Tenkara Talk Podcast

Planning a tenkara trip to Japan presents some uniquie challenges--fishing there is very different from fishing in the West! It can be daunting, but in this episode, my guest Go Ishii gives you the lowdown on what you need to know before you go and gives you practical takeaways to ensure you have a smooth and successful trip. Click here to watch the video version

In this episode, Jonathan Antunez and I connect the dots between the Japanese kebari and English North COuntry Spider traditions. For all of the links and resources mentioned in this episode, visit TenakraTalk. 

In our world of instant gratification, it's easy to get ahead of ourselves when we begin a new endeavor. We want to take shortcuts, skim the literature, ignore details that seem insignificant (or boring). But in this episode, Jason and his guest, Chuck Kaminski, explain why it's crucial to have a good command of the basic skills in fly fishing if you want to progress as an angler. We identify common issues, explain why they're a problem, and offer practical advice and resources to help you start off your fly fishing journey right--or (for some of us), brush up on skills we might be rusty on (or just plain overlooked). For all the links mentioned in this episode, visit TenkaraTalk.com

Jason talks with licensed therapist Tony Parmenter about the mental health benefits of fishing and why tenkara is the ideal choice for "fishing therapy".

Tom Davis and Jason Klass have some very strong opinions about the types of gear designs and trends they'd like to see manufacturers adopt (and a few they'd like to see phased out). If you like to contemplate your “dream gear” and explore trends in tenkara tackle, this episode is for you!

My friend Kris Franqui owns 75+ tenkara rods--more than anyone I know! We're both confirmed gear junkies who will talk tenkara all day long and love to geek out on every technical detail of our equipment. In this episode, Kris and I explore the nature of gear obsession, and we reveal the specific characteristics we look for when purchasing a new tenkara rod.  

In 2009, I picked up a tenkara rod for the first time--and never put it down. Like many, my introduction to tenkara was thanks to Tenkara USA, the oldest tenkara company in the U.S. In this episode, I reminisce about what it's like to transition to tenkara with my friend John Geer, the Dealer Services manager for Tenkara USA. John talks to customers and dealers every day so he has his finger on the pulse of what it's like for tenkara newcomers.  If you're a fly angler interested in tenkara, this episode is for you!

Jason Klass of Tenkara Talk and John Vetterli of Tenkara Guides debunk som of the most common myths about tenkara. 

Jason Klass and Ryan Jordan discuss how tenkara is the ideal method for backcountry fly fishing. 

Adam Trahan of Tenkara Fisher and Jason Klass of Tenkara Talk discuss tenkara minimalism and explain how carrying less doesn't mean catching less.

In this episode, I tackle the topic of landing big fish with Karin Miller, the founder of Zen Tenkara. 

A boxful of flies is a beautiful thing, but it can also be a little intimidating. How do you decide which one of all of those pretty creations to tie on? My guest Jason Sparks is the Managing Editor for Community Development at Tenkara Angler, the world's premier tenkara website, and he has some interesting answers to this question. 

For some people fishing is a hobby.  For others, It's a way of life. My friend Dennis Vander Houwen writes about the tenkara lifestyle on his blog, Tenkara Path. In this episode, you'll catch a glimpse of how our typical conversations go as we explore how to take your tenkara fishing beyond the stream and into every day life.

In this episode I talk guide-to-guide with my friend Paul Vertrees, a fly fishing veteran and tenkara guide from Royal Gorge Anglers in Cañon City, Colorado. We cover a variety of behind-the-scenes topics including the differences between western and tenkara guide trips, advice if you're thinking about hiring or becoming a guide, and a few anecdotes about the guide's life. 

In this episode, Jason talks with Luong Tam, founder of Tenkara Tanuki about the technical factors that affect rod action, different systems for rod ratings, and more.