Company Profile
ESZ Fishing is a Colorado-based fly fishing brand founded by Ethan Zhang and headquartered in Colorado Springs. The brand emerged with a simple mission: design high-performance tenkara rods from an angler’s point of view and offer them at reasonable prices. With a focus on technical details and affordability, ESZ has quickly become a name to watch.
ESZ’s rods use premium carbon fiber, lightweight cork handles, aluminum weighted end caps with internal plug storage, spinning lillians, and Anti-Lock Channels (ALC) to prevent over-tightening, a suite of features normally found on high-end rods. The resulting gear is both accessible and engineered for serious trout waters.
The product lineup features five distinct rod series designed for varying purposes, from backpacking ultralight to euro-nymphing capable big-water rods. These include the Rivermaster Z1, Rivermaster Z2, Whitewater Zoom, the compact Nano, and the value-focused Freestone, all offering clean action and field-tuned performance. Their catalog reflects ESZ’s commitment to simplicity without sacrificing function.
Ethan and team also support their products with customer-friendly services. Every rod ships with a free gift kit (towel, lens wipe, and stickers), and their customer service email and mailing address are publicly available for direct interaction.
ESZ Fishing is establishing itself in the U.S. tenkara space with rods that blend minimalist design and high-end features. With a five-model core lineup aimed at diverse fishing situations, ESZ offers options for hikers, euro-nymphing enthusiasts, and budget-conscious anglers all with thoughtful hardware and engineering integrity.
Popular ESZ Fishing Tenkara Rods
- Rivermaster Z1 Series (Fixed length, 10 ft , 12 ft , or 13 ft)
Their ultra-light all-around rod made with premium carbon; 10 ft version weighs just 63 g. Features include 6:4 action, balanced cork handle, anti-lock segments, and plug storage. - Rivermaster Z2 Series (Fixed length, 13 ft or 15 ft)
Designed for big fish and euro nymphing, extended segment lengths reduce joints, improving strength and casting accuracy. Capable of handling trout exceeding 24 ” with ease. - Whitewater Zoom Series (Zoom, 10–12 ft or 13–15 ft)
A two-length adjustable zoom rod for medium to big water. Combines versatility with durability and high-performance across both size configurations. - Nano Backpack Series (Single length, 10 ft or 12 ft)
Super-compact (~41 cm closed length), lightweight (63–77 g), and optimized for hiking or ultralight stream access trips. Full-featured despite size. - Freestone (Single length, 12ft)
ESZ’s most affordable rod, designed for new anglers or basic setups. A balanced taper and durability make it a reliable choice for small and medium waters.
ESZ Fishing has kindly provided a coupon code for all Tenkara Angler readers!
Save 10% off your purchase at their website using code TANGLER
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