Simple rod fishing, or Tenkara, is an old tradition in Japan. Tenkara is still an uncommon technique among freshwater anglers, and it is mainly used for mountain stream trout fishing.
Tenkara Rod Co and Tenkara USA, both companies, provide the complete package of accessories, including rods, lines, flies, nets, etc., that one might need for Tenkara fishing.
Though they are similar types of companies, they have some differences in material, price, and weight of the rods, and in this article, we will talk about them in detail.
A Quick Comparison Table
Here’s a quick comparison table for your better and easy understanding-
| Specifications | Tenkara Rod Co | Tenkara USA |
| Company Origin | Japan | USA |
| Material | Carbon Fiber, Cork, Aluminum | Carbon Fiber, Nylon, Bamboo |
| Cost | Less expensive | Expensive |
| Weight | Lightweight | Heavier than Tenkara Rod Co. |
| Customer reviews | Better | Good |
Key Differentiation Between Tenkara Rod Co And Tenkara USA
Now it’s time to dig deep into the differences between these two so that you can choose the best brand for your Tenkara fishing accessories –
- Company Overview and History
Tenkara Rod Co. has transformed Tenkara fishing gear by making it stronger, easier to use, and much more portable.
Tenkara rods have been redesigned to be more widely available than ever before.
In addition to having an easy setup, Tenkara takes pride in providing high-end equipment at affordable prices.
Tenkara Rod Co. is based in Driggs, Idaho, bordered by the breathtaking Teton Mountains and some of the best trout fishing rivers in the world.
Idaho serves as the company’s headquarters as well as the testing ground for new concepts and products.
On the other hand, Tenkara USA is the first business to offer Tenkara rods outside of Japan. Tenkara USA is an entirely autonomous business with headquarters in the USA that was established in 2009 by Daniel W. Galhardo.
Daniel first learned about Tenkara in 2007 while doing research on the tradition and history of fishing in Japan. He first went to Japan in 2008, where he experienced Tenkara fishing.
Daniel was impressed by that, so he decided to share it with others, and that’s how Tenkara USA company was established.
Also Read: Is Scott S3S Fly Rod Worth It?
- Material
There are different types of Tenkara rods you can find in Japan. Japanese are used to using all the materials of Tenkara rods.
Tenkara Rod Co mainly produces carbon fiber, cork, and aluminum rods. Though they have traditional bamboo rods, these three are their main materials.
Graphite fiber, also known as carbon fiber is a type of polymer. It is made of a highly lightweight material that is also very robust.
That’s why this is an ideal choice for a Tenkara rod.
The phellem layer of bark tissue, or cork, is an impermeable buoyant material that is largely extracted from the southwest European and northwest African tree species for commercial use.
Since cork is very resilient and has a high coefficient of friction, it manages repeated impacts of rubbing/abrasion quite well. Aluminum rods are also rigid, but carbon fiber and cork are the best.
Tenkara USA also makes rods of nylon and bamboo. Nylon has excellent bearing and wears quality. The bamboo is also a simple, strong tool that serves its purpose.
The beauty and mysticism of unadorned, raw bamboo rods cannot be denied. But recently, the carbon fiber Tenkara rod is getting more attention.
- Cost Variation
We tend to compare the price of several brands while buying a product.
You should not blindly buy a Tenkara rod without comparing the price.
Tenkara Rod Co. has comparatively cheaper rods than Tenkara USA.
One reason why Tenkara Rod Co. is cheaper than Tenkara USA might be the country they produce the rods.
As we knew earlier, Tenkara Rod Co is a Japanese company, and Tenkara fishing has been their tradition for hundreds of years; it’s kinda obvious that their product would be less costly.
For example, Tenkara USA’s SATO™ 10’8″/ 11’10″/ 12’9″ costs $250.00 while the best rated THE KITA ROD 380 of Tenkara Rod CO. costs $220.00. That means you can save almost $30 while getting the best Tenkara rod.
- Weight Variation
The weight of a rod is one of the important factors to consider while fishing. A heavyweight rod can make you lose control.
So, it is recommended to choose a lightweight rod if you’re going fishing for the first time.
Tenkara Rod Co. rods are lightweight and easy to carry. If we compare their SATO rod with Tenkara Rod Co’s KITA ROD, we can see SATO rod is a bit heavier than KITA ROD though they both are made of the same material- carbon fiber. SATO rod weighs 2.9 oz, whereas KITA ROD weighs 2.1 oz.
Also Read: St. Croix Or Fenwick Fishing Rods?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Tenkara Rod Co. is made In Japan.
Tenkara USA is the first business to bring the simple Japanese fly-fishing technique outside of Japan. Tenkara USA is a totally independent firm with headquarters in Boulder, Colorado, and was established in April 2009 by Daniel W. Galhardo.
The first thing you need to consider while selecting a Tenkara rod is how big a fish you intend to catch. The second factor is the size of the water you are fishing, and the last one is the space you have when you are casting.
Tenkara is a Japanese fishing method that uses only a line, rod, and flies. The word Tenkara means’ fishing from heaven’, ‘sky fishing’, or ’empty sky fishing’ as ten means sky and kara means ’empty’.
Final Words
Tenkara fishing technique is becoming popular day by day, and companies are developing goods that will encourage more outdoor lovers to learn about and try Tenkara fly-fishing.
Well, there’s no fixed answer for that, but if you’re a newbie, you should choose Tenkara Rod Co as it is lightweight and has other features for fast adaptability.
