Women in Tenkara & The Outdoors: Level Line Podcast Episode 35

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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