About a week ago I received an email from Angling Trade Media. If you’re not familiar with the group, it “is the only independent media group in the world specifically dedicated to covering the business of fly fishing in North America and has been for the past 16 years. It’s…
…because everyone keeps asking. We get contacted quite often by customers shopping for big fish rods who are trying to decide between purchasing the Taka or the Kyojin. We get asked, “Which rod should I choose? How do the two rods compare?” So let’s take a moment to talk about…
Our new tenkara rod, the Hachi finally arrive. And for as long as it took to produce in the myst of Covid, it is flying out the door fast. We are getting a number of inquiries about the rod and whether or not it can accomodate our Zen Performance Tip.…
Yep, you heard me. Clean your tenkara rod. It only takes a few minutes and should be done fairly regularly in order to keep your rod sections free of dust and debris. Dirt in between the rod sections over time, can cause micro-fractures in the carbon fiber. Each time you open or close…
On April 12th of this year Zen Tenkara decided to do something special with the thought of Memorial Day approaching. Zen has always respected those who serve in the military by giving veterans a discount. But this year we wanted to do something different. We wanted to support Project…
Just a quick news flash that our newest design, the Hachi (or the Happy Hachi which is the way I describe the rod) is going into production. This little dynamo is going to bring lots of smiles and joy to anglers everywhere. The rod is little, but it’s not one…
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…
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,…
This past July and into the first week of August I had the opportunity to return to King Salmon, Alaska and fish a week at Rapids Camp Lodge. I have been blessed with being invited there 5 years in a row. Although I almost feel like family with the staff…
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…
Even though we are primarily freshwater anglers, during the winter months, to escape the cold and snow, Zen often hosts trips and arranges travel to warm water destination. This April we had a planned trip to Patagonia targeting golden dorado, rainbow and brown trout, but travel bans to Argentina made…
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…
As I’m preparing to pack for my upcoming trip to South Andros Lodge in The Bahamas, I’m pondering gear and clothing. I’m trying to combine absolute necessities with other items I just generally would like to bring. I’m gradually condensing my things into smaller and smaller pieces of luggage. I…
I was recently asked to make a rod suggestion for beginner tenkara anglers. In fact, this question often comes up at fly fishing shows, expos, during presentations and through the Zen Tenkara Contact Us form. I always pause and hesitate to response because to properly answer this question, I feel…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
