Learn Minimalist Fly-Fishing

How much gear does an angler need?

- Courtney Gerard

I WAS BORN into a family of pack rats. The trait is exacerbated by outdoor activities, which add the threat of being far from home without a necessary item. I would sooner carry two headlamps for a hundred miles than risk being left without one. So it’s no surprise that my fly-fishing essentials are comprehensive: a rod and reel, two dozen flies, a couple lengths of tapered line, and multiple cutting tools.

Living in Montana, I’ve made fly-fishing part of my daily routine most of the summer and into the fall. On work days, I pack my gear and hit the river on my way to the office. And of course I take my fishing kit on day hikes and backpacking trips. Given how often I carry this stuff (which together weighs more than 2 pounds), even a pack rat like me was intrigued when a friend suggested I try the minimalist Japanese fly fishing style called Tenkara.