Welcomed a new member today to the forum tenkara from scratch. And liked his first post, and name. Thought it would be nice to show some handmade Tenkara Gear. Then thought I shouldn't, might look as though I'm bragging "look what I made". But after thinking about it. I'm very happy and proud with the gear I've made. I really like seeing my gear and using it while fishing or putting it all away or displaying it after a trip. All self taught with simple hand tools. Not counting flies and a few things I'm still working on here's some of my handmade/homemade Tenkara Gear. Maybe it will inspire some others on the forum to show their gear.



Please share with us your Homemade/ Handmade Gear.
Jeremy

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テンカラのイモリ
Tenkara Mushroom

Awesome stuff man, I'd really be interested in how you made those fly boxes. Feel free to shoot me a PM if you're interested! Or just post it here for everyone to see. Awesome work!

I don't even have a real tenkara rod yet, so I don't have much stuff I made, but I'm sure by the end of the summer I'll have a bunch of stuff. I'm really looking forward to it.

There's a couple ways to make one of my fly boxes. Find a rather dry log, maybe something that fell from a windstorm or has been down for a while. Cut off a section of the trunk without visable damage, in the form of cracks or blunt damage from falling. Make two cuts, one for the lid, and for the bottom with a hand saw. Hand saws usually make a much smoother cut without having to sand to much. I like to use portions that have lots of knot holes and or character, and natural flaws. Either use a spoon gouge or dremel to hollow out one or both sides for flies. Leave room on the edges for magnets or hinges and use simple joinery and or glue to install in your planned open/close points. Then simply sand and finish with your favorite colors and maybe designs like relief carvings or names, even saw boxes with portions of ones favorite section of river in the form of a map. I like to make them in a way that has much in the way of meaning to me.

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テンカラのイモリ
Tenkara Mushroom

I'll be trying that for sure this summer.

If you have a chance, a closeup of some of the hinges/closures you use would be awesome. If not, no big deal

Thanks for sharing.

Hinge is a simple dowel, the close piont is one countersunk magnet on the box and one magnet sticking out on the lid.



The hinge on this box was originally a simple RC aircraft flight control hinge. It didn't have enough flex with glue on it. So I just use the tail from the middle fish to guide the two halfs together. The box uses heavy duty earth magnets, it stays shut even without a hinge point.



This box is made from a spent plastic shredded beef jerky container.
I made this box as a fix for some Fly Fishing with a "reel" posts that bothered me.

http://www.tenkarausa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=97

http://www.tenkarausa.com/forum/viewtop ... =11&t=2595

At a glance the reel looks legitimate and stays put for casting, it weighs about an once. It also reels the line in as a line holder and the fishes eye works as a handle to spin the lid. And holds a days worth of flies.

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テンカラのイモリ
Tenkara Mushroom

And the rod tip plug gets stuck on the handle hole when you remove the flybox/reel too.





The holder is meant to honor the Sunfish, which I seem to catch most.

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テンカラのイモリ
Tenkara Mushroom

Wow! Awesome stuff. I doubt I'll be able to make anything that nice, but it's certainly inspirational. Looks great!

Jeremy, wow. Wow. I'm impressed. Looks like you put a lot of work into all of that but I bet it was tons of fun!

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My blog: Tenkara Talk
Tenkara USA Rods: Amago, Ayu, Ayu Series II, Ebisu, Ito, Iwana 11', Iwana 12', Yamame
Other Tenkara USA Gear: Tamo, Strap Pack, 3.5 & 4.5 Level Line, 10.5 ft. & 13 ft. Traditional Line, Line Spools

Good stuff! Tj

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Tenkara USA, Director of Customer Service

Tenkara Junkie - Tenkarajankī
Now sporting all of the Tenkara USA Rods!

Amazing stuff. I like the style of your homemade gear.