Shadowfire 12' Tenkara Rod Plus Complete Starter Package - Flies, Leader, Tippet, Line Holder, Storage Tube, and Rod Sock

This is my first Tenkara rod, but I've tried several other since and wow, did I ever make a good decision/choice to buy this one first. Such a great rod and overall fishing experience for a very reasonably priced rod. It's so light and so well balanced that I almost forget I'm holding/fishing it. I would literally get the same level of fatigue if I was simply holding my arm up the air with my hand empty. The rod is very strong and can handle landing a pretty big (not huge) fish. It's very flexible (every bit of a 6:4), but also very strong and doesn't feel wimpy. The cork handle is nice and high end with a great hourglass shape to it. It also has a longer lillian than most other rods I've tried. All the materials used (rod sections, cork, caps, lillian, storage tube, storage sock, etc.) all seem to be of really nice quality. I have since bought cheaper rods that I also like and are pretty close to this quality for the most part (but not everything), but I have zero regrets for buying this rod as it's still a much nicer rod at very good and reasonable price. I've also discovered that I like all DragonTail brand line, tippet, flies, etc. the best, so even on my non-DragonTail rods, I'm still using DragonTail brand accessories.

Great tenkara rod. Had only tried fly fishing before. Only issue is I live in Australia so not a lot of trout as they aren't native. Not the rods issue, but wish I could use it more.

So far im really liking this rod! First time I have done any fly fishing and I found it very intuitive to use. I did have an issue with the tip breaking but it seemed like a manufacturing defect as after a homemade repair job it still worked and I was landing fish from our local pond. I contacted Dragontail and they were super responsive and helpful, and have sent out a replacement. I am very impressed with their customer service and with the rod overall and would definitely recommend.

didn't receive the starter pack, not even any line or tipet. Just the rod in a plastic buttoned bag. The rod looks fine but i can't use it without the line and everything included in the starter pack...

I picked this up after doing some research on a lightweight fishing setup for backpacking in the Uinta Mountain range. I wanted something simple, packable, and reliable for catching fish on the trail. This has exceeded my expectations, especially as a first tenkara rod. The setup is about as minimal as it gets, which is exactly what I was looking for. It’s quick to get ready and easy to use, even if you’re new to tenkara-style fishing. Performance has been great so far. I’ve caught several brook trout on it without any issues, and it handles them well while still keeping things fun with the lighter setup. One of the biggest advantages is how simple everything is. There’s no complicated gear to deal with, which makes it perfect for backpacking when you want to keep weight and setup time to a minimum. Overall, this is a solid choice if you’re looking to get into tenkara or want a lightweight fishing option for the backcountry. It’s been a great addition to my backpacking gear.