Description
The Zen Hachi Tenkara Rod is the little dynamo of our tenkara fly rod line-up. The Hachi just makes you smile – which is why around here, we call it the Happy Hachi. It’s the perfect small stream tenkara rod and is ideal for those tight, cramped, overgrown tiny creeks or waterways. At only 16” long collapsed, this telescoping rod will travel anywhere. It’s small but mighty. The Hachi Tenkara Rod is a mere 6′ 10″ long and has a 5:5 flex profile, so it bends deep but due to its short length, still has a lot of backbone and “oomph” to guide and land fish in tight places. This rod has a 7.5″ EVA handle to reduce weight but still keep it feeling balanced. With an hourglass-type of contoured handle, you can pick your own sweet spot to grip. Hachi is comparable to a regular 2wt – 3wt fly rod. This rod is designed for adults but perfect for kids too. The Hachi Tenkara rod is ideal for serious backpackers concerned with weight, for mountain bikers that want to stop along those rivers they pass, and van life people and traveler who are big into conserving space. Includes spare tip, fly rod sock and carbon fiber travel case. Fly Rod Approximate Equivalency (FRAE): 2-3wt. Use up to 4x tippet. NOTE: The Performance Tip does not fit this rod.
Daniel Herrera –
I picked up a Hachi on sale and love the feel for an $80 rod. The quality of the build is great and I love the feel when fighting a fish. I have caught small bass, sunfish and a few decent size trout on it so far and it has performed very well. This rod is perfect for backpacking or hiking deep into the woods as well as running for a quick trip to the local pond. I leave it in my truck and it’s ready to go whenever I find an opportunity.
Karin Miller –
Awesome!
Karin Miller –
Via email by Patrick Sullivan:
Hi Karin
I picked up a Hachi a while back when they were on super-duper sale but forgot about it until recently
Been using it on a medium-sized stream with a lot of nooks and crannies carved out of the limestone bed. So it pays to get deep fast.
So while a little rod is probably not the ideal tool for the job, it can be done.
And this stream (the Blackberry River in Norfolk and North Canaan, Conn.) is essentially a put and take fishery, with the occasional bruiser up from the Housatonic.
So there are plenty of willing participants for an experiment like this.
The rod handles the stockers, which are mostly in the 12-14 inch range, just fine.
I’ll be in the Catskills for a week starting this afternoon. The wet spring means I will be concentrating on higher elevation blue lines, and the Hachi is at the top of the fixed-line list for this.
It is far superior to the other shorties I have tried. Much more responsive and handles fish better. That goes for #3 level and furled lines. Haven’t tried a PVC yet, that’s on the list too.
The biggest problem is when someone asks what it is and I say “Hachi,” they reply “Gesundheit.”