I love to make portable compact kits for various things (such as an Altoids tin which can hold all tying supplies and tools for tying sakasa kebari or other flies where ever I go). In the spirit of simplicity that goes hand in hand with tenkara I decided to make a "Tenkara Survival Kit." I tried to make something as compact as possible yet hold all the components needed for a few hours out on the stream. Included are nippers for cutting line, a small Altoids tin that can hold 12-20 flies, a spool of 5x tippet, and an old tippet holder with some TenkaraUSA level line. It's about the size of an Altoids tin and will very easily fit into a pocket. I have included a link to my blog to see pictures of it. (Sorry, I didn't have the pics available when writing this post.)

www.thenorthriver.blogspot.com/2012/01/ ... l-kit.html

If anyone has suggestions on how to improve it or what your tenkara survival kit would look like I would be interested to know.

Kuhlow... I like it, If I were to add anything It would be, A tip grip, beef jerky (black pepper or spicy hot) and a chocolate bar (Hershey with almonds). Two of my favorite stream side snacks. Other than those I think you've got it covered.

jd

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"The reverse side also has a reverse side"

JD,

I'll try to remember that next time we hit the waters together

- Albert

Here is a short list of what I carry in the guide bag when we take people on guided trips.
There are 2 tiers of tenkara survival gear

Tier one, gear I carry on my person
1. 2 spools of 5x tippet
2. 1 50' spool of level line so I can make custom lines for guests
3. small first aid kit
4. satellite SOS transponder for true emergencies since mobile phones don't work in many areas we fish.
5. a crap load of flies because guests catch lots of trees and rocks
6. 2 wine bottle corks for making improvised buttcaps and tip caps for rods
7. insect repellent for guests
8. 1 extra nippers and hemostat
9. spare wading boot laces
10. leatherman tool

It may sound like a lot but when you are responsible for making sure your clients have a great trip you need all that on the water with you.

Tier 2:
Gear that stays in the car.
1. spare parts for each model of rod we have with us including spare tip sections, buttcaps, tip plugs, lilian string, super glue.
2. more flies
3. lots of traditional tenkara lines, level line, and tippet spools
4. spare nippers/hemostats
5. trauma pack
6. mobile phone & charger
7. more sunscreen and chapstick
8. drinking water
9. fire starting tools
10. toilet paper
11. baby wipes
12. good field knife
13. snack food
10. there is a lot of other gear needed for a guided trip, this is the essential gear.

Tenkara is really gear simple until you add guided fishing to the mix.

John

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Tenkara Guides LLC

I only have 3 things in my "Survival Kit" that I carry with me all the times.

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Why let the truth stand in the way of a good fish story.

John,
Don't leave your firestarter stuff in your car. Carry at the very least a lighter with you! Emergencies hardly ever happen by your car.
Two items I always make a point of leaving in pockets of whatever I take fishing (i.e. each bag I may use has a set of) are a lighter (or flint) and a whistle!
Start a fire if you fall in the water and get cold but can't get back to your car quickly, and use your whistle if you ever get your feet stuck between rocks.

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Tenkara USA, founder
打仁得流, テンカラ大使
About me and Tenkara USA

Good tip Daniel.
The fire starting stuff in the car is for cooking food for guests, for a full day trip we cook a hot meal.

John

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Tenkara Guides LLC

I always have a few meters of packing tape with me.

It helps a lot when you break your rod and lose your rod cap. It mostly helps when you are about to get a blister from your shoes.　　You can apply it directly on your foot .

Eddie

And don't think that can't happen. I was stuck for about 20 minutes once while fishing alone. Luckily I was able to pry my boot out with a sturdy wading staff. I had a whistle, and would have used it if the wading staff/lever didn't work.

(I just found a supplier that has emergency whistles, so they'll be on TenkaraBum before long.)

Chris, you might need to start carrying a folding saw in case you can't pry a foot loose and no one hears the whistle
Just kidding I have stuck a foot once. I had a whistle but got it loose myself. I was alone in the Smokey's and most likely needed a cannon to be heard, it's a little unnerving.

Tom

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Wilderness Tarpon 120
and a Tenkara USA Amago
Good Combo!!!