Shadowfire 12' Tenkara Rod Plus Complete Starter Package - Flies, Leader, Tippet, Line Holder, Storage Tube, and Rod Sock

Great tenkara rod. Had only tried fly fishing before. Only issue is I live in Australia so not a lot of trout as they aren't native. Not the rods issue, but wish I could use it more.

So far im really liking this rod! First time I have done any fly fishing and I found it very intuitive to use. I did have an issue with the tip breaking but it seemed like a manufacturing defect as after a homemade repair job it still worked and I was landing fish from our local pond. I contacted Dragontail and they were super responsive and helpful, and have sent out a replacement. I am very impressed with their customer service and with the rod overall and would definitely recommend.

I picked this up after doing some research on a lightweight fishing setup for backpacking in the Uinta Mountain range. I wanted something simple, packable, and reliable for catching fish on the trail. This has exceeded my expectations, especially as a first tenkara rod. The setup is about as minimal as it gets, which is exactly what I was looking for. It’s quick to get ready and easy to use, even if you’re new to tenkara-style fishing. Performance has been great so far. I’ve caught several brook trout on it without any issues, and it handles them well while still keeping things fun with the lighter setup. One of the biggest advantages is how simple everything is. There’s no complicated gear to deal with, which makes it perfect for backpacking when you want to keep weight and setup time to a minimum. Overall, this is a solid choice if you’re looking to get into tenkara or want a lightweight fishing option for the backcountry. It’s been a great addition to my backpacking gear.

Took the rod out for the first time on a small river/freestone trout stream in Northern Oregon for a 2-day trip. For me, the Tenkara method keeps everything simpler overall, which I like. It took some getting used to, after 20+ years fly fishing with rods somewhere in the 7-9’ length, hence lots of unintentional whacking of overhead tree branches. 12’ seems to be plenty long: for my fishing purposes, I have difficulty thinking of a scenario where longer than 12’ would be beneficial. No lost flies, probably due to fishing higher in the water column. I found that adding split shot does not seem particularly effective, nor in the spirit of keeping things simple. This was my first time fishing furled leader. It lands softly, which is good, and floats about as well as most so-called “floating” fly lines, which was only mildly problematic when fishing dries. The furled leader is thinner and more supple than standard fly lines - took a little getting used to - seems a lighter touch and relatively slower line speed is the way to go? I found the 6:4 action perfect - I don’t need a faster rod for what I’m doing. Love how simple and light and compact it is — easy to bring along on day hikes and overnighters. The construction is solid and the graphite is plenty good quality. I was a unsure about the handle shape at first but it’s fine, granted it felt odd to hold it right in the middle, but this was hardly a problem. The three included flies are barbless, which I appreciate. Recommend wathching the informational videos on the company website. Overall, the setup worked effectively for nymphing and fishing dries.

didn't receive the starter pack, not even any line or tipet. Just the rod in a plastic buttoned bag. The rod looks fine but i can't use it without the line and everything included in the starter pack...