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Ultra-Ultralight Tenkara

19K views 86 replies 38 participants last post by  15130  
#1 · (Edited)
Last year, I picked up a Tenkara rod. I had fun with it but at 12' long (the Tenkara USA Iwana), it was a bit long for some small creeks. So after reading about The Tenkara Rod Co's new mini-rods, when I saw one in person, I had to have one. I just bought the Mini Sawtooth and it weighs in at a mere 1.1 oz.! It is too cute for words! It collapses down to 10" yet telescopes to 9', a much better length for some of the tiny creeks I like to fish.

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Since I now have a teeny, tiny rod, I had to put a teeny, tiny fishing kit together. I wanted to be able to fit a whole kit inside the rod tube for travel.

I started out by making a tiny fly wallet. I then wound some tippet on a plastic sewing machine bobbin. I also found some pretty light nippers and lastly, used tiny a plastic tube for some Tenkara flies that would get crushed in the fly wallet. Come summer, I'll have to figure out something for some dry flies and I'll possibly squeeze some floatant into a 1" x 1" plastic bag or a tiny vial.

Image


The Mini Sawtooth came with a line holder system that allows you to store and carry the line on the rod. It has some ingenious flip-over plastic clips and 4 o-rings to attach them. However, with it installed, you can't fit the rod back in the rod sock or rod tube. But, I wanted to store the line on the rod. Hmm, what to do...

Off to my sewing box I went and came up with a system that is low profile - and much lighter than the standard clip/o'ring system. Best of all, with the line attached, the rod fits in the rod sock and rod tube now! Can anyone guess what these tiny hooks are supposed to be used for, LOL?! I attached them using stretchy cord from Beadalon which is normally used for making necklaces, but I use it for tying.

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With the rod in the tube, I can fit it in a purse or carry-on for travel. I travel a lot for work, and while I don't often get to fish, I always bring a rod just in case. My other Tenkara rod and most of my pack rods won't fit in a carry-on. Now my whole fishing kit/rod tube fits in a carry-on or purse and weighs almost nothing!

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Best of all, this system is perfect for ultralight backpacking as I don't need to pack the rod tube. I had an old ExOfficio lightweight nylon pouch that I can fit my fishing kit into (I also added a light threader). Between the kit and the rod, I bet the whole thing weighs only about 1.5 oz!

For backpacking, I may replace the nippers with a pair of itty-bitty Streamworks Micro Scissor-Forceps. They are as light as the nippers but more functional. Unfortunately for travel, they won't fit in the rod tube and TSA probably wouldn't allow them anyway.

Image


Here's a comparison of the rods and kits. The Mini rod is shorter than the handle on the standard-sized rod!

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I can't wait to try out this rod and my new mini fishing kit! Summer can't get here fast enough!

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#3 ·
Can anyone guess what these tiny hooks are supposed to be used for, LOL?!
Lol - it's been a while since I've been frustrated trying to gracefully unlatch one of those, Sue . . . but my rememberer still works!

That rod is so compact I may just have to get one because of that. Enjoy your diminutive new system.
 
#9 ·
I got into tenkara as a way of packing a kit that was very light and would fit entirely inside of my backpack. A rod case sticking up gets to be a real pain in some of the off trail approaches we do. Anyone who dislikes it, probably hasn't tried it or just doesn't know how to have fun.

While I find it highly effective on small streams, there are some real limitations for lake fishing, and I expect to carry a conventional rod much more this year. I can really see having a mini tenkara rod for tiny creeks, a 12'6" (3.6 m)rod is too much in the brush. I am also thinking about a 6.2 m rod for the Yak, but that's another story.

Great little setup you've got there.
 
#10 ·
At first and maybe halfway through your post I thought you were, uh, pulling our leg. Slowly it seemed more and more likely that this was a for real post. Oh my gosh, Freestone, I had no idea such a rod exists. Very clever of you to make your travel kit compatible with the mini rod. I can think of a stream about two hours from you where this little rod would be a hoot! Thanks for sharing!
 
#11 · (Edited)
Very resourceful, creative, and inspiring. The simplicity of Tenkara is very appealing. I know most use it for fishing creeks but I bet it would be a lot of fun on lakes and ponds for sunfish.

I might have to get one myself to try at a local lake that has a trail around the perimeter of the brushy shoreline. A Tenkara rod would be perfect to dap dries or drop weighted nymphs around the fallen snags. The fish are small but a fun variety of bluegill, pumpkin seed, crappie, perch, and small bass. Just the motivation I need to go for a hike!
 
#15 ·
Jim, I saw the rod at a tradeshow but it can be ordered here: http://www.tenkararodco.com/collections/frontpage/products/the-mini-sawtooth-package

But I'm concerned that having so many sections will make it fiddly to deal with. That having been said, I've never seen one in person, so I have no idea.
Josh, since on a Tenkara rod you have to pull the whole thing out anyway, it doesn't seem more fiddly or take more time unlike assembling a traditional rod. The tip is very, very fine so I know I will have to be careful. However, what I like about Tenkara rods is that you can buy replacement sections pretty inexpensively ($9.00 for the top 2 sections). They are easy to replace yourself and I plan on having the top 2 tip sections on hand - just in case. The rods really aren't that fragile but it is nice to know that on a trip, I could do the replacement if I needed to.
 
#14 ·
I'm really interested to hear how you like it, Sue. I have a buddy who got one but hasn't fished it yet either. I'd love to have something that compact to stick in my hiking pack for random encounters with small creeks. But I'm concerned that having so many sections will make it fiddly to deal with. That having been said, I've never seen one in person, so I have no idea.
 
G
#18 · (Edited)
Well now another convert into Tenkara, to keep from breaking the rod never hold it beyond vertical when you have a fish on and it will reduce the chance of breakage . its when you try to land a fish and have it bent into a question mark shape that they will break. This has been my experience & yeah they are a hoot on small creeks ! I also use chap stick to coat my furled leader with Tippett ring line & dry fly if fishing on top , makes life simple !
 
G
#25 ·
For those of you that like a deal or are thrifty like me, look at the Tenkara rod kits from, Tenkara Customs. if you can mix 5 minute epoxy you can build their rod, and they have replacement rod parts available. myself , I won't buy a rod that doesn't have a replacement part option, I will admit to breaking a number of these rods by stupid stunts & showboating bigger fish than I should have been fishing a tenkara rod for.
 
#28 ·
Last year, I picked up a Tenkara rod. I had fun with it but at 12' long (the Tenkara USA Iwana), it was a bit long for some small creeks. So after reading about The Tenkara Rod Co's new mini-rods, when I saw one in person, I had to have one. I just bought the Mini Sawtooth and it weighs in at a mere 1.1 oz.! It is too cute for words! It collapses down to 10" yet telescopes to 9', a much better length for some of the tiny creeks I like to fish.

View attachment 109732

Since I now have a teeny, tiny rod, I had to put a teeny, tiny fishing kit together. I wanted to be able to fit a whole kit inside the rod tube for travel.

I started out by making a tiny fly wallet. I then wound some tippet on a plastic sewing machine bobbin. I also found some pretty light nippers and lastly, used tiny a plastic tube for some Tenkara flies that would get crushed in the fly wallet. Come summer, I'll have to figure out something for some dry flies and I'll possibly squeeze some floatant into a 1" x 1" plastic bag or a tiny vial.

View attachment 109734

The Mini Sawtooth came with a line holder system that allows you to store and carry the line on the rod. It has some ingenious flip-over plastic clips and 4 o-rings to attach them. However, with it installed, you can't fit the rod back in the rod sock or rod tube. But, I wanted to store the line on the rod. Hmm, what to do...

Off to my sewing box I went and came up with a system that is low profile - and much lighter than the standard clip/o'ring system. Best of all, with the line attached, the rod fits in the rod sock and rod tube now! Can anyone guess what these tiny hooks are supposed to be used for, LOL?! I attached them using stretchy cord from Beadalon which is normally used for making necklaces, but I use it for tying.

View attachment 109735

With the rod in the tube, I can fit it in a purse or carry-on for travel. I travel a lot for work, and while I don't often get to fish, I always bring a rod just in case. My other Tenkara rod and most of my pack rods won't fit in a carry-on. Now my whole fishing kit/rod tube fits in a carry-on or purse and weighs almost nothing!

View attachment 109736

Best of all, this system is perfect for ultralight backpacking as I don't need to pack the rod tube. I had an old ExOfficio lightweight nylon pouch that I can fit my fishing kit into (I also added a light threader). Between the kit and the rod, I bet the whole thing weighs only about 1.5 oz!

For backpacking, I may replace the nippers with a pair of itty-bitty Streamworks Micro Scissor-Forceps. They are as light as the nippers but more functional. Unfortunately for travel, they won't fit in the rod tube and TSA probably wouldn't allow them anyway.

View attachment 109737

Here's a comparison of the rods and kits. The Mini rod is shorter than the handle on the standard-sized rod!

View attachment 109738

View attachment 109740

I can't wait to try out this rod and my new mini fishing kit! Summer can't get here fast enough!

Image
You rocked this post so hard - just set the "best 2016 gear post" bar really really high. New tenkara outfit here I come.....