. As we stood at the edge of the water, we started to see an occasional fish rise here or there. Some 10ft away, another clear on the other side of the river.

While the wind was still blowing hard and the fish were usually quite for this time of year, by night’s fall my husbad had one fish on and 2 missed hooksets. I had one missed hook set and one fish landed. Steph gracefully bowed out to go home and take care of her furry companion who had been ill the previous days….and since she wasn’t “missing out on anything” she said good night. The sun set and I got that deep chill from standing still in cold water for way too long. It was time to un-wader, warm up and put the rods away.

That night over dinner at Trout Hunters I reflected on the last two days and the challenges we faced. I wondered if there was anything I could have, should have done differently. The fact was, the weather was just a bust. It had been really hot the previous week – in the mid to high 90s, water was let out for agriculture needs, and the wind man – the wind was simply unforgiving. Sometimes that’s just the way is goes. I hadn’t really caught more fish on my reel than tenkaraI just didn’t have any risers to cast to. I decided I wanted to come back. I wanted a shot at this technical fishing, minus the howling wind. The fish will still be persnicketty. The bugs will still be plentiful – as well as the anglers. And the river will still be wadable but probably lower, and clearer. So is it possible on tenkara? I think so.

The fish are big but not huge. I’ll need to scale down on the tippet to get a shot at one. Or, (here’s my real plan) I can keep a slightly bigger tippet (4x) but shorten my line from the long one I was using. This would allow me to keep the tippet off the surface of the water and fish my rod more traditionally with tip up, and only the fly on the water surface. I could offer up a pristine meal presentation that might really get some good fish action if I could be on the Fork when fish are actively rising. By keeping the tippet bigger, if I connect…when I connect, the likelihood of staying connected and landing the fish is GREAT. I can move in this shallow water and keep steady pressure on the fish avoiding any big pops or runs that could cause a break. And the fish themselves are well withn my tenkara limits.

So, next time my approach will be different. Rather than a long line setup with very light tippet, I think I’ll move to a shorter setup with a bit bigger tippet, but with my longest rod to help with that stealth factor. I don’t know if it will work. And really, I don’t know if the setup I was using did or didn’t work. We simply didn’t have the opportunities to give it a try. After a day and a half of no action though, I wanted, I needed, to hook – and land something, so I switched to my Hatch reel to up the odds of not getting skunked. And that’s okay, ’cause sometimes you do need a reel.

 

 

 

 

Zen Tenkara Fusion Lines are HERE

Well, just about. This is a project we’ve been working on for several years now. First overseas with a wonderful manufacturer but then, we wanted to bring it home to the good ‘ole USA and our neighbors to the north in Montanta – RIO Products/Far Banks. Initially, we approached them…

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Bonefish, Potcakes and Sharks, Oh My!

That’s Fly Fishing Fun Bahamian Style Last year my scheduled trip to the Bahamas was cancelled when the country closed it’s doors and borders due to the spreading Covid-19 Virus. While I was disappointed by having to cancel the trip, I understood the restrictions and knew it was for my…

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Introducing a New Online Fly Fishing Store

She’s Fly is a new online fly fishing shop that offers Zen Tenkara rods, lines and gear. While they cater to female anglers, they service all people and do things a little differently. Their goal is to create “comfortable, confident anglers, regardless of race, gender identity or experience”. That’s language…

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Now Available in Sweden -Valdigit Spannande!

Did you know that there are between 300,000 and 400,00 moose and 260,000 reindeer in Sweden? This interesting country shares borders with Finland, Denmark and Norway and while Swedish is its main official language (only since 2009), the country has 5 other official languages: Finnish, Yiddish, Sami, Meankiell and Romani.…

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Throwing Streamer Fly Patterns on Tenkara

Fall is my favorite season of the year. It’s that perfect combination of jeans, a pullover sweater and flip flops. If I could dress like that everyday, I’d be forever content. It’s also an incredible time to fish as trout hunger for protein during long shadow days dressed in golden…

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Thinking About a New Tenkara Rod: Buy it Now

Dearest Customer At Zen we strive to provide competitive prices for excellent quality products that perform and function in an exemplar way – setting the standard for high quality tenkara gear and always providing that same level of customer service. Zen has established a reputation for being innovative, being cutting…

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Alaskan Expedition Completed

Noah Larsen and Arthur Shain returned from their Alaska Packrafting Expedition full of appreciation of the area, their steadfast gear and their personal growth. Here’s an account of their trip:   Our westerly traverse of the Brooks Range and Gates of the Arctic National Park began about 20 miles south…

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Had to Respond. Why the Need?

As the interest in tenkara continues to grow, so has the number of anglers who have decided to give it a try and even switch to a fixed-line fly fishing method. More experimentation is happening and fly fishermen and women all over the world are discovering the fun of using a tenkara…

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And We’re Off to the Seychelle Islands

I just finished packing my Patagonia Storm waterproof bag and I’m at a comfortable 20lbs. Not bad when you consider my Simms Sneaker wading boots are in there, all my toiletries and clothes for a winter evening out in Paris. I try to never let my rods and reels out…

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A Word from Our Founder:

My first memory of fishing was with my dad when I was about four years old and we were anchored off Honeymoon Harbor in the Bahamas. There wasn’t much room for toys on our 27-ft Morgan sailboat, which we lived aboard for about a month at a time. One day…

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Breaking Down Barriers

Recently I returned from a trip to Boston, Mass. where I was invited to speak to an all men’s fly fishing club, the Fly Casters of Boston. This is a private club steeped in tradition and bylaws that date back to the early 1940s. The group of gentlemen meet monthly…

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Cat Walk in Waders

As the holidays creep up on us and winter bares down, the Fly Fishing Show and companies in the fly fishing industry prepare for exhibitions all over the country. As I’ve mentioned in a previous blog, its a great time to take a class, attend seminars and brush up on…

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Show Season is Upon Us

Winter is here in all its glory and many of you who reside in warm climates are continuing to fly fish and enjoy less humidity. Those of us in the north are searching for tailwaters, taking to our vises or spending frigid days getting caught up on the latest tenkara…

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Celebrating Zen Tenkara’s “Firsts”

As you may or may not know, Zen Tenkara/Zen Fly Fishing Gear has been around since 2012. We’ve worked hard at defining not only ourselves, but also American Tenkara and in doing so, have tried hard to set ourselves apart from the ordinary and into the extraordinary. In order to…

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What is a FRAE Rating?

When fly anglers talk about their fly rods, they use a set of terms to describe the rod. This usually includes the rod’s length and the rod’s weight. You’ll hear fly fisherman say they have a 7ft 3wt or a 9ft 5wt, etc. The rod’s weight has nothing to do…

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Fly Fishing in Argentina, Reel Optional

Golden Dorado, beautiful rainbows and fat browns – that’s what awaits in Argentina! April 9th-17th, 2021 we’re heading down to Urban Dorado Anglers and Las Pampas Lodge for pure fishing heaven, total indulgence and an Argentinian experience like no other. Use your rod and reel, use your tenkara fly rod,…

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2019 IFTD Show Review

Back in the home office at Zen Tenkara I’ve spent the day writing emails and sorting business cards. I’ve also spent time reflecting on this past week at the IFTD Show in Denver. It was quite a big deal for the International Fly Tackle Dealers Show to return to Denver…

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Interview from Alaska

Here’s a short interview that we did with Rapids Camp Lodge in King Salmon Alaska – not a typical tenkara destination but one that is actually as sweet as could be: For the past 3 years, we have been lucky to host Karin Miller & her husband Erik Fischer at…

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Tenkara Alaskan Style

I’ve just recently returned from another incredible Alaskan adventure and I have to say, the novelty and excitement of this untamed wilderness, never ceases to thrill me. Amy and Dan Herrig, owners of Rapids Camp Fishing Lodge, were our hosts for the third year in a row. They are special…

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Join Me!

May 8th, this Wednesday evening at 7:00pm Mountain Time AskAboutFlyFishing.com will be broadcasting a live internet radio show with the owner of Zen Tenkara, Karin Miller, as guest. This will be a great time with fantastic conversation and an opportunity for you to type in your questions in real-time –…

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Something to Ponder

It took only 10 days of being absent to be invaded. That seems like such a short time for nature to crawl in and take over. But that’s all it took. I opened the pantry door and was immediately struck by the smell, a musty funk that I’m certain wasn’t…

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New Floating Tenkara Line

  There are a lot of tenkara line options out there for tenkara rods. In the past, Zen offered many. They all had their pros and cons. Here’s a quick review of the tenkara line options and why we created our Zen Floating Line. Furled Tenkara Lines Furled and tapered…

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2018 Summer Line Up

It’s been a while since we’ve posted a blog because we’re just so darn busy – which is a good thing…a really, really good thing. Tenkara is finally assimilating into the fly fishing arena with more acceptance than ever before. Many of the stigmas that initially enveloped the method are…

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Bonefish Bonanza, Tenkara Style

It’s mid-July and I’m hunting around the bottom of my closet for fleece pants and wool socks. I’m heading to Alaska in less than a week and I’m excited but getting a little nervous since I’ve never been and I was invited there to fish and talk tenkara. It’s sort…

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Why Did I Get Into Tying Flies?

Posted by Michael McFarland on May 01, 2016 Why did I get into tying my own flies? When I look around my tying area at all of the materials I have collected, the tools I have acquired, and the time I have dedicated to staring at my vise, this question…

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Bringing It Home

As you may or may not know, our tag line for Zen Tenkara is “defining American tenkara”. I’ve been asked exactly what that means and where we’re going as a company. Well, in this moment, I’ll attempt to tell you. We are anglers, fly men and women, passionate about what we do,…

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Meet Michael McFarland: Our 2nd Out Of 5 Fly Tyers

Michael McFarland Michael McFarland is one of our Zen Certified Tenkara Guides and he’s also our Signature Fly Designer.Michael moved to Denver, Colorado about 10 years ago and really gravitated toward the Tenkara-style of fly fishing while routinely taking overnight camping trips in Rocky Mountain National Park. He’s spent a great…

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Just Breathe

This has been an unusual year for me. It began with the unexpected passing of my sister. She was 3 years my elder and the news came New Year’s Eve. Festivities came to a halt and I traveled to Ohio where she had lived for many years, to mourn, sort,…

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Heaven On Earth

About a year ago I met a gentleman from Argentina. We talked of tenkara and of his home land. More specifically, we talked of the wondrous fishing opportunities Patagonia held and of the lodge he was a part of, Las Pampas Lodge.Then for many months, we never spoke again. But all…

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Why A Guide

With the growing interest in tenkara style fly fishing, is the growing need for knowledgeable, professional and skilled tenkara guides. Why you ask? Tenkara is simple and uncomplicated. Is there really a need for tenkara guides? The answer in my opinion is, yes . Let me spend the next few…

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