It’s not the simplicity of the gear that makes tenkara interesting, it’s the complexity of what you can do with it. – Chris Stewart
In response to an erroneous obituary, Mark Twain reportedly wrote to the press in the US, “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated“. This humorous misquote has been used since that time to inform the world that a person’s demise is just not so. And so it is with TenkaraBum.
Ever since Chris Stewart announced that he would be retiring from importing most Japanese tenkara rods, rumors have abounded that he was closing down TenkaraBum altogether. But like Mark Twain, these rumors are greatly exaggerated. TenkaraBum is alive and well, albeit in a smaller, more streamlined form.
Chris has communicated with me that he will be having a shipment of TenkaraBum 36 (TB36) and TenkaraBum 40 (TB40) rods arriving after the first of the year. He will also have a few TenkaraBum 33 (TB33) rods available. Replacement parts will likewise be available for those that need them. Suntech Co., Ltd., a highly respected Japanese rod company, manufactures the TenkaraBum line of rods for both the Japanese domestic market and for sale through Chris at TenkaraBum. Like many tenkara rods which go through a production cycle, the rods have been out of production. But production of these rods is once again resuming. Chris has a waiting list available for those who desire to purchase one of these superlative rods.
Both the TB36 and TB40 made my “Favorites” list, and still, after all the rods I have used and reviewed, take pride of place in my collection. They are fantastic rods which excel in both finesse and power. Their balance and swing weights are unmatched in rods of their respective length classes, and as such, are such a pleasure to fish.
As far as other TenkaraBum rods, such as the Traveler line, it is recommended that you contact Chris directly for any information.
TenkaraBum also will continue to explore aspects of fly fishing history and how it may be used with modern equipment. This section of the TenkaraBum website, called Hair-Brained, currently explores horse hair lines, but as Chris states “… but I suspect in time it will circle back around to the elegantly simple flies of the North Country style and how best to fish them. No greenheart “loop rods” and certainly no modern fly rods and reels, but instead long rods with horsehair lines tied to the rod tip, which David Webster, W. C. Stewart, Isaac Walton, Charles Cotton, and even Dame Juliana herself would recognize as proper.“
So, TenkaraBum is still alive! It’s not dead, as some have reported. Best in class TenkaraBum tenkara rods are still available, and for those who already own and love them, replacement parts can still be purchased. If you’ve thought about getting one of these rods but have hesitated, due to the uncertainty of availability, don’t hesitate any longer. They are available and ready to take your tenkara to a new level!
Benjamin Franklin once said, “The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten”. So why purchase a cheaper rod when you can have the best? Yeah, these rods are that good!
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Darn, so that was why I was feeling a tug on my wallet. 🙂
Already on the waiting list for a TB33😂
This is uncanny, in the last two weeks, the Travellers have come up as a topic of conversation for me several times. These were beloved rods and sorely missed. This will be great news for many people!