UKIYO™ 9ft10in (300cm)

Rivers

I find this to be a very light and responsive Tenkara rod. It is aesthetically beautiful as well and the one piece handle really allows me to feel the strike action more than a cork handle. Well worth the price.

The Mountains

Perfect for small to medium streams. Easy to put together and go. The portability is perfect for hard to reach areas you have to hike or backpack into. Being so light and compact in my backpack is a huge win. Like the Trout I catch, I’m hooked on the Ukiyo rod.

Backcountry mountain lakes.

The Ukiyo is my first Tenkara rod ever. It is honestly the first fishing rod that I’ve purchased within the last 10 years. In the past, I’ve done a handful of trips using a standard rod and reel that was handed down by a family member. So I know some basics but, no means am I an experienced fisherman. The Ukiyo was really easy so set up after a quick flip through the manual. I used the provided tapered line without trimming and attached a 3-foot tippet with one of the included flies from the starter kit. The Ukiyo collapses so small it weighs next to nothing. So it stored easily in my already nearly maxed out pack. For its maiden voyage, I put a few casts in from the shore of a small mountain lake in the Inyo National Forest and had my first small brook trout within 15 minutes. Making accurate casts took some trial and error but I quickly got the hang of it. I did find it difficult to cast when a breeze came through unless the wind was on my back. I’m guessing this can be mitigated with proper set up. Although this won’t replace a “standard” rod and reel, for obvious reasons, the fast set up and fun factor of a tenkara rod is undeniable. I can’t wait to use it in some moving water. I am very happy with the purchase so far, and would recommend for any backpacker that enjoys fishing to grab one.