Tenkara Adventure Outfitters
The five-rod TAO line of former Badger Tenkara designs: creek, all-round, two zoom rods and a big-fish rod.
- Models
- 5
- Length
- 8.5'–13.3'
- Price
- $119.99–$139.99
- Type
- Pole
- Discipline
- Tenkara
Tenkara Adventure Outfitters has no series structure: the whole range is five named rods, so the brand doubles as the series. All are telescopic carbon-fiber tenkara rods in a matte olive drab green finish, with a 360-degree micro-swivel lillian at the tip, and each ships with a hard storage tube and rod bag. Four of the five are former Badger Tenkara designs carried on since 2019.
The U.N.C (8'6", 2 oz, 18 in closed) has a slim 9 in handle and a 6:4 medium flex for small, overgrown creeks. The Classic (11'9", 3.2 oz, 21 in closed) has a 10.5 in double-contour handle and the same 6:4 flex, and is the rod the maker suggests for a first tenkara outfit or a single all-round rod. The Bad Axe zooms between 9'10" and 11'5" and the Driftless between 8'6" and 10'4"; both close to 26 in and share the 6:4 flex, and the catalog lists each at its longer setting. The Driftless was developed by Matt Sment and tested in the Wisconsin Driftless, Colorado and New Mexico before its 2023 release.
The Wisco 2 (13'4") is the outlier: a 7:3 low flex and a 14 in handle with no contour, built for larger flies on longer lines and for fighting bigger fish with two hands. Prices run $119.99 to $139.99.
Deeper Dive
A closer look at notable models.
An 8'6", 2 oz creek rod that closes to 18 in for tight, overgrown water, with a 6:4 medium flex; the lightest rod in the range.
A two-length zoom rod that fishes at 8'6" or 10'4" with a 6:4 flex, developed by Matt Sment for the spring creeks of the Driftless.
A two-length zoom rod that fishes at 9'10" or 11'5" with a 6:4 flex, the maker's pick when the day's water and conditions are unknown.
The 11'9" all-rounder at 3.2 oz with a 6:4 medium flex, suited to small trout through mid-sized bass and recommended as a first tenkara rod.
The 13'4" big-fish rod with a 7:3 flex and a 14 in straight handle for two-handed control, made for larger flies, longer lines and bigger fish.
Rods in this series
| Save | Model | Length | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.N.C | 8'6" | Buy from Tenkara Adventure Outfitters | |
| Driftless | 10'4"Z | Buy from Tenkara Adventure Outfitters | |
| Bad Axe | 11'5"Z | Buy from Tenkara Adventure Outfitters | |
| Classic | 11'9" | Buy from Tenkara Adventure Outfitters | |
| Wisco 2 | 13'4" | Buy from Tenkara Adventure Outfitters |
Z Zoom rod: fishes at two or more locked lengths. The length shown is the longest setting; the shorter settings are listed in the rod's notes.