Budget (Beginner?) Tenkara Setup

This $80 setup is for those just starting out with Tenkara. Don't let the price fool you. These items are highly dependable and spartan! You will catch fish as long as you're able to cast and present flies effectively.

• Rod: Aventik Zeno S2-Glass ($60 for 9/10ft rod)
  • This rod has slower action (6:4) for a shorter rod, which I prefer for casting and "reeling in" fish. I think softer rods have a better feel to it, which add to enjoyment.
• Line: Goture Furled line ($16 for 2 12ft lines)
  • Furled lines are easier to cast than the alternatives (level lines, tapered lines). They're more expensive than the more delicate options, but are good to learn tenkara on.
• Tippet: Daiso Nylon Line ($1.75 for 60m / 200ft)
  • It's cheap and it works.
• Flies: DIY Kebari (free) or BassDash Tenkara Flies ($10 for 12 flies, $0.9 per fly)

Once you're more used to Tenkara fishing, I think it's worth adding more gear for versatility.

Add-ons to the above Tenkara Setup

This Tenkara setup is for those who want to upgrade their gear to cover most scenarios, for an additional $40 from the above setup.

• Line: + Dragontail Tenkara Level Line ($18 for 30m / 100ft)
• Tippet: Scientific Anglers 5x Trout Tippet ($11 for 30m / 100ft) or Sunshine Fishing 5x Trout Tippet ($8.99 for 30m / 100ft)
• Flies: + Woolybuggers ($10 for 12 flies, $0.9 per fly)

For A Second Rod, Go With An "Upgrade"

A still reachable, covers most scenarios, and accessible rod upgrade would be the Tenkara USA Iwana rod ($170).

The 12ft Iwana is generally long enough to cover some distance and could be held closer to the rod tip for navigating tighter streams. I don't think this rod upgrade is necessary, but if you're Tenkara-ing this much already.. might as well get better toys.

Aventik also comes with a spare rod tip (2 sections), where as you would usually have to pay extra for a spare. However, Aventik does not have a warranty- which means you're buying another rod after the spare rod tip breaks.

More reputable tenkara rod companies will offer a lifetime (or limited) warranty on their rods.

Why have both Furled Line and Level Line

Getting both furled line and level line adds a lot of versatility to the kit. Jason Klass from TenkaraTalk wrote an extensive article comparing furled lines and level lines. tldr- get both and find what works for you.

Personally, I'd use furled lines for distance, level lines for easier delicate presentations. Furled lines for open spaces, level lines for dropping flies like a ninja.

When I was new to Tenkara, I had better success with furled lines. Their weight makes them easier to cast.

For the past 2 months (today is November 2023), I've been using solely a size 4 level line. I haven't had the need for much distance as I've been bluelining small creeks.

The Case Against (or for?) More Expensive Tippet

I wrote a post about why I use Daiso fishing line as a substitute for tippet.

Spoiler: Price!

Daiso's lines are thicker and heavier but weaker. 5x to 8x is generally what people use for trout because they're harder to see and sturdy enough to land them. 5x and 6x are stronger than both Daiso lines, so you can trust them to help you land the occasional bigger fish. You can still make do with Daiso tippet if you have good fly presentation skills and don't anticipate any stronger, meaner fish.

Every now and then, I would use Daiso's tippet to let my fly sink 3 inches from the top without having to wait ages!

However, a real western fly fishing tippet can't be beat in terms of lightness, floating, and invisibility. For my recent adventures with finicky trout, I've been using 5x such as Sunshine Fishing 5x tippet.

Why Add Woolybuggers?

Woolybuggers are guaranteed to trick freshwater fish. There's a reason why woolybuggers are always recommended to have in any flyfisherman's fly box! In my opinion, woolybuggers are "tool" to add in your tenkara kit and not a daily driver.

Woolybuggers sink and are heavy, the exact opposite of what you'd like your tenkara flies to do. If you're able to fish on a boat, or if you extend your line to 20ft while fishing from shore, woolybuggers will catch bottom-eating fish in lakes! I don't recommend them for the usual stream or creek fishing, especially with very elusive trout. They're big and make a big splash that would freak fish out!

Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. At zero cost to you, I will earn an affiliate commission if you click through the link and buy the item.