Best tenkara rod?

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thinhorn_AK

thinhorn_AK

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I concur. I checked out Moonshine prior to posting this and they have some 3 weights in stock if you haven’t checked them out they are a good value.
I've had a few moonshine rods over the years an gotten rid of all of them. Actually, I guess I still have a moonshine spinning rod which has been a good one but I moved on from all their fly rods I had.
 
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thinhorn_AK

thinhorn_AK

"DADDY"
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Let me make the case for shorter rods or rods that are segmented into more pieces for packable purposes. The rod case I carry for my 5ft rod is a little over 21 inches long which allows me to stuff it inside my daypack without it sticking out of the top or having to strap it to the outside. It's convenient and also discreet. I'm very secretive about my fishing destinations and whenever I talk to someone on the trail with a rod case strapped to my pack its pretty obvious what I'm out there to do. I can't do that with my 4 piece rods on bigger water but when I fish small streams I expect not to see another soul. I'm also in Colorado, maybe that's less of a worry in Alaska. View attachment 787374
That's a cool travel case, what rod fits in it?
 

wyogoat

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I've had a few moonshine rods over the years a gotten rid of all of them. Actually, I guess I still have a moonshine spinning rod which has been a good one but I moved on from all their fly rods I had.
Right on. I have two and they’ve been great but I don’t fish either of them much anymore. I just knew they made a smaller weight rod in a short length in that price point.
I’ve got a 7’6 3 wt that’s been a nice little brookie rod.
 
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That's a cool travel case, what rod fits in it?
I think I may have that same case If you will pay shipping it's yours. Let me double check if I still have it and make sure it's the right size.

If I am packing a fly rod in I use a stuff sack for the reel and a fluorescent lightbulb tube for the rod.
 
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McCrapper

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I bought the Hane Starter set from TenkaraUSA. I have enjoyed it around the texas hill country for perch and crappie, I did take it to Colorado to use but since I couldn't kill a deer I couldnt waste time fishing. The simplicity is awesome.
 
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They aren’t sexy and they certainly aren’t tenkara, but I have an eagle claw trailmaster that’s my go-to for backcountry fish. Super slow action, but it gets the job done. What i like most is they can convert to a spinning rod and be used for casting lures if you come across a lake with fish. I’ve got a nice scott that’s a dream to handle, but the trailmaster still goes out on probably 50-70% of my backcountry trips.
 

bigbassin

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Oct 18, 2022
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I see max catch has some ultra lite creek rods for like 50.00. I’ll probably grab one of those.
I had a max catch 4 weight, it felt fantastic and casted great. Reel screamed like a banshee but functioned. Biggest fish on it was a 5 lb 12 oz largemouth.

Lasted about 3 months before snapping while casting.
 

307

WKR
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I had a max catch 4 weight, it felt fantastic and casted great. Reel screamed like a banshee but functioned. Biggest fish on it was a 5 lb 12 oz largemouth.

Lasted about 3 months before snapping while casting.

Buzzkill.
 

RickH

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Mar 26, 2012
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CO
I made my living for many years as a flyfishing guide. A guide friend of mine asked me once if I had ever tried tenkara and I told him no and probably never would. For backpacking I have a Sage Dart 3wt and a Click reel that is plenty lightweight/packable. I use a florescent light tube cut down to carry it in when backpacking. Well, last year I broke down and bought a Dragontail Talon Mini tenkara to lighten my pack and had a blast with it last summer. On a couple trips I carried both and used both. The fly rod definitely has an advantage on high country lakes and bigger streams. Both are good on smaller streams. The tenkara has the advantage when your on the move along a creek and see a fishy spot for a super quick deployment. Since you can pack it up rigged and ready to fish you can take it out of the tube, extend it, unwrap the line and tippett with fly already attached and be fishing in less than a minute. You can put it away just as quick and be on the move again. The tenkara is definitely lighter but not by much.
 
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