In Episode 27 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast the Tenkara Angler crew invites special guests Payton Skidmore (Skiddy Fishing) and Keegan Uhl (Mostly Tenkara) to discuss various fishing destinations, focusing on locations west of the Mississippi River. We explore the beauty and fishing opportunities of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, the Uinta Mountains of Utah, and Eastern Sierras of California highlighting travel tips for accessing these stunning locations, the various trout species available, fishing techniques, and the importance of planning and timing for a successful fishing trip. The conversation is filled with personal anecdotes, expert advice, and a passion for the great outdoors, making it a must-listen for nature enthusiasts and fishing aficionados alike. We hope you enjoy this latest episode!
Show Notes & Links:
00:00:14 - Opening Remarks
00:01:20 - Meet Payton Skidmore - Skiddy Fishing
00:02:50 - Meet Keegan Uhl - Mostly Tenkara
- "Dibbing the Bob" with Jonathan Antunez
00:07:07 - Anthony discusses Rocky Mountain National Park
- Park Fishing Rules
- Timed Entry System
- Shuttle System
- YMCA of the Rockies
- A Fly Fishing Guide to Rocky Mountain National Park
- Tanuki Pocket Ninja
- The Donut Haus
00:34:00 - Payton explores the Uinta Mountains
- Visit Utah's Guide to the Uintas
- Fish Utah Interactive Fishing Map
- Utah Cutthroat Slam
- Dairy Keen
00:57:19 - Keegan travels the Eastern Sierra Mountains
- Fly Fishing the Sierra
- Eastern Sierra Back Country Fishing Guide (PDF)
- Inyo National Forest - Wilderness Permits
- The High Sierra: A Love Story
01:35:42 - Closing Remarks
Want to see more? Visit Tenkara Angler
In Episode 26 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast the Tenkara Angler crew discuss the intersection of tenkara fishing and foraging with special guest Ari Rockland-Miller of The Mushroom Forager. Ari's unique background as a professional mycophile who has a growing passion and knowledge for tenkara lends itself to an interesting conversation we're sure you'll enjoy.
We talk with Ari about the world of mushroom foraging, discussing the safest mushrooms to start with on your foraging journey (and those to stay away from), the best seasons for combining foraging and fishing, the diversity of wild foods including edible greens, and delicious cooking and effective preservation techniques. Throughout the interview, Ari not only ties the two hobbies together, but focuses on the importance of sustainable harvesting practices and the joy of connecting with nature.
Show Notes & Links:
0:00:05 - Introductions
0:02:00 - Ari Rockland-Miller & The Mushroom Forager
0:07:12 - Ari & Tenkara
0:09:25 - How to Start Foraging Safely
0:13:04 - Beginner-Friendly Mushrooms
0:18:27 - Poisonous Mushrooms & Phone Apps for ID
0:25:13 - Foraging in Tenkara's History
0:31:06 - Ari's Approach to Foraging & Fishing
0:35:31 - Ari's Recipe for Trout & Mushrooms
0:37:19 - The Seasonality of Foraging & Fishing
0:44:57 - Golden Oysters & Invasives
0:47:42 - How to Harvest Mushrooms - Trailwaters Mesh Foraging Bag
0:55:40 - Smurfs & other Mushroom-based Creatures
0:56:35 - Story Time with Bill
0:59:00 - Ari's Biggest Mushroom Haul
01:03:23 - Ari's Final Thoughts
01:06:28 - Contacting Ari
01:16:32 - Closing Remarks
Want to see more? Visit Tenkara Angler
In Episode 25 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast the Tenkara Angler crew explore five fishing destinations, including Spring Creek in Pennsylvania, warm water fishing opportunities in Southwest Wisconsin, brook trout in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Northern Portugal's native brown trout, and North Georgia's "trout town", Blue Ridge. They share tips for fishing in these areas, and discuss the unique characteristics of each location, including accessibility, types of fish, and local culture through personal experiences. You'll be sure to want to add a few of these locations to your fishing travel plans!
Show Notes & Links:
0:00:25 - Introductions
0:01:15 - Upcoming Community Events
0:07:45 - Pennsylvania's Spring Creek
- TCO Fly Shop
- Flyfisher's Paradise
- Keystone Fly Fishing
0:27:28 - Wisconsin Warmwater Smallmouth
- Dodgeville, WI
- Smallmouth Alliance
0:40:34 - White Mountains of New Hampshire
- White Mountains Tenkara Campout
- Lost River Valley Campground
- Squaretail
- North Country Angler
0:50:04 - Portugal
- Antonio Rodrigues / Minho Fly Fishing
- Monção, Portugal
- The Last Old Place
1:03:14 - Blue Ridge, Georgia
- Blue Ridge Trout & Outdoor Adventures Festival
- Cohutta Fishing Company
- Toccoa River Outfitters
- Oyster Bamboo Fly Rods
- Sabor a Puebla
- Expedition: Bigfoot
- Trout Fishing in North Georgia
- Fly Fishing for Peach State Trout
- Doin' Stuff with Zane
01:16:32 - Closing Remarks
Want to see more? Visit Tenkara Angler
In Episode 24 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line podcast Mike, Anthony, Bill, and Matt discuss their preseason preparations for the upcoming spring tenkara fishing season. They cover essential topics regarding the three major categories of gear - rods, flies, and lines - focusing on rod care and preventative maintenance, storage solutions, cleaning techniques, common causes of rod breakage, and best practices for new anglers. Once done with gear, the conversation turns to fishing preparation, including scouting techniques, knot tying, journaling, and personal goal setting.Show Notes & Links:
00:07 - Introductions
00:34 - Pre-Season Preparation Overview
02:03 - Rod Care and Maintenance Practices
- Anthony's Video: Tenkara Tips - Tenkara Rod Maintenance
- Bill's Air Blaster
12:34 - Preventative Maintenance and Spare Parts
14:29 - Common Causes of Rod Breakage
20:30 - Best Practices for New Anglers
24:17 - Dealing with Stuck Sections
26:26 - Rod Socks and Lost Tip Caps
- Universal Tip Caps
27:37 - Fishing Stories of Broken Rods
33:09 - Flies, Tying, & Organizing Fly Boxes
44:02 - Line Management and Preparation
- Level Line Podcast: Exploring Tenkara Lines
- DRAGONtail Line Winders
48:58 - Scouting Water & Gathering Intel
- onX for property lines
51:16 - Renewing Your License, Bill the Outlaw
52:12 - Keeping a Fishing Journal
55:30 - Setting Personal Goals for Fishing
57:55 - Understanding Insects and Ecosystems
- The Bug Book
- Hatches II
- Upper Midwest Hatches
01:04:35 - Which Way Did Bill Go?
01:06:17 - Practice Casting and Knot Tying
01:10:33 - Closing Remarks
Want to see more? Visit Tenkara Angler
In Episode 23 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line podcast Anthony, Bill, Dave and Tom discuss various tenkara presentation and fly manipulation techniques. Dead drift, upstream & downstream pulling, tomezuri, and "pon pon" are covered emphasizing their effectiveness in catching fish and the best equipment to use to execute each.
The podcast isn't meant to be a comprehensive seminar on tenkara techniques but rather an introduction. The idea is to familiarize anglers with the basic concepts of active fly manipulation. The Tenkara Angler crew share their personal takes on how they use active fly manipulation in their own fishing. The goal is to help anglers add to and develop their own tenkara tool boxes.
Show Notes & Links:
0:00:08 - Introductions
0:02:41 - Books & Resources
- Tenkara by Daniel Galhardo
- How to Fool Fish with Simple Flies by Paul Gaskell & John Pearson
- Super Clear Level Line Tenkara by Dr. Hisao Ishigaki
0:05:00 - The Importance(?) of Dead Drift
0:16:40 - The Pause and Drift Technique
0:21:00 - Pulling Presentations
0:25:05 - The Importance of Gear Selection
0:31:45 - Understanding the Upstream Pull
0:37:13 - The Concept of Tomezuri
0:47:30 - Exploring the "Pon Pon" Technique
00:57:57 - Strategies for Catching the 'Gatekeeper' Trout
01:01:55 - Bill's Book Club
- Understanding Trout Behavior by John Goddard & Brian Clarke
01:04:51 - Lifting and Swinging Flies
- Leisenring Lift
01:10:17 - Final Thoughts
Brand Affiliates Mentioned in this Episode:
Want to see more? Visit Tenkara Angler
In Episode 22 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line podcast, Amanda, Anthony, Bill, Matt & Mike discuss current events in the tenkara fishing community, including online kebari tying classes, new rod releases, and upcoming events.
The conversation then turns holiday gifts that anglers really want. No "Big Mouth Billy Bass" wall decorations here. The team shares humorous and practical takes on fishing gifts they'd wouldn't mind giving or receiving. Our discussion wraps up with some memorable fishing experiences from the past year as well as an announcement of a special art contest ,"Paint Matt's Adventure Van" with great prizes that you don't want to miss!
Show Notes & Links:
0:00:06 - Introduction
0:01:37 - Current Events
- Online Kebari Tying Classes
- Rocky MTN Compa Rod
- Taunki Kunoichi Rod
- White Mountains Tenkara Campout
- Wisconsin Driftless Tenkara Campout
- Tenkara Angler Events Page
0:17:24 - Holiday Gifts Tenkara Anglers Really Want
- Nippers
- Orvis Fishing Shirt
- Fly Winder Pro Mag Mount
- DRAGONtail Furled Lines
- Miss Mayfly Waders
- Airbnb Gift Cards
- Tenkara Angler Gear on Amazon
- John Galligan Books
- Tippet Guide Spools
- Trouthunter Tippet
- Gift a Fishing License
- 2024 Tenkara Angler Gift Guide
0:35:18 - Meandering Conversation
- Gas Station Food: Wawa, Sheetz, Kwik-Trip, Kum & Go
- Christmas Trees
- Name Anthony's Irritable Betta Fish
0:38:44 - Looking Back Fondly on 2024
0:52:09 - "Paint Matt's Adventure Van" Contest
0:55:08 - Closing Remarks
Brand Affiliates Mentioned in this Episode:
DRAGONtail, Tanuki, Rocky MTN Tenkara, Red Brook Tenkara
Want to see more? Visit Tenkara Angler
In Episode 21 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast, Mike, Anthony, Matt, and Bill discuss various topics related to tenkara fishing, including current events in the tenkara community, the significance of Tenkara USA's 15-year anniversary, and personal experiences with tenkara over the last decade and a half.
The conversation then swerves briefly to the 'Overrated Underrated Game,' before Anthony leads our primary discussion into the various types of tenkara fishing lines, reviewing their characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. We explore level lines, furled lines, floating lines, and tapered monofilament lines, providing insights for both beginners and experienced anglers.
Show Notes:
0:00:13 - Introduction
- A View of Tenkara in Austria
0:05:30 - Tenkara Community News
- Tenkara USA 15 Years
- Men's Health 10 Manliest Hobbies on Earth
- New DRAGONtail rod / Japanese Salamander
- Zen Hachi Closeout - $80!
- Tanuki 2025 East Coast Boot Camp?
0:26:08 - Overrated / Underrated
- Midcurrent Barbless Hooks Article
- Tim Traver's - Lost in the Driftless: Trout Fishing on the Cultural Divide
0:47:00 - Tenkara Line Discussion
0:49:19 - Level Lines
- Nissin PALS Oni Line / Varivas Special Nylon / Cortland Indicator Line
- Shooter FC Sniper BMS / Seaguar Tatsu Clear
- 1.5 YGK ULTRA Sight & Sakura Markers
1:03:00 - Furled Lines
- DRAGONtail Furled Lines / Nissin PALS Line SP
1:12:24 - Floating Lines
- Daiwa PVC Floating Line / Cortland Monocore Euro Line
1:17:37 - Tapered Monofilament Lines
- Fujino Tapered / Daiwa Tapered
1:21:50 - Tenkara Angler Housekeeping
- Level Line Podcast T-Shirts & Gear
- 2025 Print Magazine Deadline - November 29th
Brand Affiliates Mentioned in this Episode:
DRAGONtail, Tanuki, Tenkara USA, Zen Tenkara
Want to see more? Visit Tenkara Angler
In Episode 20 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast, Amanda, Anthony, Matt, & Mike hold our first ever Tenkara Fantasy Draft - picking rods, lines, flies, locations, and a special "wild card" item. The clock was ticking and strategies were abound. It's such a fun conversation!
Be sure to comment ON OUR YOUTUBE VIDEO and tell us who "won" the draft... who dropped the kebari... or what YOU might have picked instead for the opportunity to win a tenkara-related prize!
Show Notes:
Anthony's Inspiration: Bandsplain Podcast
Want to see more? Visit Tenkara Angler
In Episode 16 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast Anthony Naples talked with Jonathan Antunez about his style of active wet fly fishing that is inspired in part by H.C. Cutcliffe and other anglers of bygone eras but which is being given new life by utilizing modern state-of-the-art fixed line tenkara rods.
In Episode 19 Anthony revisits this topic with Jonathan. We hope that you catch the bug like he has and you give this style of fishing a try.
Show Notes:
Want to see more? Visit Tenkara Angler
In Episode 18 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast, Matt, Amanda & Anthony discuss the recent White Mountains Tenkara Campout, stream etiquette, terrain and tenkara style, and more.
The White Mountains Tenkara event hosted by Red Brook Tenkara happened recently in New Hampshire and Tenkara Angler team members Amanda, Matt and Mike were in attendance. Amanda and Matt share their thoughts on the event and the area.
Then the team discusses a little bit about stream etiquette and expectations inspired by frequent Tenkara Angler contributor Dennis Vander Houwen's recent article The Unwritten Rules of Fishing Etiquette.
Matt Sment poses the question about how terrain and background affect tenkara fishing style. And finally, there is some discussion about everyone's upcoming plans.
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Show Notes & Links:
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Gear Mentioned in this podcast:
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Want to see more?
Tenkara Angler: https://tenkaraangler.com
In Episode 17 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast, Mike, Matt, & Anthony touch on some current events in their fishing lives.
Anthony discusses some learnings he's made fishing the same water consistently in May. Matt recaps the Driftless Tenkara Campout. Mike frets over where the "too much vs. too little" line is drawn when it comes to packing for an upcoming trip.
Finally, Anthony spends some extended time with Roanoke, Virginia based angler, Mike Garrison. Mike discusses his entry into tenkara, why he enjoys it so much, the similarities (and differences) between a euro-nymphing & fixed line (tenkara) nymphing setup, as well as the value in fishing with guides.
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Show Notes & Links:
--------- Mike Garrison Info:
Mike's Blog: Guide Waters: Exploring Fly Fishing & Life
Mike's Instagram: @blueridgeflyguy
Mike's Business: Strategic Referral Team
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Want to see more?
Tenkara Angler: https://tenkaraangler.com
Episode 16 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast is doing double duty as a "Supersized" edition of the Tenkara Moves series. In this episode Anthony talks to Jonathan Antunez about fishing wet flies with tenkara rods. Jonathan offers up insight and advice on both taking wet fly fishing back to its fixed line origins while also bringing it up to the state-of-the-art utilizing modern tenkara rods and lines.
Show Notes:
Want to see more? Visit Tenkara Angler
In Episode 15 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast, Amanda, Anthony, Matt, and Mike answer listener (& reader) submitted questions from the tenkara community. The topics reviewed include a discussion of furled vs. level lines, a "go to" fly, beginner tenkara skills, rod breakage, Patagonia, bucket list tenkara fishing destinations, and the difference between tenkara vs. fixed line fishing. We really enjoyed this change up in the podcast programming, and hope you like it too. Check it out! Show Notes: 00:10 - Introduction 01:45 - Furled Lines vs. Level Lines (Submitted by Andy) 15:02 - "Go To" Flies (Submitted by Dave) 25:30 - One Tenkara Skill for Beginners (Submitted by Dave) 37:39 - Rod Breakage in the Elements (Submitted by Gary) 44:01 - Patagonia? (Submitted by Dario & Fer) 47:35 - "Bucket" List Tenkara Destinations (Audible by Anthony) 52:22 - Tenkara vs. Fixed Line Fishing (Submitted by Arran) 59:21 - Closing Remarks --- Want to see more? Visit Tenkara Angler
In Episode 14 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast, Amanda, Anthony, Mike, and Tom cover several topics in a grab bag of conversation. Starting with current events, we discuss the new print issue of Tenkara Angler, the Appalachian Tenkara Anglers fly swap, and an upcoming Tenkara 101 course. The conversation then transitions into a deep dive of what techniques each angler uses to find and scout new-to-them waters. We also play the overrated / underrated game with two topics sent in by a friend. To close, the back half of the podcast features an interview with Casey & Kevin Canfield of Rocky MTN Tenkara to learn a little bit about their backgrounds, their interest in tenkara, and the direction they're taking the company.
Level Line Podcast Episode 14 Show Notes:
00:10 - Introduction
01:12 - Current Events
09:40 - Scouting Water
28:07 - Overrated / Underrated
40:59 - Q&A Ask
42:40 - Interview with Rocky MTN Tenkara
48:50 - Fishing in New Mexico
51:38 - Rocky MTN Tenkara's Niche
54:35 - Rod Lineup - Chico & Rio
1:00:34 - Conservation
1:02:38 - Where to Find Rocky MTN Tenkara
In Episode 13 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast, Anthony, Matt, Mike, and Tom discuss several different topics of note including upcoming tenkara community events, cold weather fishing, overrated / underrated, what books influenced their tenkara, and then wrap it up noting our Tenkara USA Amago giveaway and the conclusion of the Riverworks Oni conversion program. Check it out!
Level Line Podcast Episode 13 Show Notes:
00:12 - Introduction
00:39 - Upcoming Tenkara Events
08:29 - Cold Weather Fishing
24:56 - Overrated / Underrated
42:35 - Books That Influence Your Tenkara
55:54 - Tenkara USA Amago Giveaway
56:51 - Riverworks Rod Co. Oni Conversion Program
58:45 - Closing Remarks
In Episode 12 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast, Anthony, Matt, and Mike chat about the "little things" in their fishing that make a BIG difference in how productive their outings become. They also discuss some holiday presents, the winter fly box, fantasy tenkara gear, play another round of overrated / underrated, and outline the 2024 Oni Tenkara Intensive in North Carolina.
Also, there's a little contest Anthony is generously running, but you'll need to listen to the podcast and comment on our YouTube video to enter. Check it out! Level Line Podcast Episode 12 Show Notes:
00:12 - Introduction
00:29 - Holiday Gifts
Nirvana Vise | Ragnarok | Chota Cloaks | Hill People Gear | Steel Bison
06:49 - The Little Things
Orvis Guide to Reading Trout Streams
Reading Trout Water (Dave Hughes)
29:05 - Winter Fly Box
36:24 - Fantasy Tenkara Gear
Tom on TenkaraTalk
44:18 - Overrated / Underrated Game
1:00:45 - 2024 North Carolina Oni School
1:06:01 - Free Foam Spool Contest
1:07:34 - Closing Remarks
In Episode 11 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast, Anthony, Matt, and Mike chat about their memorable 2023 tenkara fly fishing seasons and look ahead to 2024. They also discuss some gear picks, merch, and play a fun new game. We’d love it if you’d listen and play along!
Let us know if Mike or Matt is right regarding the topic of “fishing snacks”… but you’ll have to watch or listen to see what we mean. Whichever side you choose we hope you enjoy!
Level Line Podcast Episode 11 Show Notes:
00:12 – Introduction
00:45 – Go To Tenkara With Us?
Tenkara Angler Article / Nikko Tenkara Article
06:12 – Contrasting Styles
12:30 – Look Back & Ahead – Anthony
Dave’s Guitar Store
17:16 – Look Back & Ahead – Matt
Personal Best Driftless Trout Video
19:42 – Look Back & Ahead – Mike
Dahlonega, GA / Helen, GA
25:33 – Overrated / Underrated Game
44:33 – Retro Driftless Designs
Merch on Spreadshop
46:12 – Standout Gear Picks of the Year
Riverruns Wader Gaiters
DRAGONtail Kaida
DRAGONtail Mutant
Tenkara USA Satoki
Wet Wading Small Streams
51:31 – Tenkara USA UKIYO
54:28 – Closing Remarks
In Episode 10 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast, Anthony and Mike chat about (semi) current events in the tenkara and fixed line fly fishing community. Topics such as new gear releases, recent gatherings, and early summer fishing outings are discussed in depth, with quite a bit of meandering (guitars, woodcarving, and hot dogs), just for good measure.
That’s right, no special guests and no pre-produced segments this time, just two friends talking about tenkara. Make sure to check the “show notes” at the end of this article for links to some fo the topics referenced. We hope you enjoy!
Show Notes & Links:
01:33 – New Product Launches
Riverworks Rod Co. / Oni Convert Program
17:11 – Recent Events (Focus on Driftless)
2023 Oni School Recap (TenkaraTalk)
2023 Great Driftless Tenkara Campout
Five Days in the Driftless (Article)
Dave’s Guitar Shop / Beanie’s Diner / Borgen’s Cafe
Anthony’s Gear: Tanuki 375 / Tenkara Rod Co. Kita 330
Mike’s Gear: Wader Gaiters / Oni Honryu 395 / DRAGONtail Kaida
43:41 – Summer Fishing
Do You Keep A Fishing Journal? (Article)
Maggie Valley Fly Fishing Festival
Valley Forge National Historical Park
The Pass Lake Wet Fly (Article)
TYROAM Wading Staffs / Buggins / YGK Ultra Sight Line
Unsuspecting Minimalist (Article)
1:09:39– Tenkara Angler Housekeeping
Rocky Mountain National Park / Shenandoah National Park
Content Contributions / Print Magazine
Want to see more?
Tenkara Angler: https://tenkaraangler.com/
In Episode 9 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast, we pivot a little bit and introduce a taste of our "Listen In" audio articles as featured on the Tenkara Angler YouTube channel. This particular recording was a little bit longer than most, so we thought it would lend itself well to podcast form, almost like a mini audiobook. Enjoy!
Septomber: A Tale of 3 Trips - Written by Paul Vertrees and read by Dave Rosset
Notes & Links:
00:58 – Introduction
02:54 – Trip One: The Gore Range
06:09 – Trip Two: The Arctic Circle
15:45 – Trip Three: The Front Range
19:59 – About the Author, Paul Vertrees
Want to see more?
Original Article: https://tenkaraangler.com/2022/04/11/septomber-a-tale-of-three-trips/
Listen In Playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsMrTIA9H5kut084rrzrNSKYRUgTnHe_s
Tenkara Angler: https://tenkaraangler.com/
In Episode 8 of the Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast, Mike sits down with some of his friends to gather more fish stories. From hard earned fish, to environmental challenges, to first and personal bests, these stories are a great listen. And don't miss the bonus story at the very, very end!
A big thanks to guests Nick Feller, Ryan Kimball, Dave Rosset, Isaac Tait, Kris Franqui, and Jeff Lomino for telling us their stories!
Show Notes & Links:
00:55 – Nick Feller (NorCal Tenkara)
04:56 – Ryan Kimball (My Tenkara)
13:11 – Dave Rosset
23:50 – Isaac Tait (Fallfish Tenkara / Ilovetofish)
28:35 – Kris Franqui (Tenkara on the Trail)
42:48 – Jeff Lomino (Riverworks Rod Co.)
52:20 – Post Credits Bonus Story
Want to see more?
Tenkara Angler: https://tenkaraangler.com/
