Tenkara
Tenkara is fly fishing stripped to its essence — a rod, a line, and a fly, no reel. Born in the mountain streams of Japan, it’s right at home in the tight, tumbling creeks of the Blue Ridge. Easy to learn, deadly effective, and a joy to carry up a trail.
Tenkara Trip & Instruction
Tenkara Trip & Instruction
$125 / person
Learn the method and fish it the same day on a High Country creek. We provide the rod, line, and flies — you bring the curiosity. Beginners genuinely welcome.
Want the full toolkit too? See our fly-fishing lessons and guided wade trips.
Why Tenkara
- Simple — one rod, one line, one fly, no reel
- Light — fits in a pack, made for hiking to wild water
- Deadly on small streams — unmatched drift and control
- Beginner-friendly — often catching fish within the hour
- Traditional — a centuries-old mountain-stream method
- Pure — you, a fixed line, and a wild trout
Who It's For
Curious beginners
The fastest, simplest way into fly fishing — less gear to fuss with.
Hikers & backpackers
A rod that collapses into your pack for creeks off the trail.
Minimalists
No reel, no fly boxes overflowing — just the essentials.
Seasoned anglers
A fresh, addictive challenge on tight mountain water.
Your Guides
Owner and lead guide Jim Stein and veteran High Country guide Kelly McKoy guide Tenkara on the wild feeder creeks of the New River near Todd — small, tumbling water where the fixed-line method truly shines.
Common Questions
What is Tenkara?
Tenkara is a traditional Japanese method of fly fishing that uses only a long rod, a fixed length of line, and a fly — no reel. It's simple, elegant, and perfectly suited to small mountain streams.
Do I need experience or gear?
Neither. It's one of the easiest ways to start fly fishing, and we provide the rod, line, and flies.
Is it good for beginners?
Very — with less gear to manage, most people are casting and catching within the first hour.
Where do we fish?
On the wild feeder creeks and headwaters of the New River near Todd, a short drive from Boone — the tight, tumbling water Tenkara was made for.
Do I need a fishing license?
Yes, North Carolina requires a license for anglers 16 and older. We'll point you to the right one.
How is it different from regular fly fishing?
There's no reel and the line is fixed to the rod tip, which gives you an incredibly clean drift on small water. It's fly fishing distilled to its essence.