There’s a certain elegance and romantic appeal to fly-fishing; the quiet solitude of a lone angler in a river surrounded by peaks and wilderness has drawn millions to the sport. But its steep learning curve and intimidating gear collection can be a turn off for many would-be anglers. Enter Tenkara; a form of fishing originating in Japan that has been rapidly gaining popularity in the United States. With its very simple gear and striking similarity to traditional fly-fishing, this technique has provided the much-needed introduction to fly-fishing for many newly initiated.

Tenkara has largely gained popularity in the States thanks to a Coloradan. In 2008, Daniel Galhardo headed to the mountains of Japan to seek the origins of this unique technique. In the mountains of Japan, he observed masters pull native trout out of its streams; the minimalist nature and effectiveness of the technique convinced him that the sport could have universal appeal.

Tenkara’s simplicity comes from the fact that the rod has no reel. An entire set-up consists only of a long, lightweight, telescopic fishing rod, a weighted fishing line, generally around ten feet long and attached to the end of the rod, lightweight tippet line, and a fly. Where a beginner angler can struggle with managing the messy combination of a line and reel, a Tenkara rod avoids that problem completely.

Colorado, with its endless mountain streams and lakes and healthy trout fisheries, has proven to be the perfect setting for the introduction of Tenkara to the United States. Daniel Galhardo established his company, Tenkara USA, in 2009 in Boulder, and since then, the sport has spread amongst experienced anglers and beginners alike.

Given how lightweight and collapsible a rod is, the technique has flourished particularly among backpackers who might want to fish in the backcountry and don’t want to carry the added weight of a traditional fly-fishing set-up. A full gear set can fit into the side pocket of a backpack and averages around three or four ounces in weight.

Tenkara provides an excellent excuse to get out on Colorado public land and take advantage of the amazing wild spaces we have at our doorsteps.