What tenkara rod action should a beginner choose?

The 6:4 action (medium) is recommended for 90% of situations. It bends in the top 40% of the rod, offering the classic balance between sensitivity (sasoi) and power used in traditional Japanese tenkara.

What length tenkara rod should I buy first?

A 3.6 m rod is the universal first purchase, suited to 80% of situations. Choose 3.0–3.3 m for tight forest streams and 4.0–4.5 m for wide rivers.

What is a Sakasa Kebari fly?

The Sakasa Kebari is the defining tenkara fly. Its hackle faces forward (toward the eye), imitating an actively swimming insect. It vibrates with every rod movement and is most effective in moving water with the sasoi technique. Hook #12–#16, silk thread body, soft hackle.

What line length should I use for tenkara?

The golden rule: level line slightly shorter than the rod length, tippet 30–90 cm, kebari matched to species. Use the Tenkara.ca line calculator for a personalised recommendation.

What is the Killer Bug fly in tenkara?

The Killer Bug, created by Frank Sawyer (UK), is a modern tenkara standard imitating a scud or larva. It is most effective in early season cold water. Recipe: weighted hook #12–#14, Chadwick 477 wool body over-wrapped with fine copper wire, no hackle.

What tenkara rod action should a beginner choose?

The 6:4 action (medium) is recommended for 90% of situations. It bends in the top 40% of the rod, offering the classic balance between sensitivity (sasoi) and power used in traditional Japanese tenkara.

What length tenkara rod should I buy first?

A 3.6 m rod is the universal first purchase, suited to 80% of situations. Choose 3.0–3.3 m for tight forest streams and 4.0–4.5 m for wide rivers.

What is a Sakasa Kebari fly?

The Sakasa Kebari is the defining tenkara fly. Its hackle faces forward (toward the eye), imitating an actively swimming insect. It vibrates with every rod movement and is most effective in moving water with the sasoi technique. Hook #12–#16, silk thread body, soft hackle.

What line length should I use for tenkara?

The golden rule: level line slightly shorter than the rod length, tippet 30–90 cm, kebari matched to species. Use the Tenkara.ca line calculator for a personalised recommendation.

What is the Killer Bug fly in tenkara?

The Killer Bug, created by Frank Sawyer (UK), is a modern tenkara standard imitating a scud or larva. It is most effective in early season cold water. Recipe: weighted hook #12–#14, Chadwick 477 wool body over-wrapped with fine copper wire, no hackle.

PILIER III · 備える · SONAERU

Gear up.

One rod, one line, one kebari. But which ones? Understand actions and lengths, the rod selector, the line calculator and the kebari codex.

ANATOMY · 調子 · CHOSHI

Understand your rod's action.

Action describes where the rod bends under load. Written as a ratio (8:2, 7:3, 6:4, 5:5), it determines feel, accuracy and presentation. Classic tenkara favours the 6:4 — the perfect balance between sensitivity and control.

8:2 Very soft (full flex)

Bends over 80% of its length. Very soft feel, ideal for small streams and small fish. Delicate casts but limited in wind. Natural sasoi animation.

Use: Narrow streams, native brook trout

7:3 Medium-fast action

Bends in the top 30%. A common compromise on Daiwa and entry Nissin rods. Good versatility for beginners who want a bit of power.

Use: Versatile, light wind, medium trout

6:4 Medium action (balance) RECOMMENDED

Bends in the top 40%. The classic choice of traditional Japanese tenkara. Perfect balance between sensitivity (sasoi) and power (fighting). Recommended for 90% of situations.

Use: ALL-ROUND — default choice

5:5 Slow action (full flex)

Bends uniformly along its full length. Very Japanese, very purist. Excellent protection for fine tippets (6X, 7X). Spectacular fights. Wind can be a problem.

Use: Experienced angler, light kebari, calm water

LENGTHS · 長さ · NAGASA

Four categories, four uses.

Tenkara comes in four length ranges. Each has its terrain, its fish, its motion. To start out, the 3.6m is the universal buy.

3.0 m

Compact

For tight streams, cedar swamps, alders. One-hand overhead casts under low branches. Sacrifices reach but gains manoeuvrability.

Brook trout, forest streams

3.3 m

Short

Compact and versatile. A good first buy if your rivers are small to medium. Excellent for hilly, forested regions.

Trout, small to medium rivers

3.6 m

Standard · Recommended

The classic tenkara length. Balanced reach/manoeuvrability. The universal buy for 80% of situations. Available in every action.

All-round, default choice

4.0 m

Long

To open up wider. Large rivers, big brook trout, wide sections. More reach, more fatigue.

Wide rivers, big trout

4.5 m

Very long

Spey-tenkara. Big pools, very wide sections. Requires experience. The choice of specialised senseis.

Big pools, wide sections

SELECTOR · 竿選び · SAOERABI

Personalised rod selector.

Answer the questions to get a recommendation from 20+ rods, with direct purchase links to the brands.

1. Your level

2. Main water type

3. Target species

4. Budget

YOUR IDEAL ROD

CALCULATOR · 計算 · KEISAN

Which line, which tippet, which kebari?

The golden rule: line slightly shorter than the rod, tippet 30 to 90 cm, kebari matched to the species. The calculator does the work.

Rod length (m)

Your level

Wind conditions

Target

For advanced setups (multi-tippet, furled leaders), see trivio.ca.

CODEX · 毛鉤 · KEBARI

Four kebari styles.

Tenkara uses only one fly at a time. The secret is not a diverse box: it is confidence in your presentation. Click a card to discover the pattern.

Sakasa Kebari

逆さ毛鉤

Reverse hackle, forward-facing

See the recipe →

Sakasa Kebari

逆さ毛鉤

Master / Origin Dr Hisao Ishigaki

When to use it Moving water, current, sasoi

The most tenkara of kebari. The hackle points toward the eye (not the bend), giving the look of an insect swimming actively. Vibrates with every rod movement. Imitates an emerging insect.

Tying recipe

Hook #12 to #16. Body of black or olive silk thread. Soft hackle (partridge, pheasant, hen). Red or black thread head.

← Back

Jun Kebari

順毛鉤

Conventional hackle

See the recipe →

Jun Kebari

順毛鉤

Master / Origin Yuzo Sebata

When to use it Versatile, calm water, beginners

The hackle points toward the hook bend (western fly style). More stable on the drift, easier to learn. Imitates a dead or inert insect. An excellent entry point to tenkara.

Tying recipe

Hook #12 to #16. Black or brown thread body. Cock, pheasant or partridge hackle facing back. No particular head.

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Takayama Kebari

高山毛鉤

Mountain minimalist

See the recipe →

Takayama Kebari

高山毛鉤

Master / Origin Takayama village

When to use it Mountain streams, iwana

A single feather, a single wrap. The stripped-down style of the Takayama villagers (Japanese Alps). For steep-gradient streams where fast presentation matters more than detail. Very effective in cold water.

Tying recipe

Hook #14. Black thread body. Grey hackle (grey partridge), a single wrap. No wing, no tail.

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Killer Bug

キラーバグ

Modern utility

See the recipe →

Killer Bug

キラーバグ

Master / Origin Frank Sawyer (UK)

When to use it Deep, cold water, early season

Not a traditional kebari but now a modern tenkara standard. Imitates a scud or a larva. Very effective in spring when insects are scarce. The one fly that works when nothing works.

Tying recipe

Hook #12 to #14, weighted. Body of Chadwick 477 wool (or Veniard substitute) over-wrapped with fine copper wire. No hackle.

← Back

Need advice before buying?

Danièle Beaulieu, pioneer of tenkara in Quebec, mentors and guides. She no longer sells but remains the most valuable human resource in Quebec tenkara.

See Danièle's profile →

Gear up.

Understand your rod's action.

Four categories, four uses.

Personalised rod selector.

Which line, which tippet, which kebari?

Four kebari styles.

Sakasa Kebari

Sakasa Kebari

Jun Kebari

Jun Kebari

Takayama Kebari

Takayama Kebari

Killer Bug

Killer Bug

Need advice before buying?

A short letter, every Sunday morning.