In Episode 35 of the Level Line Podcast, Tenkara Angler panelist Amanda Hoffner takes the hosting chair for an all-women conversation featuring four incredible anglers from across the country: Auna Kaufmann (Wyoming), Caitlin Costa (Connecticut), and Haley Beaupre & Victoria Hussey (North Carolina). Together, they cover everything from rod selection and fly tying to women-only tenkara events, conservation policy, mental health in the outdoors, and what makes the tenkara community feel different from the rest of the fly fishing world. A change of pace and genuinely entertaining, this one is worth the full watch & listen.
We hope you enjoy this latest episode!
This video episode can also be found on the Tenkara Angler YouTube channel (we’d love it if you’d visit, like, and subscribe). The audio should soon be found pretty much anywhere you find podcasts, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube Music, Pocket Casts, TuneIn, etc… Just search “Tenkara Angler Level Line” and it’s sure to come up!
Tenkara Angler Level Line Podcast
Episode Show Notes & Links:
00:12 – Welcome & Introductions
– Victoria: North Carolina – Victoria’s Bluesky
– Auna: Wyoming – Auna’s Instagram | Artemis Sportswomen
– Haley: North Carolina – Haley’s Instagram
– Caitlin: Connecticut – Caitlin’s Instagram
03:53 – Victoria’s Gear Setup & Why Rod Weight Matters for Women
06:45 – The Fulcrum Problem: Short Arms, Long Rods & Casting Fatigue
08:21 – Auna’s Rod Selections for Wyoming’s large and small waters
12:26 – Haley: Gear Talk & Minimalist Approach
17:57 – Caitlin: Discovering Tenkara Through Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
19:17 – What Caitlin Loves About Tenkara: Packability, Simplicity & the ADHD Factor
20:30 – Connecticut’s Becoming an Outdoors Woman (BOW) Program
21:14 – Feeling Safe, Competent & Welcomed in the Tenkara Community
22:02 – Being a Woman Alone in the Woods
23:25 – Victoria & Haley Planning a Women’s Tenkara Campout in Western NC
26:29 – Auna Announces Women’s Tenkara Event in Wyoming – August 2026
29:40 – Tenkara’s Low Barrier to Entry & High Ceiling for Mastery
30:50 – Caitlin: Nature, Mental Health & Rewriting the Outdoor Narrative
32:32 – Victoria: The Tenkara Community’s Unique, Nerdy, Nurturing Vibe
34:19 – Haley: Why Tenkara Spaces Feel More Inclusive Than Western Fly Fishing Communities
37:20 – Auna: Getting Into Tenkara Without Knowing Anyone Who Fishes It
39:48 – Auna’s Path: Wildlife Ecology, Wyoming Wildlife Federation & Conservation Lobbying
42:56 – Amanda’s Upcoming Women’s Event in New Mexico & Closing Thoughts
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