Hand a fly rod to most any angler and he or she will hold it in their hand about the same way. They may grip the rod handle slightly higher or lower but generally it will resemble a “handshake” with the thumb up and the rest of the fingers and…
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…
Once you have your tenkara rod, choosing a line is the next decision you have to make. But know you have options and these options are what helps you be prepared for almost anything. First there are several types of lines so lets quickly review them: Braided/Furled Line: These are…
As a company based in Colorado, we are lucky to be surrounded by incredible landscapes and outdoor beauty that calls to be enjoyed and explored. We’re also surrounded by people who value active lifestyles and all that the great outdoors has to offers. So when Zen was contacted by two…
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…
We weren’t sure this was going to happen given the covid19 virus and all the challenges and safety issues that came with it, but it’s ON! We’ve spoken with Las Pampas Lodge owners and Buenos Aires travel authorities and this trip is back on the calendar. We are so, so,…
As I settle back into the routine of work and sitting at my desk on the computer I discover that jet lag is a very real thing. I’ve been waking up bright-eyed and bushy tailed at 3am. It’s useless trying to go back to sleep so I get up and…
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…
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…
As the fly fishing method and sport of tenkara takes hold and gains popularity in the American market, it will be interesting to see if they way tenkara rods are categorized and described evolves. The current practice of notating the rod’s length and flex ratio leave a lot to…
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…
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…
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…