Wyoming Tenkara Campout 2026

Brent Auger of DRAGONtail Tenkara put on a spectacular three-night tenkara community campout event in Alpine, Wyoming at the end of August. Now in its second year, with the first taking place just east of Boise, Idaho in 2025, Brent reflected on the experience: “I felt like it turned out quite well and even though quite a few people had to sleep somewhere other than in the campground, we still had great gatherings in the evenings and a decent amount of people pairing up to go out and fish together and had great experiences fishing together.”

The event was structured as a “plan your own adventure” format, with a Google Maps fishing guide created and provided by Tenkara Angler’s own Tom Davis. The free event offers a group campsite, evening campfires for storytelling and community, and the chance to pick up and try rods and lines you might otherwise never get your hands on. Attendees can meet tenkara anglers from around the country and make friends to fish with both at the event and long after. Saturday also featured an open education hour that included discussion, questions, casting demonstrations, and hands-on casting lessons led by Brent and several tenkara companies.

My Take

I made the trip to Alpine from Portland, Oregon, flying into Bozeman, Montana and driving south for a couple of hours, with a few fishing stops along the way. I arrived on Thursday just at sunset and in time for the nightly campfire, which I made a point to attend each evening throughout the weekend. Over 55 people from at least 12 states attended throughout the event. I reconnected with old friends and made new ones, and there was something genuinely energizing about being surrounded by people from all across the country who share the same mindset: fishing in the wild and exploring the United States with a tenkara rod.

The venue was a smaller campground than the previous year’s location, and attendees were encouraged to register through a link sent via the DRAGONtail Tenkara email newsletter, which helps Brent gauge interest and anticipate capacity. But regardless of the logistics, this is destination tenkara fishing at its finest. A free campsite and essentially unlimited access to hundreds of miles of streams and rivers within an hour’s drive, all perfect for tenkara, is a combination that’s hard to beat. The public land in the American West is vast, the wildlife sightings are memorable, and the tenkara conversation around the campfire each night makes it all feel worthwhile. To me, nobody is hosting a tenkara event quite like Brent is, and he has committed to keeping it free while continuing to offer casual tenkara education for anglers who want to broaden their skills, learn new techniques, or grow their practice as they develop as tenkara anglers.

I was also thrilled to be invited to help with the Saturday morning education session. It was unstructured and welcoming, an open forum of casting and fly presentation for anyone who wanted to participate. Tom Davis, known in these circles as Teton Tom, led the conversation and circle of demonstrations in person. Bill Robichaud, a fellow Tenkara Angler editor, was also in attendance and contributed to leading the morning session. He drove over 4,200 miles for this trip, which tells you everything you need to know about a tenkara angler’s willingness to travel to fish. Keegan Uhl of MostlyTenkara on YouTube and Conrad Estrem of Boise were also on hand to share insight into their own tenkara practices and approaches. Seeing people travel from as far as Brooklyn, New York and Florida to fish these beautiful western waters with a tenkara rod is nothing short of inspiring. All of this because of tenkara.

The Future and Community Interest

Brent plans to keep future DRAGONtail Tenkara community events free for everyone. For me, that commitment does something important: it lowers the barrier to entry and encourages people at every level of experience to show up, mingle, and leave with something new. Don’t just take my word for it. Here are some thoughts from friends, new and old, who attended the Wyoming Tenkara Campout this year.

“The best part of the Wyoming Tenkara Campout wasn’t just the fishing, which was great, but connecting with people who share the same passion and addiction for tenkara made it unforgettable. Can’t wait for next year.”
Grayson Downs, Idaho, 1st time attending

“My sister Pat Sweigert and I went to the DRAGONtail Tenkara Campout in Alpine, Wyoming, August 27-30. It was fantastic. We met many incredible individuals who were very helpful as we are both new to tenkara. We thought we hit the jackpot when Amanda Hoffner, aka Lady Tenkara Bum, invited us to join her and Conrad Estrem fishing at Palisades Creek just across the Idaho border. They spent the day giving us tips and showing us how to read the water. Thanks Amanda and Conrad for your most helpful expertise.”
Mary Jo Bombardier, Montana, 1st time attending

“One of the internet’s great powers is the ability to connect geographically disparate humans who share a common passion. But it will never be as meaningful or resonant as face-to-face interaction. It’s easy to forget how vital being in the company of like-minded people is to our well-being. These campouts are an amazing venue for just that.”
Keegan Uhl, California, 1st time attending

“I am perhaps getting a bit philosophical in my old age, but I noted with this event that for me it was as much about the people as it was about the fishing, and the beautiful scenery was the icing on the cake. I really appreciated the joy that others were having with their tenkara experience, and it amplified my own.”
Conrad Estrem, Idaho, 2nd year attending

“I really enjoyed the Wyoming Campout. It’s great meeting new friends and seeing ones from previous campouts. Saturday morning’s casting clinic shared some very valuable techniques that will help me grow as a tenkara angler. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone next year.”
Stephen Thompson, Montana, 2nd year attending

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