Happy Sunday! Fall is officially here. The equinox came and went this week, and the mornings finally have that crispness that makes you want to toss on a hoodie or flannel and find a small stream all to yourself. The website has perked up recently, our Nikko stories have started rolling out here on the site and there’s plenty more to come. However, it’s been two weeks since the last Riffles, and the tenkara world didn’t sit still. We’ve got a brand looking for a new owner, two gatherings in the West, and some good fall fishing videos.
Anyway, let’s wade into those Riffles…
Hill Country Tenkara Is For Sale
Here’s something a little different. A post on the Hill Country Tenkara Facebook page says the brand is “still looking for a new owner.” The owner says he simply doesn’t have the time to give it the attention it deserves anymore. The sale includes inventory, the website, branding, social accounts, supplier relationships, and customer history, and he says he’ll help with the handoff. If you’ve ever daydreamed about running a small tenkara company (and let’s be honest, many of us have), this might be your sign. Serious inquiries only, per the post…
Colorado Tenkara Camp Is Happening Right Now
If you’re reading this from a campsite along the Arkansas River, we’re jealous. The Colorado Tenkara Campout runs September 25–28 at Hecla Junction Campground outside Salida. According to the Tenkara Path registration page, the campground filled to capacity this year. That’s great news for community gatherings in general. There’s still a potluck, public water, and plenty of tributaries, and if you missed out you can get on the list for next year…
Last Call for the Eastern Sierra Tenkara Boot Camp
Next weekend, October 3–4, the 5th Annual Eastern Sierra Tenkara Boot Camp from Tenkara Tanuki takes over the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Bishop, CA. Saturday has a strong lineup of presenters, including Frank Burr, Amanda Hoffner, Martin Montejano, Chris Leonard, Thomas Paulson, Fred Rowe, and Luong Tam, followed by a panel and an evening pizza-and-fly-tying session. Sunday moves streamside for hands-on casting practice. Registration is $75, and the Eastern Sierra in early October is hard to beat…
Lady Tenkara Bum Gets the Spotlight
Remember that clip of Amanda smoking a Snake River cutthroat we mentioned last time? The full interview is here. MostlyTenkara released his latest Angler Spotlight, featuring our own editor Amanda Hoffner, aka Lady Tenkara Bum. Keegan Uhl and Amanda talk “worms n’ corn,” the Heritage Tenkara Project, and her mission to prove that tenkara really is for everyone. Then they head streamside for cutthroat, with some bonus underwater kokanee footage. It’s about 29 minutes and well worth it (and yes, we’re a little biased)…
Tiny Creek, Big Bass Energy
Tenkara Genki dug into the archives for a quick 7-minute outing he filmed in Wisconsin this May with “Bass Master” Mike Lutes (yes, the same Mike Lutes who helped start Badger Tenkara). They work a tiny bass creek, but find impressive fish. It’s a good reminder that tenkara rods aren’t only for trout, and it’s fun to watch someone who clearly loves putting a bend in a rod on warmwater fish…
Long Rods for Big Water
Keegan wasn’t done. MostlyTenkara also dropped a 35-minute video on how he’s moved from traditional tenkara gear to longer rods and keiryu-style tight-line nymphing on California’s Kern River. Keegan says upfront it’s “not traditional tenkara,” but his explanation of why a bigger river and tougher rainbows pushed him there is worth hearing. If you’ve ever stood on the bank of a big river with a 12-footer and felt outgunned, this one’s for you…
The Oni Coco Gets a Second Chance
Skiddy Fishing opens with “IT’S OFFICIALLY FALL!” which I respect, even from all the way down in 90 degree Florida. He admits his first impression of the Oni Coco 290 in 2025 was underwhelming. So he went back out, forgot his preconceptions, and ended up having “a wildly good time.” A rod review where someone changes their mind is rarer than it should be. The fall colors don’t hurt either…
Tenkara After the Storm
Patagonia Tenkara Addict returned to a normally calm canyon river and found it wrecked by a week of thunderstorms. There were new channels, debris everywhere, and the water was high and a bit muddy. He’d planned to fish a small upper tributary, but the fish were stacked right where they should be, so he stayed. It’s a good 28-minute lesson in reading water that has just rearranged itself…
A Fly Tying Kit That Fits in a Honda Element
Fresh off his Arctic grayling adventure (which we covered last time), Tenkara Addict gives a tour of the compact travel fly tying kit that rode along on his 10,000-mile road trip. Who doesn’t like a steering wheel desk? If you like tying kebari in camp but hate hauling half your bench around, there are some smart ideas here…
Tenkara and Fossils in England
This came through on X: Dayu (@another_dayu) wrote a short blog post about trying tenkara for the first time in England and hunting fossils at Folkestone. He talks about how, with just a rod, a line, and a fly, “less is more,” and fishing depends more on the angler: where the fish are, which side of a rock the water flows around, where the shade and depth are. It’s a nice reminder that tenkara’s appeal translates across languages…
Nikko Doesn’t Forget Its Own
Since Nikko is on my mind, this one caught my eye. Japanese tenkara angler @tenkarahiker posted that one of the elder statesmen of Nikko tenkara had invited him to the end-of-season party. He hadn’t been able to visit all year, and the message told him not to worry, he was still on the list. He says it nearly brought him to tears, and he’s vowing to keep improving and repay them through tenkara. Having just spent a week with that community, I can confirm that’s exactly how they are…
Tenkara Angler Article Roundup
We got back to regular publishing these last two weeks! Our Japan coverage has begun with introductions to our friends Hiro and Aki and the first stop of the trip in Nikko. There’s also a campout recap from Wyoming by Amanda and a thoughtful essay from Anthony Naples…
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.…
Like a Hummingbird: Some Musings on Life and Tenkara
Lately I’ve been sitting on the back deck in the coolness of the morning before the heat and humidity envelope the day…
Meet Our Friend Hiro
In the spring of 2023, an email landed in my Tenkara Angler inbox with a simple ask. A man named Hiroyuki Ishii,…
Welcome to Nikko!
Nikko. This is why Anthony, Matt, & I traveled to Japan. A solid 2+ drive from Tokyo, this is where we’d be…
Meet Our Friend Aki
The next person we’d like to introduce you to is Akihiro Hoshino (Aki). He’s become a great friend and is a wonderful…
Do you have something you think is worth mentioning in the Sunday Morning Riffles? Pop us a note at staff@tenkaraangler.com using the subject line RIFFLES to let us know.
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