Tenkara is a Japanese method of fly-fishing that uses a rod, line, and fly. No reel, no guides, and they are all collapsible. Packable and lightweight means more opportunities to fish.
For over 400 years, Japanese anglers have used tenkara to catch fish in mountain streams. Professional fishermen relied on this method to feed their families, proving its effectiveness in the most challenging conditions.
We have been fishing Tenkara now for over 15 years and have been pioneering this style of fishing in the US since 2013.
Today, its more important than ever to ditch the technology and get outside to enjoy nature. With how lightweight and packable these rods are, it makes it so easy to take with you backpacking, hiking, bikepacking, or just keeping it in your car in case you see a nice piece of water to fish. The easier it is for you to get outside, the more time you will spend connecting with nature.
AS SEEN ON
Our Best Selling Rods
Our two favorite rods. Choose the Sierra if you are just starting out, choose the Backpackr if you want ultimate portability and packability.
Best Value
FREE Line + Fly Kit INCLUDED - ($69 Value)
Everything You Need to Fish — Right Out of the Tube.
X1 10.5 ft Furled Tenkara line
x1 Walnut wood line holder
x12 Tenkara-style Kebari flies
x1 5x Tippet
Sierra
OUR GO-TO FOR SIMPLICITY
Works well in small to medium sized rivers. Forgiving, ultralight, and beginner-friendly - collapses small, packs fast, and delivers effortless casting.
$195
Buy Sierra - $195
Premium Value
FREE Line + Fly Kit INCLUDED - ($69 Value)
Everything You Need to Fish — Right Out of the Tube.
X1 10.5 ft Furled Tenkara line
x1 Walnut wood line holder
x12 Tenkara-style Kebari flies
x1 5x Tippet
Backpackr
OUR GO-TO FOR EXTREME VERSATILITY
Packs down to under 14 inches but can be fished at three lengths - engineered for adventurers who want more reach, backbone, and stability in changing waters.
$295
Buy Backpackr - $295
WHAT IS TENKARA?
Tenkara is fly fishing stripped down to the essentials. Just a rod, line, and fly. It’s lightweight, quick to learn, and built for wherever adventure takes you.
Adventure Ready Simpicity
Less setup, more fishing.
Unplug and Unwind
Slow down, get outside, and rediscover the joy of simple fishing.
Beginner Friendly
Short learning curve. Everyone from kids to experts pick it up quickly.
Cost Effective
Everything you need to fish for under $200. Rod, line, flies, line holder, and tippet.
Fast Setup
From in your pack to first cast in under 30 seconds.
Ultralight and Packable
Tenkara rods can weigh less than 3 ounces and some pack down under 14 inches.
WHAT ANGLERS ARE SAYING
I LOVE My Tenkara Rod!!
I LOVE my Tenkara rod!! I took it out to one of my local streams here in Colorado just to practice my cast and actually caught a trout my first time out. It was such a great feeling. Super excited to get more time and experience with it.
Daniel P.
Awesome rod!
The aesthetics alone are enough to buy this rod but it fishes really well to. Very sensitive but also sturdy for the occasional bigger fish. My favorite feature is how compact it is when stowed
Benjamin C.
Excellent set up
Excellent set up out of the box with great explainer videos. I've never tried Tenkara style fishing and it's fast, fun and effective!
Nicholas R.
Easy to set up. Super
Easy to set up. Super light weight. Will carry with me on any hike or bike that I could encounter fishable water.
Brian W.
STILL NOT SURE? ANSWER 3 QUICK QUESTIONS
Where do you fish the most?
What do you value most?
Your experience level
We recommend
Sierra - $195
Why: You favored ultralight, simplicity, and small-to-medium water.
🏆 Our #1 pick for beginners — trusted by 15,000+ anglers.
OUR STORY
Tenkara Rod Co. was established in 2013 by Drew and Tuna, two fishing buddies from Idaho. We wanted to share the joy that fishing brings us. The more people that learn how to fish the more people are stewards for the rivers and environment.
Built by anglers, for anglers
Tenkara Rod Co vs Traditional Fly rods
Why spend $1000+ when you can start fishing for $195—all gear included.
tenkara rod co
$195 -$295 - All You Need to Fish
Includes:
Line holder
Tippet
Flies
Line
Ultralight & Packable
Weighs under 3oz. The Backpackr packs down to under 14 inches.
Ready Out of the Tube
From in your pack to casting in under 30 seconds.
Simplify & Enjoy the Moment
Focus on the water, not the gear.
Gentle Learning Curve
No reel makes it easier to learn.
VS
Traditional Fly Rod ($500+)
💰 $800–$1500+ Total Cost
Rod ($200–$1000) + Reel ($200–$500) + Line ($100) + Flies ($50+) + ExtrasBulky & Complicated
Multiple components, more to carry.
Longer Setup Times
It takes way more time to rig up a fly rod, less time fishing.
Extra Purchases Needed
Reels, lines, etc.
Steep Learning Curve
Requires mastering reel and line control.
YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED
Tenkara Rod Co. rods include a Free Line + Fly Kit ($69 value) so you can fish on day one.
It's simple to learn. You should be able to learn the basic casting techniques your first time out. And many people report catching fish their very first time using a tenkara rod.
Yes. You can also use your discount code and get a discount in addition to your free kit.
Of course! We include 12 Kebari with every order. Which are the traditional tenkara flies. But you are free to use dry flies, nymphs, even streamers. In fact we definitely encourage it because its all fun!
GET A FREE $55 GEAR BAG WITH YOUR ROD!
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