Tenkara Tanuki
The full Tenkara Tanuki line of named tenkara rods, 9' to 13'11", on Toray carbon blanks.
- Models
- 21
- Length
- 7.8'–13.9'
- Price
- $250–$449.95
- Type
- Pole
- Discipline
- Tenkara
Tenkara Tanuki has no series structure: every rod is an individually named model, so the brand doubles as the series. All are fixed-line telescopic tenkara rods on Japanese Toray carbon blanks, most with high-density EVA grips and all with a 23 in closed length except the 13 in Pocket Ninja family.
The numbered rods are the backbone of the range: the Tanuki 275 (9', 1.5 oz) and 325 (10'8", 1.9 oz) for small streams, the 375 (12'4", 2.7 oz, also as the white Snow Tanuki) for all-round use, and the 425 Dark Cloud (13'11", 3.6 oz) for open water and fish to 26 in. The Ninja II (11'6", 2.2 oz) is the best seller, tuned for dry flies and kebari. The Kunoichi 310 and 360 and the bamboo-textured Sabi 360 are the newest models, with actions tuned to protect 6X and 7X tippet.
Three families cover specialties. The Pocket Ninja 240, 290, 320 and 335 pack to about 13 in at 2 oz or less for travel. The XL-1, the counterbalanced XL-Sport 405 and the Barebones Kebari 405 run 13'3" for reach and kebari manipulation. The Shinobi 395 and the Barebones Nymphing Pro 360 and 380 are contact-nymphing rods built to cast a single #18 beadhead on a fine line, most with a pure carbon grip. Many models are limited editions, and several are sold out at any given time; spare sections are sold for each.
Deeper Dive
A closer look at notable models.
A 7'10" headwaters rod that packs to 13 in and bends fully on a 10 in fish; the shortest Pocket Ninja, made for brushy creeks.
A 1.5 oz 9' small-stream rod for brook trout of 10 to 16 in, developed with a group of about 30 community testers.
A 9'6" medium-action Pocket Ninja under 2 oz that closes to under 13 in, aimed at backpackers and small-stream anglers.
The original Pocket Ninja travel rod, a slow-action 10'4" at 2.1 oz that packs to 13 in.
The shorter 10'6" Kunoichi for tight small streams, tuned to fish 7X tippet on 10 in trout.
A 10'6" travel rod at about 2 oz that closes to 13 in for roadside, backpacking and travel fishing, sharing the Pocket Ninja action.
A 1.9 oz 10'8" small-stream rod with an ultra-light flexible tip for level-line casting, for fish of 8 to 16 in.
The best-selling 11'6" Ninja II at 2.2 oz, a dry-fly and kebari rod with a narrow grip for sensitivity.
The Japanese-market limited edition of the Ninja II, same 11'6" blank and 2.2 oz weight in a limited finish.
Small-stream 11'8" rod at 2.85 oz with an action tuned to protect 6X tippet on 10 in trout; the longer of the two Kunoichi models.
Open-water 11'8" rod in a bamboo-texture finish, with enough backbone for trout to 23 in while still protecting 6X tippet.
An 11'8" contact-nymphing rod refined from over 100 prototypes, with a carbon grip and a slightly stronger backbone for bigger fish.
The all-round 12'4" Tanuki for every skill level, with a smooth Japanese-style cast and a Western backbone for trout to 22 in.
The Tanuki 375 blank in a white crane-inspired finish with a wood-inset grip, for dry flies and Czech-style nymphing.
The longer 12'6" Barebones nymphing rod with a carbon grip, built to cast a single #18 beadhead and give more control over fish.
A 12'10" contact-nymphing rod with a pure carbon grip for sensitivity, built for casting fine lines and small flies; limited edition.
The Shinobi 12'10" nymphing blank with a traditional EVA, wood and rattan grip instead of the carbon handle; limited edition.
The original 13'3" XL at 2.5 oz, the lightest rod for its length when introduced, for small dry flies and Czech-style nymphing.
The 13'3" XL-Sport adds a counterbalance end cap to the XL-1 blank for steadier casting on open water.
A 13'3" rod tuned for kebari manipulation, with softer upper sections, a stronger butt and a counterbalanced handle.
The longest Tanuki at 13'11", an open-water rod favoured by guides that bends on 11 in fish and controls trout to 26 in.