02/09/2026
Few things beat backpacking into the wild and fishing on pristine water. Here are some trail-tested tips from David:
Pack light - one rig, one tippet spool (stick with mono) and a small selection of your go-to flies. (Tried and true around here: parachute adams, griffith's gnats, midges, and smaller pheasant tail nymphs.) A small Oros indicator usually makes the pack too.
Protect the rod. Secure it in a case, a cardboard tube, or a length of PVC pipe. It doesn't need to be pretty — it just needs to protect the rod. Trust us on this one.
Go compact. Our amazing Ansel (10.9 ft./15.8 in.) and MiniMax (11.7/10 in.) are built for exactly this kind of trip, as is the Nissin Pocket Mini V3 300 — a beautifully made Japanese rod we're proud to carry. If you need more reach for lakes, check out the Nissin 2 Way Yuyuzan 540 (17.4 ft., collapses to 20.8 in.).
Let's go backpacking! What's your favorite excursion?
Shop the Ansel: https://www.keiryurodco.com/shoprods/p/ansel-rod