Tenkara Rod Co.

Tenkara Rod Co., tenkara fishing rods and gear from Idaho

Tenkara Rod Co. is an online store specializing in tenkara fishing gear, the Japanese style of fly fishing practiced with a rod, a line and a fly. The company was founded in 2013 in Idaho by Drew and Tuna, two fishing enthusiast friends, with the stated goal of making this practice accessible to more people and encouraging care for rivers and the environment.

Its catalog is organized around telescopic rods, lines, flies, nets and accessories, and includes apparel, hats, bags, stickers and replacement parts. The store's offering is presented as a minimalist and accessible way to get started in fly fishing, with a low entry cost.

Featured rods and kits

Among the products the store lists as best sellers are several rod models:

• Backpackr: presented as the premium versatility option, with lengths of 10'10" (330 cm), 11'10" (360 cm) and 12'10" (390 cm).
• Sierra: described as the best starter rod, 10.5 ft (320 cm).
• Get Out and Fish Bundle: a package that brings together the gear needed to fish.

The catalog also mentions other rods from the brand, such as The White Cloud and The Sawtooth, and a line of line and fly kits. The store listed prices of $295 for the Backpackr, $195 for the Sierra and $550 for the Get Out and Fish Bundle, discounted from $650, as well as a promotion of a free Kebari kit valued at $69 with the purchase of each rod.

Product features and store services

The company highlights that its rods are collapsible and easy to transport, lightweight and suitable for carrying in a daypack, and that handling the gear is easy to learn. The store offers free shipping on orders over $99, a lifetime warranty, explainer videos and support sections for warranty and repair, returns and exchanges. It also has a newsletter about product launches and new video releases.

Customer reviews

The site collects testimonials from buyers who describe the rods as sensitive but sturdy, compact once stowed and easy to set up. Several users note that this was their first experience with tenkara fishing and that the gear allowed them to fish from their first outing.